Confusing Battery switches

[Halfhitch]

I recently purchased a "new to me" boat. It has recently had new battery switches installed that are different than what I am used to. I bought my first boat in 1962 and have always been familiar with the... #1, #2, Both...configuration of the switches. This boat has twin engines and the one switch is called a "Dual Circuit Plus". It has an "ON" position and a "Combiner" position. I get the part about keeping the two charging circuits separate and the Combiner position in case a battery gets too low to crank the engine, you can boost it with the other battery. What I don't get is If I have the Dual circuit switch in the off position, I still get power to everything if I turn the other switch to #1 or #2. I have plans to remove the switches and chase down where everything is going but I need to make sure I understand what should be happening in the different positions so it operates as it should. Seems kinda odd that after a half century of standard Boston switches doing their job perfectly, somebody decided it needed changing. It's the shits to get old. Stuff starts outpacing a guy.
I would appreciate an explanation if someone has a handle on this and a simple diagram would be Aces. I have a single group 27 on each circuit.

 

[Capt Bill]

I hear ya... when things change, it doesn't always make sense.
So I don't know this to be fact, but in just looking at the switches, and thinking it over, my opinion is that when the OFF, 1, 2 switch is on either 1 or 2 position, that is the only battery that is powering the system. But when it is on EITHER the 1 or 2 position AND you switch the combiner switch to COMBINE, then both batteries are in parallel. Does this make sense?

 

[jason808]

Without seeing the wiring, it can be dangerous to make any assumptions, but with that disclaimer.

I would check to see there is power to the engines with the combiner switch in the off position. By a voltmeter or tracing out the wires.

If you can not start the engines with the combiner switch in the off position, most likely,
They used the combiner to connect the engines to the batteries.
They used the 1/2 selector switch to choose which battery powers the electronics.

This is just a guess. It is a way to start both engines with one battery bad.

 

[DennisG01]

Basically, that combiner is like a master switch for 2 individual circuits (house and engine, for example). It turns both circuits on or off at the same time, yet still keeps the isolated from each other. Then, if needed, you can also combine them. Whether things are still wired as intended... with who knows how many previous owners... well, that's a different story!

Sea Ray? What year/model? Somewhere in the mid 80's to early 90's?

EDIT: Oh, regardless of how it's currently hooked up, I would take this opportunity to wire things the way YOU want them. For example, only having two batteries in a twin engine boat with a decent house load is not really ideal. Plus, unless those batteries are DP batteries, that's another thing to change out. Even DP batteries might really be at their limit trying to start small block engines (assuming small block, for now) and also provide a house load. Usually, one of the batteries will do double duty and also provide the house load - typically the port, if memory serves.

 

[Halfhitch]

You are right on Dennis. It's a '88 Sea Ray Laguna center console. I always like that hull. I like having two walk thru doors at the transom should you ever get caught in the bad and are shipping green water in the open bow. also having no below deck hoses for the stern deck drains is a plus. I believe it was voted Best day fishing boat in it's class in 1989. I tried to find a decent Grady I could afford but they were either junk or the owners were too proud of them.

What you were saying about the Dual circuit switch is the way I figured it should work. When it is in the off position nothing would be on regardless of the position of the #1/#2 switch, but as I mentioned ,even with the Dual circuit switch "OFF" when you turn the other switch to #! or #2 you get power. ????Dunno



Jason, The combiner position I get but that switch has 3 positions...."ON....."OFF...and "COMBINE". It's the ON - OFF position I'm not understanding for sure. No matter whether that switch is on or off, I still get power if I turn the other switch to #1 or #2. ????

 

[jason808]

You are right on Dennis. It's a '88 Sea Ray Laguna center console. I always like that hull. I like having two walk thru doors at the transom should you ever get caught in the bad and are shipping green water in the open bow. also having no below deck hoses for the stern deck drains is a plus. I believe it was voted Best day fishing boat in 1989. I tried to find a decent Grady I could afford but they were either junk or the owners were too proud of them.

