Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

I paid for the Addition Second Battery to be installed incase of a dead battery while on the water or if i want to add a AMP at a later date. There is a Switch that will choose Battery A, Battery B, A+B or Off. I was told by the Dealer to keep switching back and forth from A to B each time i go out. That seems like a Real Pain, just wonder how other people are doing it?

Is it fine to just leave it on A+B and let the Alternator charge them both up?

Only run a+b if both batteries are exactly the same make/model and purchased at the same time. Maybe easier to get a trickle charger to plug in the boat - then you know both are always ready to go.

run it on A+B for both batteries so when your out using, pulling, or crusing around leave it on that to charge both batteries. If you beached, anchored or whatever use A or B so that your only running off ONE battery. If it goes does then you switch to the other battery and once its started switch back to A+B and charge up the dead one.

I alternate batteries. Its nice to have a backup if something goes wrong. A failed alternator while running down the lake will drain your battery to the point it wont run. Flipping the switch to the other battery might get you home if your stuck. I never run A&B unless I drained one while floating and listening to the radio.

Wouldn't it make the most sense to leave it on A+B and charge both. If the alternator is going out we should get a warning or at least see that the voltage is dropping on the gauges.

Yes I am switching from A to B each time I go out. I turn the battery off at the end of the day so turning it on before we go out really isn't that big of a pain. IMHO.

You can leave on A & B to charge both but if you are out floating and listening to music and they both go dead then you are stuck.

I use either A or B each time and if one was to do dead then I would just switch to the other to start the boat then back to A&B to charge the dead one.

I don't watch my voltage meter that close, and I don't think you would get sufficient warning, it would be too late. It's not that likely of a scenario, but the 2 batteries are a backup system. Tying them together just doubles the capacity, but does not make it redundant.

They do make an automatic battery switch if your really worried. I had one on my previous pontoon boat. It had a decent size stereo system in it and those outboard motors don't charge super great. The automatic switch will combine all your batteries for starting and running the motor so charges all of them and switch to one at a time when parked using power.

I start on A, move to A+B while running, and when I'm not running, but running any accessories (radio, lights, etc.), I run them off of B.

So I am only using A to start the boat, but I keep both of them charged. If I use more juice than I intend, I'll still have a "full" battery to start.

I put in an automatic charging relay. My switch stays on A and that's what starts the boat. After the alternator is running, the ACR allows both batteries to charge. When I shut off the engine the batteries are automatically isolated again. The stereo is connected directly to battery B. But if something ever happens and my A battery can't start the boat, I can still turn the switch to B.