2002 210- Another Battery Question

[Gearyg]

Ok, before starting to try to identify which battery is Number 1 and 2, I realized that when my Perko swithch is on Number 2, the engine will not turn over (start). I can only start it when it is on Number 1 or All. Is everyone elses like this? If so, what is the purpose of having a spare battery in case one dies?

[MolarBoater]

Should be 1, 2, both, off. So if you have 2 batteries, one on 1 and another on 2, number 2 battery is not working. Might be a bad wiring connection/corrosion or a dead/weak/dry battery or a bad switch. I really like the cheap Minn Kota battery testers to rule the battery out, then trace the wire connections then, lastly the switch may be bad...it can happen.
Good luck, Molar

[Gearyg]

Thanks for the reply. The batterys are new, so I don't think it is that. All the connections are good, so far as I can see. The only thing that I am thinking, I had a really bad electrician hook up some electronics and left a ground cable off of one of the batteries so I ran a cable directly from Battery-1 to Battery-2 (Battery-1 was already/originally grounded). Do you know if you can hook up a ground wire from Battery-1 directly to Battery-2 (ground to battery 1 directly to battery 2)? Or does Battery-2 have to have a seperate ground of its own? I am too tired to proof ready, so hope I did not repeat myself too many times here....

[Jim Jenkins]

I will share this experience to help you and others avoid a problem I experienced with a similiar battery set-up but on a stern drive cabin boat (1988).

After a number of years of owning this boat and no problems with the battery or switches I had to get a tow to get back to port while on an off shore fishing trip. The Perko battery set up was #1, #2 or both. with the primary battery for starting the engine only. The #2 for lights, electronics, pumps, etc. and both for everything to give back up for starting. I would typically disconnect all batteries at the terminals when trailering the 450+ miles to Hatteras Village. Mabe overkill on safety??

First day of fishing during mid afternoon, my engine quit and would not start. I had been running off the batteries without any charge going back into the system from the alternator. A really dumb but easy mistake. Once back to the dock, got the batteries charged up, hooked them up correctly and never again such a problem.

In the haste to get underway I did not attach all the wiring correctly and did not pay attention to the alternator guage on my panel. Two errors actually.

I share this embarassment to help anyone who reads these posts to avoid the same.

[Mud Runner]

Originally Posted by Gearyg

Do you know if you can hook up a ground wire from Battery-1 directly to Battery-2 (ground to battery 1 directly to battery 2)? Or does Battery-2 have to have a seperate ground of its own?

Yes, in fact, that's the way it's done.

[Gearyg]

Just got done testing, all connections seem fine. Battery's are new. I bought a new switch and same thing, Perko switch is good. Power to the starter (common on the back of the switch in both 1&2 positions. I played around with switching battery 1-to-2 on the back of the switch and then back again, sometimes the motor will start in both positions, sometimes in only the number 1 position and sometimes in neither of the positions. The only thing I concluded is that when it would or would-not start was not consistant, no patterns

I am starting to think it may be the starter or solenoid? I noticed sometimes when I was on the water and tried cranking it, it would turn, turn, turn, turn and then stops (the starter would stop turning) as if there was no more juice or the starter just stopped. I would try again and then it would start up. Not sure if this is normal or not.

Just a last ditch effort to post to see if anyone has had any similar experiences before I take it into the shop ($$$$)...thanks everyone.

Forgot to add, in the Number 1&2 positions, my engine tilt/trim always works.

[MolarBoater]

I am sure you have completely charged both batteries. May be a defective battery, I have had that happen in the past as well esp if they sit unevenly.