the 1 2 all or off dials, quick question in theory

[symondo]

As I understand these dials

Input comes from the alternator/ battery charger

1 = engine battery
2= house bank
All = both
Off... is none

Does this sound right?

We have 2 on our boat and my dad has bought new batteries to fit, so the theory is,
1 battery per engine
3 batteries strapped together for house use.

With charging is it best to have them on 'both' or set 1 of the dials to only charge the engine battery?

 

[sailorman]

As I understand these dials

Input comes from the alternator/ battery charger

1 = engine battery
2= house bank
All = both
Off... is none

Does this sound right?

We have 2 on our boat and my dad has bought new batteries to fit, so the theory is,
1 battery per engine
3 batteries strapped together for house use.

With charging is it best to have them on 'both' or set 1 of the dials to only charge the engine battery?

Yes & yes

 

[symondo]

So reversing that logic a bit...

If its set to 'both' in theory it should provide a bit of power towards cranking the engine if needed from the house battery?

 

[sailorman]

So reversing that logic a bit...

If its set to 'both' in theory it should provide a bit of power towards cranking the engine if needed from the house battery?

Yes

 

[laika]

+1, and to sailorman's previous post

But.

This is all assuming it's wired up in the "traditional" way. That's not a good thing to assume. Check it. My 1-2-both-off switch does nothing of the sort. The traditional arrangement is not considered by many people (including myself) to be the best way of wiring things up, so we'll change it but because changing the switch would be expensive and leave an inconvenient hole in the woodwoork, we re-purpose it. Unless you've had your boat form new a previous owner might well have re-wired so check.

 

[symondo]

I ask due to these new batteries, I was intending to re wire it in this way as it made logical sense to me. Hopefully won't take too long....