Battery management/perko switches

[RobS]

Shutting the battery switch when you leave the boat is only going to mask your problem, not solve or correct it.

Your battery charger, likely a 30 amp charger, should easily keep up with anything you may have left on accidentally, such as lights, or you choose to leave on intentionally, like a 12V fridge and courtesy lighting.

Excluding momentary equipment such as the bow thruster & windlass, I can't think of anything on the DC side that would cause dead batteries when the charger is on and functioning properly. Do you have flooded (wet cell) batteries? Have you checked them to be sure they aren't dried out? Have you checked voltage with a voltmeter with the charge ON vs. OFF.

The battery switch is on the forward most bulkhead under the center hatch at the helm. It's back to back with the battery switches under the cabin step. How long have you owned your Albin?

[catalina_mike]

My lead from the alternator went to the starter cable. So this means whatever battery is being used by the switch under the step will only get charged. I ran a separate cable from the alternator to a battery charging device (ProMariner). This device charges the starting battery first then the house or other batteries if more than two are installed (model specific). So far everything is working good and allows piece of mind knowing that no matter what position the battery switch is in the starting battery is ready to start the engine!