Battery Switch for Trolling motor

duke · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:49 am **Posts:** 36

I have a 12volt trolling motor and 2 deep cycle batteries. I would like to set the batteries up with a switch so that when one battery goes dead I can just flip the switch to go to the other one.
I assume the negatives can be connected together as they just go to ground.
I believe I would need a 12v 3 way switch with the switched part going between the 2 batteries and the feed going to the motor.
Has anyone else done this and where could I find this switch as I believe it would have to handle around 30amps. Tried the automotive places.
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Baius · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:18 pm

Have you considered hooking the batteries in parallel? Might be an easier solution. That way you do not drain either battery, draw evenly from both. Or if you install a 12/24 plug with four leads you hook the batteries to the leads as normal and wire the plug for 12 volt. Again batteries drain evenly and unlikely to drain completely.

duke · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:49 am **Posts:** 36

How does everyone else have their 2 battery systems hooked up. Do you just switch the leeds when one battery goes dead?

Maverick · **Joined:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:32 am **Posts:** 586

hook them in parallel or buy a switch that can handle the current usually around 50-70 bucks. make life easy hook em together.

Hearnsy · **Joined:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:14 pm **Posts:** 5

Most 12V motors are wired with #6 AWG wire which would suggest that a 60 A switch would be needed. A 60 A three way switch would run you alot more than 50 or 60 bucks if it even exsists. I would run run the two batteries in parrallel to the motor. They drain together then you can charge them togther. If an uncharged battery is connected to a charged one it will drain the charged one to charge itself make sure they are charged together.

Hope this helps

John

duke · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:49 am **Posts:** 36

Thanks John
So from what you are saying if I hook my batteries up in parallel than when they are drained I would only have to hook my charger to the one battery's terminals and they would both charge equally? I dont have to remove any of the wiring from the batteries?

legacy · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 am **Posts:** 992

I'm interested too......I don't get the parallel thing though. Is there a switch that's needed for this too?

Cheers

orrsey · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:21 am

No switch is needed to wire them up parallel. However I was at NAPA yesterday and looking through the marine section I came across the very thing you were looking for. Its a round dial type thing that lets you switch batteries.
orrsey

Hearnsy · **Joined:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:14 pm **Posts:** 5

Hey Guys,

No switch is require when the batteries are connected in parrallel, and yes, hook the charger to one battery and it will charge both batteries.

John

legacy · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 am **Posts:** 992

What if you're using a regular marine battery and a Nautilis deep cycle battery that you can charge with a normal house outlet?

First, would that cause problems and does anyone know if that would work the same for charging both?

Cheers,

Paul

orrsey · **Posted:** Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:37 am

Good question, I have a Nautilus charger and it has 3 settings on it for different types of batteries. "regular" "deep cycle" and "gell cell" I am not sure but Im sure someone on here will know.
orrsey

legacy · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 am **Posts:** 992

I'm heading out to a remote location in a couple of weeks. I was hoping that I could charge both batteries with using the power to just the Nautilus and not need a seperate charger. The Nautilus is one of those all in one batteries...lights, cigarette plug, air compressor.

Any ideas if it's a bad thing to run this type and a regular deep cylce in parallel?

Any power we have is from a generator and I'm trying to limit the plugs needed.

Cheers

legacy · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 am **Posts:** 992

Okay...scratch that last question....not a good idea according to CT. :oops:

Cheers

duke · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:49 am **Posts:** 36

Thanks John
Hope to wire them in parallel this weekend.

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Battery Switch for Trolling motor

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