Could I put 3 batteries onto the same switch. Just wire it up the same way with 2 batteries on #2 and 1 battery on #1?

@tomspontoons

Ай бұрын

Yes, I have done this a number of times. I run the starting battery on #1 and two deep cycles, run in parallel, on #2. This will simply keep you at 12V on battery #2 connection, but will give you pretty much twice the battery life. I like this especially for a boat with an upgrade sound system with amp.

Super good explanation and demo!

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words!!

Couldn't I use a positive bus bar as well so I'm not putting so many wires into the switch?

@tomspontoons

4 күн бұрын

I suppose you could, but ideally they stack right on the switch so they’re wired as directly as possible. It should just be your 12V accessory harness and outboard. If adding more positive accessory wires to the common/shared post I’d still keep the outboard positive directly to the switch common/shared post. Then run the other accessories on a buss bar that runs to the common/shared post. We don’t want to interrupt that draw of the outboard, especially in the newer EFI outboards.

Hi tom love your videos i have installed a switch for my two batteries the way you showed. How do i install a solar panel so i can charge both batteries thank you in advance

@tomspontoons

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching the channel!! You’ll wire in your charger(s) to each battery individually….so directly to each battery’s positive and negative post from the charger. Hope that makes sense!

@georgecanakis1075

Ай бұрын

@tomspontoons thanks for the reply. So do i keep the switch to the off position

@tomspontoons

Ай бұрын

@@georgecanakis1075 Really shouldn't matter as the batteries will be taking charge independently. Can't hurt to keep it in the off position while on the solar chargers though and not in use.

I currently have that switch. It is original. The internal engine vessel has been modified to a single bank system with house power and engine starting on one large bank. I wish to add a separate new starting engine battery to the switch system. Should I put the alternator output charge cable and starter draw cables on the second post away from the house? or other method? Thanks for your detailed explanation but I am missing something in my case. Diesel with 70 amp alternator.

@tomspontoons

2 ай бұрын

Unfortunately I am no help in your case. I've rarely dealt with inboard gas engines let alone a diesel with an alternator. With outboards the alternator feeds power right back through the battery cables to the switch or battery. Your best bet would be to check with a local marina, maybe purchase a bunch of parts for your boat and ask them, or just offer some cash for a quick minute of their time.

Hi Tom, one question I have is about starting the engine. I thought one shouldn't start the engine from the house battery. But if I should turn off the engine before switching for example to both batteries so that house and starter battery are charging when the engine runs, wouldn't this mean that the house battery is also used to start the engine? Thanks for helping out and great video.

@tomspontoons

Ай бұрын

I think that used to be more of an issue, but with the new deep cycle batteries they’re making them with better cranking amps to where a quick start doesn’t hurt them like it used to. It was always “starting battery for starting and deep cycle for trolling motor and accessories”. Now days some marinas only carry a dual purpose starting/deep cycle combo as the option for starting. Our local marine shop sells all brands of outboards and they actually recommend a 27 class deep cycle as the best option for a single battery set up (starting and electrical accessories). I’ll have to do some more digging into that one, or get with a battery rep to get their take!!

@joetorres2505

19 күн бұрын

Your right my friend. Starting battery only for cranking. House battery for acc only

Hey Tom, I’ve got a 50 amp inline breaker. Where’s the best place to install it, prior to my 4 position switch? Cheers pal.

@tomspontoons

Күн бұрын

I like to keep the breaker between the accessory that needs it and the switch.

Hi Tom, I have a different brand switch but the same idea. I followed your instructions but in the end, I found that my stereo which is on B2 works in all positions B1,B2 and B1+2. Is it normal?

@tomspontoons

8 күн бұрын

All of your accessory positive leads should be stacked on the common post of the switch. When doing this, the battery switch is selecting which battery will power those accessories on the common post. It is not selecting which accessories receive power. Everything hooked to the common post will receive power when the switch is selecting one of the battery options or 1+2. Hope this makes sense!

Hello Sir Thank you for the help on my shifter it help me a lot. I have a question. I’m trying to figure out how to mount my leds on the sides. I don’t have a lip on the bottom of my rub rail so the only place I can mount them is on the toons or the fence rail. Which do you think would be best? I’m afraid they will not stick to the toons for a long time before they start falling off. Any suggestions would be appreciated Thank You

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

We often mount them to the underside of the plywood if there's room between the crossmembers and the deck trim. I use wire clips for that method, a clip about every 12" to 16", usually a 1/2" clip works well with a stainless screw. Otherwise you'll need to screw the provided strips into the plywood which will work too. The other way we've done is is by using wire clips on the tops of the brackets that hold the crossmembers. When doing this I use self tapping stainless screws into the aluminum of the bracket.

