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37' '67 tin Roamer

Discussion in 'Chris Craft Roamer Yacht' started by gmhand28, Jun 28, 2008.

  1. gmhand28

    gmhand28 New Member

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    I'm not getting many replys, but another question. There is a push button switch on the left side of the lower steering station that is marked "BATT. PAR." What is it.
  2. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    On most boats, this will give you two or more batteries in parallel to start the engine. You just push during start.
  3. 9lives

    9lives Member

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    Battery Parr switch

    I only use the switch when ever I found my main starting batteries drained and needed the power from either the genset or house banks to supplement. I do not believe the switch was anything other than a means of jumping the circuit to another charged source.

    This is at least what I have found on 12v systems, no knowledge of its use on other voltages is implied!
    Mark
  4. gmhand28

    gmhand28 New Member

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    Stupid


    Thank You, I knew I'd feel stupid when I got the answer to this.
  5. 45tf

    45tf New Member

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    parallel switch

    I always parallel batteries to start, and with each engine. Half the load on the batteries during start. Some boat manufacturers used to have that feature built-in with the circuit wired to automatically parallel to start - Trojan was one mfr that did that. The old Huckins boats had a strange and complicated battery arrangement with two sets of batteries in parallel to start.

    My last two sets of main batteries have lasted six years. I have the Raritan converter always on at the dock too. Some guys don't like to do that.

    My generator is on a completely separate circuit. The Raritan maintains three sets of batteries.
  6. artwork

    artwork Member

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    battery parallel

    45tf,
    I like your idea. I was taught 30- odd years ago that the switch was for emergencies, as others have mentioned. But recently I've done a lot of study on inverters and battery capacity. The universal school now says when a battery is drained below 50% of their rated amp capacity, their life span is negatively affected. So waiting until one battery won't start an engine has already shortened that battery's life.
    Your use of the parallel every time is extending their lives. And if you let that first engine run a minute or so before hitting it with the other starting load, will begin re-charging at least one battery.
  7. SigSplash

    SigSplash New Member

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    Make sure you apply this rule to only Lead acid and Gel Cell Batteries. Ni-Cad, Lithium Ion, and Ni-mh like to be used all the way down before charging.
  8. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    I have never seen any of those batteries in a boat. Are you sure they exist?
  9. SigSplash

    SigSplash New Member

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    Sorry, I was slightly misleading. They are rarely, if ever used on a boat. I was speaking in general terms.
  10. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Ni-Cads and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are prone to developing memory. If not fully depleted, their capacity can be reduced over many cycles. In contrast, lithium batteries should not be depleted. They do not exhibit the same memory problems of NiCad and Ni-Mh. But as Lars noted, I don't believe they are commercially available in marine applications, with the exception of the prerequisite onboard Black & Decker drill, or in my case... an r/c helicopter. :rolleyes: