www.iFourWinns.com

Hello all,

Wonderful day at the lake today, aside from the brief downpour. Anyway, I have a question regarding the dual battery switch. While on either 1 or 2, I know it draws power from the selected battery. But, does the alternator charge according to the switch selection or will it charge both batteries regardless if it's on 1, 2, or both?
The reason behind the question is I typically switch to both while running so I can keep both charged. The flaw there is if I get back to the dock and leave the battery on, both batteries would suffer and possibly die. I'm hoping I can leave the battery switch to either 1 or 2 and never have to worry about killing both batteries if I happen to forget to turn the batteries off.

Thanks.

Andy

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2000 Horizon 230

If you add the automatic charging relay like the one from Blue Seas you should be able to leave it set on just the primary battery and both will charge when under way or on a charger.

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 200

The alternator charges whichever battery is selected on the switch. I just use one battery for half the day's boating and the other for the rest. Never suffered from a flat battery (touch wood !)

Graham

I do the same as Graham; use one part of the time and then switch to the other, this on the advice of the service manager at Lake Norman Marina, the FW dealer.

+1, that's what I do too.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I have the Blue Seas isolator, and it works like a charm. Leave it on Batt #1, and it charges both. If I ever need it, Batt #2 is there and ready.

For reasons that are likley not founded in fact, I switch about every other weekend, using battery 1 or battery 2 - so they both get some use, and some "exercise".

I think for the money, the isolator is the way to go.

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2008 H200SS
5.7 EFI Volvo Penta
Black graphics
2004 Toyota 4Runner

I thought the only reason you would turn the switch to "both" is if you really needed the power of both batteries to start. I've always been told to not run with the switch on that selection, just battery 1 or battery 2.

I've got two different types of batteries, one is a cranking battery, the other is deep cell. I use #1 to do the starting and #2 to do the radio, etc. while anchored. Granted I could probably use either/or but this is how I'm setup. Using one on Saturday and one on Sunday is kind of against the plan so to speak.

Either way, unless I have the Blue Seas or similar, sounds like I'll just have to rely on memory. Kind of hard after a few cold ones

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2000 Horizon 230