I have a new (to me) 2001 282 sail fish. It has three batteries, it looks like two of the batteries are hooked up in parallel and the other is by itself . There are two battery switches, both switches have a #1#,2, both and off selections. The previous owner said just to run the boat with each switches on the both selection. Does anyone else have this same set up, if so how do you use the switches?
Battery Question
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Legend
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I have the 2004 Sailfish with the same set up and I rarely use both batteries positions together. I keep the parallel batteries on 1 and the single on 2. This way you always will have one bank charged should the other one die. if one side does die you can always switch to both once you have one engine running just never turn the battery switch though the off position to get to both. It is alright to switch from a or b to both just not through off.
You may have a similar question about the fuel tanks. I always keep both engines running on one tank and when one is low I switch both engines to the second tank. Some people run one on each tank but to me that is too confusing to track both tank levels as one 150 and one is 70. Good luck you will love Sailfish
You may have a similar question about the fuel tanks. I always keep both engines running on one tank and when one is low I switch both engines to the second tank. Some people run one on each tank but to me that is too confusing to track both tank levels as one 150 and one is 70. Good luck you will love Sailfish
SkunkBoat
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OMG... its draining....
don't do that. Don't ever "run" on both. "BOTH" is for the rare emergency when you cannot start a motor on 1 or 2.
With twins, wired as Grady did, you should start and run the Stbd on 1 and start and run the Port on 2.
don't do that. Don't ever "run" on both. "BOTH" is for the rare emergency when you cannot start a motor on 1 or 2.
With twins, wired as Grady did, you should start and run the Stbd on 1 and start and run the Port on 2.
SkunkBoat
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sorry if I seemed to rant... This same or similar question has come up at least 5 times this week. Particularily the "running on Both".
Legend has good advice with the switch positions. I agree, run on one tank at a time.
Also, don't confuse the fuel valves with the dashboard switch that changes the fuel gauge display. just throwing that out there....
Regarding switches, unless you have some really old switches, they are 1-Both-2-OFF. So you will never go thru OFF to get to Both. This is acually part of the "make before break' design of the switch. It makes the next conection before breaking the prevoius one so that there is no time when there is no connection. This is important because you never want to shut off the switch while a motor is running. That can damage the motor.
Legend has good advice with the switch positions. I agree, run on one tank at a time.
Also, don't confuse the fuel valves with the dashboard switch that changes the fuel gauge display. just throwing that out there....
Regarding switches, unless you have some really old switches, they are 1-Both-2-OFF. So you will never go thru OFF to get to Both. This is acually part of the "make before break' design of the switch. It makes the next conection before breaking the prevoius one so that there is no time when there is no connection. This is important because you never want to shut off the switch while a motor is running. That can damage the motor.
Okay, Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. Also, your diagram was very helpful. I have a much better understanding of the batteries now. I will start and run with starboard on 1 and port on 2. How about when anchored, I assume keep starboard on 1 and port on off.
It doesn't really matter what battery you use when anchored (and using the boat) What is important is to just use one or the other since when anchored you have a higher probability of running a battery down while you play, sleep. mediate etc
) What is important is to just use one or the other since when anchored you have a higher probability of running a battery down while you play, sleep. mediate etc
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SkunkBoat
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Seasick...He has twins. He's got a double house bank on 1.
So keep the stbd switch on 1 when anchored. The port battery (when switch is on 2) only runs the port motor and a bilge pump and it does that whether the switch is on or off. So there is no point in turning it off. leave it on 2.
This is the point about not using BOTH. If you are on both and partying hard you are running down ALL of your batteries.
I never turn off battery switches until I'm leaving a tied up boat. Last thing I do. Actually I walk half way down the dock and turn around and go back and turn off the switches....
If you are interested, there are better ways to configure your batteries.
New Battery Config for 265
So keep the stbd switch on 1 when anchored. The port battery (when switch is on 2) only runs the port motor and a bilge pump and it does that whether the switch is on or off. So there is no point in turning it off. leave it on 2.
This is the point about not using BOTH. If you are on both and partying hard you are running down ALL of your batteries.
I never turn off battery switches until I'm leaving a tied up boat. Last thing I do. Actually I walk half way down the dock and turn around and go back and turn off the switches....
If you are interested, there are better ways to configure your batteries.
New Battery Config for 265