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1-2-both Blue Sea dual battery switch

N

NSDON

Advanced Contributor
In 1 position, I’m getting a lack of starter power, , just clicking, switching to battery 2 or both, starts fine.

Voltage on both batteries is 12.5ish with engines off, with switch in the position for battery 1 or 2, and 14.3 v in the position for 1 or 2.

Does this mean I have a bad switch or bad connection at the dual battery switch in position 1?

Switch and wiring are 2022 and a heavy guage, 1/0.

Thanks for helping me with my confusion.

Don
 
Sometimes the contact points on the switch get corroded a bit. Unhook battery positive(s) and turn the switch back and forth a bunch of times. If you can get to the contact points, spray electrical cleaner on them. Reconnect batteries and see if that helped.
 
Hi Don,
I think chawk_man is probably right as well as being faster than me to respond :)

Both batteries appear to be charging ok so the #1 switch contacts have continuity. But charging is a low current situation while supplying the starter is high current. Seems like the position 1 contacts might not be passing adequate current.

You could voltage drop test the contacts and compare #1 to #2 and prove/disprove that.

One other cause could be that there is an issue with #1 battery. You could have that load tested if you think that's a possibility.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the ideas, I think you’re both on the right track, bad contacts or a weak battery that only shows up under load. I think I’ll switch the batteries around and see what works and doesn’t work then.

I take good care of batteries, I didn’t want to tell you they are 14 years old, people have prejudices sometimes about old things. :cool: Especially batteries.

I just this spring replaced the battery in my 1963 Pontiac, it was 21 years old. I’ve never used a battery tender, just kept the cells full and charged them up in the fall.
 
THAT is FLIPPIN' amazing! I have NEVER had a battery last anywhere near that long!

And, with all the pounding that a boat hull endures at speed, it's even more astonishing a battery would hold up that long....let alone two!

But your Pontiac battery must be some kind of Guinness record!
 
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SWEET RIDE!

Reminds me alot of my college buddies Catalina we used to cruise around in.

Solid and comfy....and fast....piece of HEAVY METAL.

Never seen a two door OR a hood scoop on one of those though!

Does it have a 409 in it?
 
Hood scoop was not uncommon but not factory, it is a 409 4 speed, the 409 was only available in Canadian Pontiacs.
 
Why? :)

Yes, from what i read, it’s not good to have a weak one and a strong one, weakens the new one?

Should I buy 2 the same or one starting spec and one house battery spec? Center console, only running bilge pump, VHF, Raymarine, and required marine lights. No big electrical draws.
 
Exactly but, probably more importantly, a weak or damaged battery can put undue stress on your charging system.

As far as what to do, I would say what you did 14 years ago worked out pretty dang good. So, that's the way I would go.

What brand were those Hurculean batteries anyway?

I used to be a big Interstate Battery fan. I even took electrical classes from a couple of "principals" of the company. But, that's been many years back now.
 
My car had a Costco, the boat, Canadian Tire store brand. So both made by who knows?

Lead acid- I usually buy the heaviest battery that will fit in the hole. The same group 24 marine in there now weighs 44 lbs, Costco is 45 lbs and costs less.
 
Ahhh....you know the weight to quality factor eh?
Not everyone does.

I learned that working on heavy equipment.

Caterpillar batteries were the heaviest made to stand up to the pounding from dozers and hoes and other construction vehicles.

The 8D's used to kill my back to change.

I was once told that Johnson Controls made 90% of all lead-acid brands....including Caterpillar.

They just adhered to whatever specifications the brand wanted
and charged them accordingly.

I've since found out that company was sold so I don't know how true that might be today.
 
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