boat refurb thread . Four Winns 235 vista

so a good bit of progress today
got home to find the new shift cable and bellows arrived from the states . so fitted them both with the help of the alignment tools
with out the engine running it now selects gears easily and locks the prop either clock or anti depending if forward or reverse
drained the sterndrive oil and replaced with fresh also new water pump
hoping thats all it needs , any more and it will be expensive
 
so lets talk batteries . I have 2 brand new batteries , there is a 3 position isolator , but im not sure I like that arrangement
so if I leave the batteries turned on and use all the power then boat won't start
if I only use 1 then the other won't charge when engine is running . neither is a god option I feel
so the plan is we will call them 1 and 2
battery 1 main live goes straight to the starter motor , and from there the alternator and ignition coil
battery 2 connects to the aux systems but with a cable from one with a isolator for emergencies
so normally they are not connected , then by using a voltage sensing relay set to about 13.5 volts so when the engine is running the alt ups the voltage and brings in the relay that will join them together so both will charge but once the engine is off then battery one can not be drained by anything else on the boat . does that make sense and any reasons why its not a good idea
thanks
 
darren west said:
so lets talk batteries . I have 2 brand new batteries , there is a 3 position isolator , but im not sure I like that arrangement
so if I leave the batteries turned on and use all the power then boat won't start
if I only use 1 then the other won't charge when engine is running . neither is a god option I feel
so the plan is we will call them 1 and 2
battery 1 main live goes straight to the starter motor , and from there the alternator and ignition coil
battery 2 connects to the aux systems but with a cable from one with a isolator for emergencies
so normally they are not connected , then by using a voltage sensing relay set to about 13.5 volts so when the engine is running the alt ups the voltage and brings in the relay that will join them together so both will charge but once the engine is off then battery one can not be drained by anything else on the boat . does that make sense and any reasons why its not a good idea
thanks
Click to expand...
Idea with them is that you have the switch on both/all when running…then select just one battery for when stationary and using auxiliaries. Then you have the other battery banked and good for starting
 
darren west said:
so lets talk batteries . I have 2 brand new batteries , there is a 3 position isolator , but im not sure I like that arrangement
so if I leave the batteries turned on and use all the power then boat won't start
if I only use 1 then the other won't charge when engine is running . neither is a god option I feel
so the plan is we will call them 1 and 2
battery 1 main live goes straight to the starter motor , and from there the alternator and ignition coil
battery 2 connects to the aux systems but with a cable from one with a isolator for emergencies
so normally they are not connected , then by using a voltage sensing relay set to about 13.5 volts so when the engine is running the alt ups the voltage and brings in the relay that will join them together so both will charge but once the engine is off then battery one can not be drained by anything else on the boat . does that make sense and any reasons why its not a good idea
thanks
Click to expand...

in 2020 I converted my Toyota Previa into a small camper and installed a leisure battery. To achieve what you describe I used a kit like this

5m Ready To Fit Split Charge Relay Kit 12v 140 AMP VSR 110Amp Cable T4 T5 Camper | eBay

If you ever needed to back feed from battery no 2 to start the engine you just earth the yellow wire in the picture

it works very well
 
QBhoy said:
Idea with them is that you have the switch on both/all when running…then select just one battery for when stationary and using auxiliaries. Then you have the other battery banked and good for starting
Click to expand...
but then there is no way to charge the other battery whilst driving the boat
 
so thats exactly what I have described I want to do , when the engine runs both will charge but when it switches off only 1 battery can be drained
 
darren west said:
but then there is no way to charge the other battery whilst driving the boat
Click to expand...
It depends on your switch, when you say it's a 3 way isolator, does one cut off the supply to both batteries (off) or does it connect both batteries (both). A simple solution if the former is a 4 way swith ie 1, 2, both, off.
So when on "both", both batteries are connected to the alternator and when at anchor you swith over to "2", thus saving your starter battery.
OPP ULITE Battery Disconnect Switch, 1-2-Both-Off Battery Disconnect Switch Marine Battery Switch 12V Battery Isolator Switch for Car Marine Boat RV ATV UTV Vehicle Automotive (A701S) : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
 
So you could use number 2 as your starter battery and when at anchor, swith to 1. When underway, both batteries should charge up. The only drawback being, if both batteries are starter batteries you won't be able to alternate battery usage or charge 2 individually. Hence 4 pole switches are more commonly used
 
darren west said:
so thats exactly what I have described I want to do , when the engine runs both will charge but when it switches off only 1 battery can be drained
Click to expand...

Yes that is what the kit I posted does. No need for any switch.

So Bat A connected to engine starter and rest of engine.
Bat B connected to all House electrical items
Bat A connects to Bat B via the kit I posted.

Unless the yellow wire is earthed Bat B will never feed 'backwards' to Bat A.

Both batteries charge when engine is running

Yellow wire is disconnected but you just earth it if you ever need to use bat B to start the engine if Bat A was flat for any reason

Simples
 
I was considering adding a 400a isolator between them , so if some how the main battery to start the boat had a fault I could manually connect them both together , bit like jump leads was unsure if the relay would offer enough power to jump start
 
darren west said:
I was considering adding a 400a isolator between them , so if some how the main battery to start the boat had a fault I could manually connect them both together , bit like jump leads was unsure if the relay would offer enough power to jump start
Click to expand...

That is not at all necessary if you use the item I quoted
 
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