Start / House / Combine conundrum

[Portage_Bay]

How big is the house bank? Was it mentioned previously?

No it wasn't mentioned. FLA golf car 6 volt batts making a 1000 WH bank. As far as I can tell given the way things are and the lack of knowledge by the PO he ran it and started engines from the house bank.

 

[Bmarler]

Understood. My boat was similar when I bought it. Po didn’t have a clue how things worked. Every battery switch was on including both of the emergency cross connect for the house and genset to the start bank. The rest of the wiring was a disaster. All new now.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Understood. My boat was similar when I bought it. Po didn’t have a clue how things worked. Every battery switch was on including both of the emergency cross connect for the house and genset to the start bank. The rest of the wiring was a disaster. All new now.

Yeah I straightened out the last boat's issues over 5 yrs of ownership. And the one before that over 3 yrs. Lots of work and not enough cruising. Planned ownership of this one is 3 yrs. I just want it to work and be safe. Not gonna redo it all.

 

[Portage_Bay]

I found some time to get to the boat today. Swapping the two wires at #2 and Both solved the behavior problems. Without re-reading the thread I can't remember all who suggest that other than Bmarler and SteveK. Thanks to all!

For the time being the combiner is removed. Eventually it will be replaced with a Blue Sea ACR. Wired correctly directly to the two battery banks. The port alternator will get a new cable taking it back to the start bank. There will be no more using the 1,2,Both switch posts as terminals.

There are still other puzzles to solve but those are other stories, other threads. I'm reminded of an acquaintance who re-named his boat "Yikes!" because he kept saying "Yikes! Why did they do that?"

 

[Bmarler]

terrific, thanks for posting the update. good stuff for those having battery switch issues.