radio and amp play on perko battery 1 both and 2....why

rlamp4040

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Oct 2, 2011
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I only have it hooked up to battery #2 along with my amp and they both come on no matter what position I have the perko switch in. The switch was factory installed. any ideals-Thank you
 

tpenfield

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when you say "hooked up to battery #2" do you mean directly connected to battery #2 or the terminal at the Perko switch for Battery #2 :noidea:

Either way, the switch is out of the equation. The purpose of the switch is to select which battery will supply the main power to the boat/engine. The switch has a 'common positive terminal' and then the 'positive leads' of the 2 batteries connect to the switch at the #1 and #2 terminals. The switch position, then decides which batter(ies) are connected to the 'common positive terminal'.

Basically probably not the right set-up for what you wanted to do. . .
 
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rlamp4040

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Oct 2, 2011
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I think I figured it out. My amp is directly wired to the battery #2. I assume because the radio plays on either switch setting it is wired to the acc. when my radio turns on the "auto on" switch in the radio (which I did hook up) turns on the amp. I think I get that. What confuses me is if I'm using battery one to start and ride and amp power is draining #2 and I'm on the lake for a week with no shore power how do I keep number 2 from draining. Do I just keeping switching back and forth? if the switch is in "both" will it charge both? Thanks for your help
 

tpenfield

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In order to charge battery #2, you would want the Perko switch set to "both' or #2, while the engine is running (Both) might be better if the #2 Battery is run down quite a bit from the stereo.
 
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