Main Power Switch

[san dimas]

I just bought a 1997 Monark Pro 1700. It has 2 batteries and a main power switch that has 4 positions, Off,1,2, and All. How is this switch supposed to work and what functions does each position control?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

Off is Off
1 connects battery 1 to the engine
2 connects battery 2 to the engine
All connects both 1 and 2 batteries to the engine.

Don't turn the switch when the engine is running, you can blow the alternator. Use position 1 or 2 for your start battery. Once you get were your going and want to fish, folks use the other battery to run accessories. When your ready to head home, switch back to first battery and head home. Once at the dock, move to all for recharge unless you have a 2 bank charger

 

[tazrig]

Re: Main Power Switch

Off is Off
1 connects battery 1 to the engine
2 connects battery 2 to the engine
All connects both 1 and 2 batteries to the engine.

Don't turn the switch when the engine is running, you can blow the alternator. Use position 1 or 2 for your start battery. Once you get were your going and want to fish, folks use the other battery to run accessories. When your ready to head home, switch back to first battery and head home. Once at the dock, move to all for recharge unless you have a 2 bank charger

Well put. :thumb:

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

If I have the switch on 1 or 2 will the alternator charge both batteries at the same time or just the one the switch is on?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

If I have the switch on 1 or 2 will the alternator charge both batteries at the same time or just the one the switch is on?

It will charge just the one the switch is on, or both if it is on both.
Now if an isolator was installed it could charge both and moving the switch would not break the field of the alternator and therefore could be moved with the engine running.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

OK. So when I get home, put the switch on ALL to charge both batteries?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

OK. So when I get home, put the switch on ALL to charge both batteries?

Not fully understanding how your boat is setup I would say yes.
You need to find out how your boat is wired. Are there two batteries and not one or the other is used for accessories, or is one for accessories and the other for starting. If you have a trolling motor I'll guess one is for the trolling motor and accessories.
Do you have a built in battery charger? If you do and a trolling motor leave your switch on the starting battery until you get back to the dock. Tell us what kind of batteries are installed, starting and/or deep cycle.
Tell me more about your setup.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

I do have a trolling motor. Both batteries are deep cycle. I just got the boat and I'm not sure how the batteries are hooked up. I started to charge the batteries and one would not take a charge. The other charged fine. I took the questionable battery to a battery shop and it read only 2 volts. They are going to charge it over night with their expensive charger and see if it comes back to life since it is only 6 months old. When I first tried to charge the batteries, the main switch was on the OFF position.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

I do have a trolling motor. Both batteries are deep cycle. I just got the boat and I'm not sure how the batteries are hooked up. I started to charge the batteries and one would not take a charge. The other charged fine. I took the questionable battery to a battery shop and it read only 2 volts. They are going to charge it over night with their expensive charger and see if it comes back to life since it is only 6 months old. When I first tried to charge the batteries, the main switch was on the OFF position.

Take a pic of your charger and batteries. Take note of how many wires go to which battery. If you only have 2 (one + and one -) per battery, trace the wires from the charger to where they go.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

One battery has one large red wire on pos. terminal, the neg. side has 2 black wires. The one large black wire goes to the other batteries neg. terminal so the two batteries' negitives are connected together. The second battery has multiple leads hooked to it both black and red. One of the red cables is way larger than the others suggesting it goes to the starter motor. I don't think this boat has an onboard charger but I don't know how to tell.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

One battery has one large red wire on pos. terminal, the neg. side has 2 black wires. The one large black wire goes to the other batteries neg. terminal so the two batteries' negitives are connected together. The second battery has multiple leads hooked to it both black and red. One of the red cables is way larger than the others suggesting it goes to the starter motor. I don't think this boat has an onboard charger but I don't know how to tell.

If you don't have a 110V AC plug you don't have a onboard charger. Negatives being together is normal and the way to go. The battery with the multiple wires sounds hap-hazard. Using black and red on the positive terminal is bad, sure hope the previous owner didn't put a ground on the POS. Looks like the only way to have the engine charge both batteries is to have the position to both. This also means that you need to be able to start the engine with the switch on ALL.

I would recommend getting a 2-bank battery charger once you figure out your wiring

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

When I said multiple wires black and red, I ment that four red wires are on the positive and four black wires are on the neg. Sorry for the confusion, I have a hard time explaining myself sometimes.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

Makes me feel a bunch better, wonder where those 4 red wires go to

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

It has 3 live wells(bait tanks) and they added a radio. Maybe they go to those. I haven't had a chance to really look the wiring over. All I wanted to do is charge the batteries and it led to all of this. Kind of like plumbing:lol:

 

[alldodge]

Re: Main Power Switch

Looks like you will be OKey Dokey, and they do OK as well. The live wells probably have pumps and should be on a separate battery, and your starter should be on another. Need a regular starting battery for the engine and a deep cycle for everything else. With everything being on mostly one battery they may have had an issue and put everything on one instead of getting another battery

 

[san dimas]

Re: Main Power Switch

Thanks for your help. Tomorrow I'll put the second batery in and see how it goes. Hopefully they can bring the battery back from the dead so I won't have to buy a new one.