Installing a Perko switch

[OK Toon]

I need a little help to make sure I'm on the right track to install my Perko Micro switch. I've looked at several images for how this would be connected but I am just having a hard time relating that to what I have right now. I then found a video on the Perko site that clears things up a little bit more -- but I still have a couple of questions.

You can view the video here

In the video, it mentions to place the negative battery cables from each battery to a "common ground". Is this something I should have currently with a single battery on my boat? Currently I have thick battery cables (assuming these are from the motor) on the positive and negative posts on the battery. And I also have a couple of smaller wires that are also on the positive and negative posts on the battery (assuming these are from things like the radio and Depth Finder that were added by the previous owner).

So if I understand the directions from that video, all of the the wires that are currently connected to the Positive post on the battery would then be connected to the Common Post on the Perko switch? All of the wires that are currently connected to the Negative post on the battery would then be connected to the Common Ground? There would be new positive battery cables coming from the positive post on each battery to the #1 and #2 posts on the Perko switch. There would be new negative battery cables coming from the negative post on each battery to the Common Ground.

Am I understanding that correctly?

[BobG]

So if I understand the directions from that video, all of the the wires that are currently connected to the Positive post on the battery would then be connected to the Common Post on the Perko switch? All of the wires that are currently connected to the Negative post on the battery would then be connected to the Common Ground? There would be new positive battery cables coming from the positive post on each battery to the #1 and #2 posts on the Perko switch. There would be new negative battery cables coming from the negative post on each battery to the Common Ground.

Am I understanding that correctly?

That sounds right to me.

[MH Hawker]

A picture is often help full, and this should cover it.

[OK Toon]

Thanks Bob and James.

So for the "common ground" -- is this something I should have already or is this something I'm going to have to configure because I'm adding a second battery?

[badmoonrising]

The only thing you'll have to add is the second battery, a negative cable and a positive cable as shown above.

[MH Hawker]

The common ground is just the connection point for the neg side of the battery and you all ready have it connected to battery # 1, you should have 2 wires all ready hooked there, that dosnt need to change, you just add a heavy jumper from battery 1 negative over to battery 2 negative. The jumper should be the same gage as the existing big wire.

To will have to add 3 wires... 2 heavy gage red wires from the positive post on the battery. one each to the # 1 and # 2 connection points on the perko switch and a heavy gage black wire from the negative posts between the battery's.

I will add that as a note on the drawing

[OK Toon]

Thanks guys! I have the 2nd battery and the Perko Micro switch. So it sounds like I just need the additional heavy duty battery cables and then track down where my current common ground spot is on the boat.

One more question -- in the image above it shows an Accessory Panel. Is this something I should already have?? Would it be under the helm?

[MH Hawker]

Yes it is normally in the helm, I added that in to explain the extra wires you will have on your existing connection points, thats how the rest of the boat gets power.

The only thing you should have to change is adding the 3 jumpers.

Your common ground point is the negative post on your existing battery

[OK Toon]

Thanks again - I think I was making this harder than it should be. If I'm just adding the 3 cables, I think I can handle that.

[BobG]

Now that we have that easy stuff out of the way, this is how I added a BlueSea Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) system with my dual batteries:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13546&start=0

[OK Toon]

Holy crap Bob, that's very impressive. You wanna come and help me with mine???

But seeing your setup actually is bringing me to my next thought -- where to mount the switch? I was just going to mount the switch to the fence panel but if I put it back with the batteries, it will get soaked (the switch has an open area at the bottom). So I thought about cutting a hole in the fence to run the cables through and then mount the switch on the inside area of the fence panel to keep the switch a little drier. I was going to try and get a picture tonight to post/show the area on the boat I'm talking about.

And come to find out, my switch isn't a Perko - it's a BEP Marine switch. Am i going to be disappointed it isn't a Perko switch?

[BobG]

And come to find out, my switch isn't a Perko - it's a BEP Marine switch. Am i going to be disappointed it isn't a Perko switch?

I'm guessing you'll be just fine. You already paid your dues. Putting the word "Marine" in it doubles the price.

[OK Toon]

After looking at the area again, I have a cup holder in a shelf above the battery area. I think I will run the cables up through the cup holder and then mount the switch at the top, on the inside of the fence.

Here's a picture of the battery area.

[HandymanHerb]

I thinking about just using a relay to isolate the starting battery automatically when the engine is shut off , I will add and emergency button to hook batteries together if needed for starting the engine.

[MH Hawker]

My thought on mounting the switch is for it to be in a handy spot to get to, mine is with in arms reach when I am in the captains chair, that way after I sit down its easy to reach for starting and shut down.