@Zforce800Trail-22

4 ай бұрын

@@tomspontoons What’s your email I’ll send you some pictures of our pontoon it’s almost finished and you can share them with pontoon stuff

Is there a method to use 3 or 4 batteries or a system to handle a 24 hour Camara surveillance for my boat

@tomspontoons

Ай бұрын

To my knowledge these switches are made to run with 12V systems only. If you were going to power a surveillance system on your boat and needed longer lasting power you could put as many batteries in parallel as you want in order to allow for longer lasting power supply. Then attach the single positive lead from the paralleled batteries to the switch.

If both Batteries are Lead, do they need to be the same amps? 100 start and 75 house- example.

@tomspontoons

2 ай бұрын

As far as I know that does not matter as much as the battery types matching. I know combining 24 class starting batteries and 31 class deep cycle batteries doesn’t have a negative impact, and I’m sure their amp ratings are very different!!

How do you know what batteries to buy. I currently only have 1 right now but want to get a secound one so i can run the stero and such. What is the best battery for the stereo.

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

You could take your current battery in with you to a marina, auto parts store, or even Batteries Plus and let them help you match them. If I'm starting from scratch with new batteries I would go with a Dual Purpose (starting + deep cycle) for my starting battery, and then add in a 31 Class Deep Cycle battery for my house battery. For 99% of pontoon boats standard lead acid marine batteries will work perfectly fine and will last year after year if kept charged and stored properly in the off-season (topped off with a charge and kept off concrete at reasonable temperatures in the winter).

Bro thanx for screwing it facing up can't see the front !!! So #2 facing the switch is your comun ? Right ?engine etc .....I'm thinking 2 is for #2 battery but is not ! OK thnx

@tomspontoons

2 ай бұрын

Turning to setting two will pull/push power from/to battery 2 and only battery 2…being whichever battery you connect to post 2 on the back. Common or shared post is where all your positive wire leads go like motor battery cable and electrical accessories. Remember, the switch is only controlling which battery (or both in parallel) is powering ALL of the items hooked to the common or shared post.

Do you recommend a circuit breaker between the cut-off switch and the fuse block mounted under my console, and if so, what size?

@tomspontoons

2 ай бұрын

Yes, you’ll usually see a 20 amp resettable breaker on that main accessory power positive wire back near the battery or switch.

@martyepperly5803

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@tomspontoons

2 ай бұрын

Happy to help! @@martyepperly5803

What about the difference in charge between batteries in the 1+2? This always bothers me because I know that batteries will equalize in charge when they are connected in parallel, which is why in my line of work we always parallel batteries that are fully charged and try not to parallel when one is massively discharged compared to the others, due to the current draw. But I also don't have much experience with Deep Cycle, maybe it's just not a problem?

@tomspontoons

3 ай бұрын

I’ve never seen it become a problem. I’ve heard that it’s going to “preference” one battery over the other until one is fully charged. Not sure which one necessarily. I guess the safe bet there would be to start on battery 1 and carefully change to 2 while running to specifically push charge to it if you know it was worn way down. That’s my two cents anyway

can I connect to the second house battery ?

@tomspontoons

3 ай бұрын

I just show the simplest setup with a starting battery and single deep cycle battery. You could have two deep cycles if you want to start your engine off of one. It's also popular to run two house batteries in parallel and connect that to the house battery post.

What if u have 2 house batteries and 1 starting battery?

@luisaraujo4708

4 ай бұрын

I would guess your motor battery would go to terminal 1 and your two house batteries, which are “seen” by the switch as one battery assuming they are similar as Tom warns in this video, so they would go to terminal 2. The basics don’t change with the number of batteries. I used Tom’s simple electrical tutorial videos, plus some extra electrical switching, to combine, or isolate, the 12 and 110v on my pontoon houseboat with solar, a wind turbine generator, and a dual fuel generator. I plan a lot of off grid traveling with my houseboat and not having power aboard is not an option. Good luck with your project!

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

I've done this on a boat with a seriously upgraded speaker. Starting battery will still go to the #1 post. The two house batteries will be put in parallel, so the positive coming off of the paralleled batteries will connect to the #2 post on the switch, and a ground from the paralleled batteries will tie to the ground buss bar. Let me know if that makes sense. Here's that battery system on the upgraded stereo. Doesn't go into great detail, but shows the setup I used. kzread.info/dash/bejne/hp970JOgpLmyftY.htmlsi=7XcMkikDV2giVzKv

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

That's a good way of putting it...the house batteries in parallel being "seen" as one battery. I like that!

C4TT!

@tomspontoons

4 ай бұрын

I’m surprised you don’t also say “FIRST!” Thanks!!

@J.W.W.

4 ай бұрын

@@tomspontoons😆