What you were saying about the Dual circuit switch is the way I figured it should work. When it is in the off position nothing would be on regardless of the position of the #1/#2 switch, but as I mentioned ,even with the Dual circuit switch "OFF" when you turn the other switch to #! or #2 you get power. ????Dunno



Jason, The combiner position I get but that switch has 3 positions...."ON....."OFF...and "COMBINE". It's the ON - OFF position I'm not understanding for sure. No matter whether that switch is on or off, I still get power if I turn the other switch to #1 or #2. ????

That is one slick looking boat.

Can you start the engines with the combiner in off and the 1/2 switch in 1 or 2?

 

[Halfhitch]

Capt Bill, Yes I get what your saying about the combine function on the mystery switch. It's the fact that I still have power to the #1/#2 switch even when the mystery switch is in the "OFF" position. Maybe this is the way it is supposed to be. I can kill all power if I turn both switches to off so I can power things down, but I suspicion that that Dual Circuit switch is not wired properly. I am going to go through and check all the connections and load test all the battery cables and before I get into it I was hoping to get it straight in my mind what each switch should be doing. It may be that someone just mixed up the cable routing while changing batteries or some such. I just can't get past the fact that when a switch is in the "OFF" position and it is still passing on power then it is not actually "OFF". Maybe I'm splitting hairs???

 

[DennisG01]

I always liked those Lagunas - they are VERY solid boats.

I wonder if a previous owner disabled that one switch? Funny thing is, those switches look newer - as if someone added them - that breaker is definitely newer than the boat - which is certainly not a bad thing! Maybe someone disabled that switch? Either way, tracing wires, as you mentioned, is the way to go about it.

 

[SkunkBoat]

My guess would have been the Dual circiut controlls Stb Motor start batt and a separate House battery. The other switch for the port motor start on position 2 and allows you to use the stb start batt on position 1

Dunno why the house would stay on with the dual circiut off.
You are going to have to trace it all out.

I have a similar config that separates the House from start batteries
see this thread New Battery Config for 265


FYI I just had to replace the Dual Circiut Plus 6011 switch. after 3 years it got "crunchy".. Blue seas said they are sending me a new one free.
They redesigned them in 2017 due to high failure. Mine was a NEW design!

 

[Halfhitch]

I want to thank you guys for responding and giving me your take on this even though it is not on a Grady hull. If it is not proper etiquette for me to continue this on this site that I enjoy so much, just give me a clue.

 

[DennisG01]

You mean like this?



Nah, go for it. But there's also another forum to look into - clubsearay. I'm "Lazy Daze" over there. It's a very active forum. Lots of well mannered, informative members - just like here.

 

[Halfhitch]

Yeah, like that Inspector Clueso. I will check out the SeaRay forum.

 

[Ky Grady]

Yeah, like that Inspector Clueso. I will check out the SeaRay forum.

But,,,,, you're allowed to stay here also!! I joined this site in '06 but didn't own a Grady-White till '17.

 

[Halfhitch]

But,,,,, you're allowed to stay here also!! I joined this site in '06 but didn't own a Grady-White till '17.

Thanks John. I find the guys here to be my sorta group.

 

[kirk a]

It looks a lot like the Blue Seas Add a battery system I had on my previous mako. As others have said, trace things back. Never a bad idea to know exactly what and where your wiring goes and does.

The advantage of that system is that a single engine can charge multiple batteries automagically.

The Blue Seas site has a vast array of resources and diagrams to show how it *SHOULD* be done. That said, they can't control how someone interprets their diagrams and instructions.

 

[Halfhitch]

Thanks Kirk, I will look into the Blue Seas website. If I could find a diagram for my setup, 2 engines and 2 batteries and 2 switches, that would be great. I'm not quite ready to tear into the battery switches just yet. I pulled both trim/tilt units off and have them at the rebuilder. Soon as they are back in and operating I will delve into the battery cable mess.