Battery Switch

[Gordy M]

Sorry really basic question here, considering heading to a remote creek tomorrow evening. I have 2 batteries, normally berthed in a marina so have got used to endless shore power.

Should I switch to just one battery, so the other is saved for starting the engine the next day?

Thanks
Gord

 

[Poignard]

Yes

 

[theoldsalt]

Yes - again.

I have been doing that for 25 years without problems. Not with the same batteries I hasten to add.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, but long term consider rewiring to have an engine start battery and a house bank with a means of paralelling in an emergency. Preferably with independent switches for each and a VSR for automatically splitting the charge. An engine battery does not do a lot of work so does not need to be big. That way you can devote most of your capacity to house and always have the engine battery fully charged. Your shorepower charger should have a facility to charge both banks. With this sort of sytem you don't need to worry about switching between batteries in normal use.