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correct battery usage
https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11144		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  nathan [ Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  correct battery usage
2003 four winns vista

Current set up is gen has it own battery. Single engine and systems on one battery. I thought prior to having it winterized last year both gen and engine was on one battery and systems had it's own battery. Anyone know correct set up?
Author:  nathan [ Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
i think i may have found it in online manual. 2 positive should go on different batteries and 2 neg should go on different batteries. generator should go on one one battery but doesn't matter which one? amps ran to battery doesn't matter which one?

Is this correct?

Should change from battery 1 to battery 2 each weekend and only use both if in trouble. Ships system everything is on system battery. parallel- batteries will be used parallel (12 volt and engine) and both charged
Author:  Bliss36 [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
Hi Nathan,

I'm not sure what model 2003 Vista you have but it sounds like your headed in the right direction. Is this the online manual you found? http://www.fourwinns.com/upload/Documents/OwnersManuals/2003/248-268-Vista-Manual.pdf Page 60 has the same explanation of operation of the switch that you stated.
Author:  Paul I. [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
I don't think there is truly a "correct" way as the crow flies. Different boaters will have different ideas.

With that said, there should be one battery for each engine and the genset. Depending on the size of the boat and what you want out of it, I would add one or two house batteries. With charging system to keep of them charged up. This is not hard to do at all!!
Author:  nathan [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
I hooked it up as the manual shows. this is a single engine with gen vista 268
One positive on each battery from starter
one negative on each battery from ground

gen to one battery and amps to other battery

Boat has alway only had 2 batteries. Battery selector only has on, off and parallel, ships systems. While (on) it looks like being hooked up this way will charge both batteries.
Author:  Paul I. [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
It sounds like you have them in parallel as a norm. Which is not good, one could discharge into the other. Giving you 2 dead batteries. You should have a dual battery switch.
Author:  Bliss36 [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
nathan wrote:
I hooked it up as the manual shows. this is a single engine with gen vista 268
One positive on each battery from starter
one negative on each battery from ground

gen to one battery and amps to other battery

Boat has alway only had 2 batteries. Battery selector only has on, off and parallel, ships systems. While (on) it looks like being hooked up this way will charge both batteries.


It will charge both batteries while the switch is on. It will do this by running thru the battery isolator on the firewall right by where the step is. One battery will not drain the other thru this since it uses a one way diode style setup.

It should look like thisImage

You have the same battery switch I have. The battery switch should only be in the "on" position while the engine is running. Put the switch into the off position when engine is not running to prevent any other parasitic draws from pulling it down and leaving you stranded.

I'm assuming your generator should be tied into your house bank and not your engine starter battery. When you refer to "amps" are you talking about the house bank or engine?
Author:  nathan [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
Bliss36 wrote:
nathan wrote:
I hooked it up as the manual shows. this is a single engine with gen vista 268
One positive on each battery from starter
one negative on each battery from ground

gen to one battery and amps to other battery

Boat has alway only had 2 batteries. Battery selector only has on, off and parallel, ships systems. While (on) it looks like being hooked up this way will charge both batteries.


It will charge both batteries while the switch is on. It will do this by running thru the battery isolator on the firewall right by where the step is. One battery will not drain the other thru this since it uses a one way diode style setup.

It should look like thisImage

You have the same battery switch I have. The battery switch should only be in the "on" position while the engine is running. Put the switch into the off position when engine is not running to prevent any other parasitic draws from pulling it down and leaving you stranded.

I'm assuming your generator should be tied into your house bank and not your engine starter battery. When you refer to "amps" are you talking about the house bank or engine?



thanks for the help bliss36. I may need to go back and change the gen. which is house and which is engine battery? it did not look like it mattered which positive cable or which neg cable went to each battery just one on each. i went by how long they were and where it looked like it would reach. on the gen I think i need to move it as i currently have it on the battery closest to back of boat. the amp is just wired to first battery closest to cuddy. the amp was added last year and straight to battery.

i think i will move gen to battery with amp closest to cuddy. i am guessing this is the house battery.
Author:  nathan [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: correct battery usage
nathan wrote:
Bliss36 wrote:
nathan wrote:
I hooked it up as the manual shows. this is a single engine with gen vista 268
One positive on each battery from starter
one negative on each battery from ground

gen to one battery and amps to other battery

Boat has alway only had 2 batteries. Battery selector only has on, off and parallel, ships systems. While (on) it looks like being hooked up this way will charge both batteries.


It will charge both batteries while the switch is on. It will do this by running thru the battery isolator on the firewall right by where the step is. One battery will not drain the other thru this since it uses a one way diode style setup.

It should look like thisImage

You have the same battery switch I have. The battery switch should only be in the "on" position while the engine is running. Put the switch into the off position when engine is not running to prevent any other parasitic draws from pulling it down and leaving you stranded.

I'm assuming your generator should be tied into your house bank and not your engine starter battery. When you refer to "amps" are you talking about the house bank or engine?



thanks for the help bliss36. I may need to go back and change the gen. which is house and which is engine battery? it did not look like it mattered which positive cable or which neg cable went to each battery just one on each. i went by how long they were and where it looked like it would reach. on the gen I think i need to move it as i currently have it on the battery closest to back of boat. the amp is just wired to first battery closest to cuddy. the amp was added last year and straight to battery.

i think i will move gen to battery with amp closest to cuddy. i am guessing this is the house battery.



Thanks for all the help. didn't realize there was a difference from a starting battery and a house battery. got it fixed and now i know which one is the house battery. always learning something.
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