ralph wrote:Welcome JerEazy. Nice toon. I bought a battery switch and battery last weekend for my toon. Just had knee surgery so I won't be attempting that for a few weeks at least. Don't know a thing about puting one in but we'll give it a try anyway. Nothing fancy, just 2 batteries.
probably one of the easier things to do on the boat. Some people do the Blue Sea's Add A Battery system
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems ... ery+switch which is a great way to do it. But to me it's overkill. It's for people who don't want to do the 1, all, 2 switch. But, I like to be in control of what's going on while under-way and i have yet to (knock on wood) leave the switch on all or the wrong battery. It's just become second nature.
What you'll need:
Battery Switch (Blue Seas is my personal choice)
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems ... ery+switch
Good cutters and crimpers (don't try this with just some scissors and pliers)
Measure your distances you think you will need and then double it and get some quality tinned copper cable (I personally opted for 4awg and anything that's not tinned will corrode in a marine environment and you'll be doing this again in a few years)
Some quality MARINE terminal connectors (heat shrink for a good seal)
Electrical tape
Nylon Locking Nuts if you don't already have them
Side Note:
(Marine batteries have a threaded post for a reason. You should be hooked to this with nylon locking nuts. NOT WINGNUTS or Car Battery Terminals these will shake loose, jiggle, wiggle and do other things that generally is not good for an electrical system If you are hooked up this way, change it now.
Battery terminal protecting spray to coat everything real nice when you're done.
Connect the two batteries negative terminals to create a common ground. Make sure you leave yourself enough cable to run it properly out of one of the exits of the battery box. You don't want a "Tight" cable. Give it some slack in case you need to move or replace the batteries at some point.
Here's the switch:
Run Positive from your starting battery to post #1 on the switch. Same as above the slack.
Run positive from your "House" or second battery to post #2 on the switch
Connect all outgoing power (engine, sound system etc etc) to the output/common post.
Bam - switched batteries.
Now, some people go and get the switch mounted all pretty. And have the wiring all fancy pants. But at the end of the day, if it works; it works. And more cable and a re-run later in life is always possible (like i'll be doing when I install my amp.) I'll get some pictures then.
