Pearson Boats - Common Systems > Electrical Systems & Electronics

Battery Switch

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Libations Too:
I have a Perko battery switch on Libations and two group 27 batteries. When sailing I normally switch to one of the two batteries and hold the second in reserve. Then, when it is time to start the engine I turn the Perko switch to "all" before starting the engine. I have done this since owning the boat and everything seems to work just fine.

Occasionally I forget to turn the Perko switch to "all" before starting the engine. Again, no problem. But this prevents my "reserve" battery from being charged. When I notice my mistake I stop the engine, turn the Perko switch to "all", and restart the engine so that both batteries are being charged. This has been my practice because someone once told me to never turn the Perko switch while the alternator is charging.

Recently someone told me that stopping the engine was not necessary as long as I did not turn the Perko switch to "off". The presumption being that it is acceptable to switch from "1" to "all" to "2"....but not to "off".

Any comments? What is the real truth here? I assume my Perko switch is original equipment but I am not certain.

Thanks,
Richard

Dolce_Vita:
The truth is ... it depends.

Some switches are built so that they "make before break".  These are safe to switch between 1-all-2, but not "Off".

Even newer ones have a "field disconnect" contact that essentially de-energizes the alternator while switching or off.

The oldest ones could potentially go open momentarily while switching between any of 1-all-2. This is the condition that can blow out diodes or the regulator.

I don't know which style was OEM'd on our P-323s, but given their age, I'd suspect its the last of the threee types above.  I always treat mine as if that is the case.  It should be possible to test, but you'd need to have access to an oscilloscope to do it right, as the open time is very short.

Libations Too:
Ed, that's what I suspected.  As for the oscilloscope, I have enough boat toys as it is....

GusF16:
So, there could be an issue with starting with the switch in 1 (my start battery) and then switching to 2 (my house bank)?

selene:
Hopefully somebody out there has a 'silly scope.  Now we are all worried....I have never dared touch my switch when the engine was running.  But AFAIK both batteries are charged regardless of the switch position, so I have not needed to. Yeah, not the most helpful post  ;)

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