Battery Banks

[acbs38]

This might be an easy answer, but how should one be utilizing their (2) battery banks? I have battery switches in both engine rooms, and was told that the switches should not be in the “BOTH” mode. Should one be on #1, and the other on #2? Any direction on battery banks and use would be great!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I've never seen 1-2-both switches on a Hatteras. Usually they are On or Off.

 

[cww]

You can't unless it's some kind of non-factory wiring. All the Hatts I've seen including my boat have one bank for starting one engine, another for the house bank and starting the other engine, and your only choice is on or off. Plus a crossover engine start switch if one gets low. But that's it. They followed the KISS principle on the DC system.

 

[acbs38]

You can't unless it's some kind of non-factory wiring. All the Hatts I've seen including my boat have one bank for starting one engine, another for the house bank and starting the other engine, and your only choice is on or off. Plus a crossover engine start switch if one gets low. But that's it. They followed the KISS principle on the DC system.

can you elaborate on the what the KISS principle is? Thanks

 

[Boatsb]

Many boats have the switches changed to add 1/2/ both switches to allow the batteries to be set to parallel. Not my favorite way but it could work in some instances.

Later boats use multi bank switches for the ability to choose what batteries provide power to what device. We also use them in some catamaran that need a quick jump although I'd rather go with a solenoid.

The answer is

There could be all kinds of reasons why they were changed or maybe originally installed. Don't think only one way can work. Do be careful as one very vocal supporter of parallel on the battery banks was stuck without power when he killed all his batteries on his inverter.

 

[drewread]

can you elaborate on the what the KISS principle is? Thanks

KISS is an acronym for Keep It Simple Stupid.

 

[Pascal]

It would help if you d tell us what model and year you have

 

[IOLANI]

Don’t have a picture handy but my 1986 54 MY has a “Ships Service” battery switch in the starboard engine room that says 1,2 or Both. Next to it is the 32V Engine dedicated switch. Both look OEM .

 

[acbs38]

it would help if you d tell us what model and year you have

1975 58’ yf

 

[whoover]

My boat had 1, 2, both Guest battery switches but we're only wired for off.

Walt Hoover

 

[JD5652]

I have a 1, 2 and BOTH on my three battery switches and it's looks factory. Will have to get a photo next time I'm on the boat.

 

[Pascal]

1975 58’ yf

From the factory the boat had on/off battery switch for each engine and a port - starboard switch on the panel to select which bank to use for house.

But in 50 years chances are the switch could have been replaced

 

[piripucha]

Our 1977 58 YF came from the factory with port and stbrd, both-1-2-off swich, the panel feeds on the starboard bank exclusively. A selector swinch on the panel is a nice set up!

 

[cww]

It's interesting to see the differences. My 1981 53' has an on/off rotary switch for each bank, but it's just an on/off switch it doesn't give me a choice to select which bank to pull off of. The house DC load is fed off the starboard bank and there is no selector to change that. My dad's 58yf was the same way. Maybe the bigger boats have a different setup?

 

[johnjen50]

Mine is the same. The crossover at the helm is the way to combine banks to start an engine.

 

[bostonhatteras]

since everyone is chiming in, 1970 45 had two massive knife switches on forward engine room supports, house panel has selector for port or st'bd- no both, and then the parallel solenoid to combine banks for starting. I moved the knife switches to aft bulkhead, added another battery switch 1, 2, both between knife switches which feeds the inverter and usually keep it on both since the inverter has one full amp charger output. gen batt has own selector switch from hatt (says hatteras on it) and charger I added NOCO.

 

[rwaldrop13]

Don’t have a picture handy but my 1986 54 MY has a “Ships Service” battery switch in the starboard engine room that says 1,2 or Both. Next to it is the 32V Engine dedicated switch. Both look OEM .

Pau Hana was same year and model but had the Off/On rotary switches in each engine room. Also looked OEM.

 

[cww]

Pau Hana was same year and model but had the Off/On rotary switches in each engine room. Also looked OEM.

So the same year and model were different? I wonder if this was an option you spec'd when ordering it then? Obviously some people have the ability to select banks, but my boat doesn't, I wish it did, if for nothing else just to even out the wear & tear on the batteries.

 

[IOLANI]

I dunno it seems odd that a handful of people already said they have the 1/2/Off/Both setup . CWW might have it right, could have been an option. I've learned to never say never.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Having a BOTH switch does not make any sense. It gives the possibility of discharging both banks. Take a look at your original wiring schematics. I'll bet Hatteras did not wire it that way. I've never seen one with a BOTH option.