Battery Switch - Operate on Battery 1, 2, or Battery 1+2 ?

[McBobKC]

My GW Freedom 235 allows the Options to operate on Battery 1, Battery 2, or Battery 1+2

Relatively new to this level of salt water boating, I have been alternating between operating on Battery 1, then Battery 2 every other trip, Never operating on Battery 1+2

My thought was to keep the Other Battery in Reserve

On a recent trip an experienced boating friend told me I should always operate on Battery 1+2, but could not explain to my Why

What say the Great Grady Brain Trust ?

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

First, how much batteries and engines do you have?

In your Manual should be written how to set the battery selector switch.
Battery 1 seems always to be the battery connected to the stbd engine
Battery 2 seems to be the battery connected to the port engine, on a single setup the house battery

If you have 3 batteries, then stbd battery and house battery is wired together and port engine battery is single.
in this case you should set the battery selector switch to 1 and use 2 or 1+2 (all) only if batteries 1 are too weak to start the outboards.
Then go home and verify why the two batteries 1 where too low to crank, most liekly batteries old or too much use of electronics with engine/s off.

Chris

 

[ACV]

My stbd cranking battery is wired in parallel to the house battery. I also have a single port battery.

I always select the stbd battery select switch to position 1, the 0900 position. The Port switch is positioned to the number 2 position, 1500 position. Never in both unless power supply for cranking is an issue then once the engines are running return the switches to the 0900 and 1500 positions.

I have never had a problem with that configuration. Hope it helps.

 

[Johnny Dollar]

The line that runs from the battery switch to the helm usually has a 20 or 40 amp fuse that might be blown if there was a surge

 

[kirk a]

Run one or the other. Folks often will alternate on trips. Running them combined should be reserved for emergency use. Combining them will have the effect of a bad battery bringing down a good one.

I despise that sort of switch. Much happier when using an ACR approach. I've had both BEP and Blue Seas. No strong brand preference either way, but either are far superior to the 1,2, both sort of switch.

 

[seasick]

I assume your 235 has a single motor.
The reason not to operate on BOTH is to always have a charged battery available in case the battery you are running on gets run down. In addition, starting on a single battery makes it clearer when that battery is not fully charged or is getting old. In that case you will notice the motor is not cranking as fast as normal or take linger to start.
If you operate on both and for whatever reason run down the batteries, you will need a tow.
Which one to use? It doesn't make a lot of difference but it makes sense to try and keep charged the battery that your automatic bilge pump is connected to. Sometimes I would pick the battery based on the date, Odd dates, battery 1, even dates, battery 2. It's not that critical to insure your select the other battery every trip.
On my former 208, I would pick a battery and run on it for the day. If the return trip would take some time, I would select BOTH for that return trip. That allows both batteries to get charged. Remember that if you don't connect a battery ( as is the case with selecting only one) the other battery doesn't get charged.

Remember that it is OK to switch from ! to Both or Both to 2 with the motor running. Do not switch past OFF when the motor is running.

 

[McBobKC]

Correct the GW Freedom 235 is a single F300 hp Yamaha

Appreciate the Advice

I will CONTINUE to Run On EITHER Battery 1 OR Battery 2, and NOT ON Battery 1+2, as I have been

I also have an Add On hardwired Minnkota MK-345 CHARGER 3 BANK X 15amp Battery Tender to All Batteries that is regularly plugged in when on the Lift “maintaining the batteries”

 

[Fishtales]

1 and 2. Only operate Both if you have to in an emergency.