QUESTION FOR YOU BOATERS

SANCHOBA

TEXAS A&M DAD
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INGLESIDE,TX.
i have a twin outboard set-up with two batteries and two switches. the switches are labeled 1,2,ALL and OFF. how should i set these? one battery on 1 and the other on 2?
 
if im not mistaken you run them on 2 and turn it to off when you got it on the trailer so as not to kill the batteries. id still run a trickle charger on them when they are not in use
 
On my boat I have 2 Batteries 1 to start the motors and the second is a deep cycle. I use the 2nd as backup if 1 battery is not enough or loses a charge. When trailering turn the switch too off to keep from draining the batteries. Not sure on your setup:dontknow:
 
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What you are supposed to do is run on battery number 1 one day and number two the next time. They don't reccomend running on both because if one battery is weaker than the other it will pull the stronger battery down.

Now that said I usually run with the switch set to both, I switch to one battery if I'm sitting at the sandbar with the stereo running for a long time. This has never given me any problems. This boat is a single engine with two batteries that will run the motor and no house batteries.

On a twin engine with no house batteries I run one engine on number 1 and one engine on number 2. All the accessories run off of the starboard battery so the port battery will always be good and I could switch over to get both engines started if I had to. Again no problems.

If you had a house battery that powered accessories and no generator then you would need to switch to that one occasionally to make sure it stayed charged, but that is the only reason that I would fool with alternating.

Hope that helped
Joe
 
both my batteries are starting batteries (cranking batteries about 6 months old). heres the problem, i could not start one of my outboards no matter which switch i tried (used all combinations) you should be able to crank each outboard with each battery, correct?
 
When you are running, put the switch in the all position. you will be charging both batteries like this. Once you anchor, put the switch to one or two as to preserve one battery if you drain the other using elctronics. This will at least let you get started if one should die. One you start one of the engines, put the switch in the all position. This will let you charge up the weak battery and get the other engine started.
 
SANCHOBA said:
both my batteries are starting batteries (cranking batteries about 6 months old). heres the problem, i could not start one of my outboards no matter which switch i tried (used all combinations) you should be able to crank each outboard with each battery, correct?


Yes you should be able to start both engines from either cranking battery. Sounds like you have a bad switch. That or it is wired wrong. Did you change the batteries and possibly leave a cable off? If you couldn't get one to crank with the switch set to both you have an issue.

Try swaping the wires from one battery to the other and see if the other engine won't crank. This will at least confirm that there is a wiring issue and not a starter issue.

Joe
 
you should go for a twin INBOARD setup.
It will not solve your problem (put it on ALL btw) but it looks awesome !:rock:
 

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Yes you should be able to start both engines from either cranking battery. Sounds like you have a bad switch. That or it is wired wrong. Did you change the batteries and possibly leave a cable off? If you couldn't get one to crank with the switch set to both you have an issue.

Try swaping the wires from one battery to the other and see if the other engine won't crank. This will at least confirm that there is a wiring issue and not a starter issue.

Joe

after putting a charger on the battery (#2) it finally started. evidently that battery isn't getting charged? but i still should be able to start it with the other battery:dontknow: i did install new batteries awhile back and labeled all the cables before i removed the batteries. i'm thinking a switch is bad?

when i get some time (when i get in from offshore) i'll take the switch covers off and have a look..by the way both positive cables from the outboards go into one switch, but each of the neg. cables go to seperate switches. are you as confused as i am now!LOL any one have a diagram?
 
SANCHOBA said:
after putting a charger on the battery (#2) it finally started. evidently that battery isn't getting charged? but i still should be able to start it with the other battery:dontknow: i did install new batteries awhile back and labeled all the cables before i removed the batteries. i'm thinking a switch is bad?

when i get some time (when i get in from offshore) i'll take the switch covers off and have a look..by the way both positive cables from the outboards go into one switch, but each of the neg. cables go to seperate switches. are you as confused as i am now!LOL any one have a diagram?


Well the engine isn't charging its cranking battery since it was dead. The negatives going through a seperate switch allow you to completely isolate the batteries from each other and the other systems on the boat, sounds like at least one switch is bad.

After you get this part resolved be sure you make sure that the alternator is charging correctly on that motor as sometimes this kind of thing can burn one up.

Joe
 
SrtBrad said:
Damn thats a nice boat. What kind of engines and what specs does that beauty have?:eek: :eek:

well, these babies are SC 4,7liter each with intercooler custom built by larry Peto (Tuscon USA:rock: ) c/w CMI headers. They make 1000 HP each and makes the boat run beyond the 125 mph mark....
 
don't want to HO this thread but for those who want more pics of the TWIN inboard : www.waterskiracing.be
click on "4kickx/ghostbuster" under "teams" and scroll down....:rock:
2 more weeks to the diamond race :marchmellow: I hope my brothers boat will be finished in time :argh:
 

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