Two switches?

[elwopo]

My recently acquired boat has two engines and two batteries. I'm used to having two batteries...but this one has two battery switches. Several big red wires going into each one. Each switch has a 1, 2, both, and off position. Is this common? I've never seen it before and am trying to figure out what works what.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Two switches?

Could be setup so that you can switch either battery to either engine or even have them in parallel if extra cranking amps are required. Hard to tell without seeing it, you may have to trace the wires back to know for sure.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Two switches?

do not move the switch with the engine running, will kill charge circuits in motors. you must confirm the at contact before break switches, before you can do this.