Hi Justcruisin, The arrangement you describe is quite common in boats, in fact I bet your changeover switch is one built for marine use. You obviously have a good "handle" on how to use this arrangement and it works for you. There is no better test.
I wouldn't recommend this arrangement for those who are not so "au fait" with auxiliary battery issues and here I'm referring to the more usual set up of a main for starting and auxiliary for a fridge. Also I don't think it's very practical for "on the road" charging of a caravan battery.
very simple, one switch mounted below the dash , off position, handy for working on car & when vehicle is not in use all electrics are turned off .nothing can run batteries flat , also vary handy if there was a severe electrical fault or fire . off position = all systems are isolated . position 1=no 1 battery position2=no 1 + no 2 battery position 3= no 2 battery.
simple as a seat bealt .My wife even looks after it ,as its on her side . mind you ;;;;;shes not blond::::::
jimricho said
08:59 PM Jan 10, 2010
dave06 wrote:
mine was out of warranty but its still not nice, just cause you got it today doesnt mean you got it tomorrow
Not just el cheapos either....had an expensive Odyssey AGM fail several years ago due to an intermittent internal open circuit. Out of warranty too.
dave06 said
10:05 AM Jan 11, 2010
didnt know about the explosion Bit Daryl, quite often one feller is outside while the other is checking to see what wrong, could be a bit iffy if it went off then!
twobob said
01:05 PM Jan 11, 2010
Having handled a lot of batteries, only one has explode on me. Never expected it or considered it would happen, but it did. I was lead to a shower and walked straight in and stood for a good ten minutes. No problems luckily.
This is why you should NEVER tap a battery terminal. The major cause of explosion is the cracking of the lead connection (internally) to the plates. The internal gas is Hydrogen and an arc across the broken connection causes the bang.
So always remove and replace the batter terminal by spreading the lug, and do not over tighten it.
ps: english spelling of lead = the metal and to show the way - crazy
oldtrack123 said
06:01 PM Jan 11, 2010
Hi Twobob
Now that is good advise, I wonder how many realise how dangerous H2 in a battery is. Peter
justcruisin01 said
07:56 PM Jan 11, 2010
A battery that is being charged greats a lot of gas , iv,e seen one blow up when the gas was ignited by a spark from a grinder .
the charger was in a bad location verses general work area .
off position = all systems are isolated .
position 1=no 1 battery
position2=no 1 + no 2 battery
position 3= no 2 battery.
simple as a seat bealt .My wife even looks after it ,as its on her side .
mind you ;;;;;shes not blond::::::
This is why you should NEVER tap a battery terminal. The major cause of explosion is the cracking of the lead connection (internally) to the plates. The internal gas is Hydrogen and an arc across the broken connection causes the bang.
So always remove and replace the batter terminal by spreading the lug, and do not over tighten it.
ps: english spelling of lead = the metal and to show the way - crazy
Now that is good advise, I wonder how many realise how dangerous H2 in a battery is.
Peter
the charger was in a bad location verses general work area .