Rinker 260 EC Battery Switch

[markbellino]

Hello All,

I haven't taken delivery of my Rinker 260 EC yet, but a collegue of mine has one and we got talking.

He (and now I) would like to understand the battery switch on the boat. It has three positions, off, battery 1 and both.

So here's the questions:
1) which battery is wired to battery 1, the house or crank battery?
2) if the setting is on battery 1 and it is run dry by accident, then you switch to both - does current flow to battery 1 from the charged battery 2, or is there an isolator to stop that?
3) what is the best option to start and run the engine on - battery 1 or both? I'm concerned here about using the house battery to start the engine if it is battery 1, but then if we're trolling for fish (3 mph, 500 rpm at idle) and have the switch on both batteries don't you run the risk of flattening both batteries? The problem is that when idling the alternator doesn't kick in.

Thanks!

[markbellino]

I phoned Rinker and got some interesting information.

The 260 EC has 3 battery switch positions - off, battery 1, both.
Note there is not the typical 4th position - battery 2. Not included on the 260 EC switch!

So, the way this works (according to Rinker) is:

- Battery 1 is the crank battery
- Battery 1 is wire to the engine starter
- Battery 2 is wired to the appliances, lights, etc. (house load).
- if the switch is on battery 1, then battery 2 still pushes current to the appliances, etc. and battery 1 is used only for the starter.
- if the switch is on both, then basically it bridges both batteries together, so both battery 1 and battery 2 run the engine starter and appliances.


So all the switch is doing is deciding to keep the circuits seperate (battery 1 position) or bridge them together (both position).

In conclusion, the best setting for the switch on 260 EC's is to leave it on battery 1. This preserves the crank battery. If the house is drained, you need to start the boat or plug in 110V. If the crank is dead, then it will be a bigger problem. Then go to "Both" setting and hope your house battery will turn the engine!

[Vuja De]

That sounds like a good switch.  No more guessing. 

From what you described, the cranking battery won't be drained by your accessories.  And there isn't another setting on the battery switch to let you accidently drain the cranking battery.
Nice set up.

Just get a good house battery set up and you're golden.   Maybe 2 12 volt or 2 6 volt deep cycle batts.

I am glad Rinker was able to help you so quickly. 

[Thiagoaaf]

Thank you. Great post...

Just wondering... If we leave switch to batt #1 does it still charges house battery when we are on the way?

I phoned Rinker and got some interesting information.

The 260 EC has 3 battery switch positions - off, battery 1, both.
Note there is not the typical 4th position - battery 2. Not included on the 260 EC switch!

So, the way this works (according to Rinker) is:

- Battery 1 is the crank battery
- Battery 1 is wire to the engine starter
- Battery 2 is wired to the appliances, lights, etc. (house load).
- if the switch is on battery 1, then battery 2 still pushes current to the appliances, etc. and battery 1 is used only for the starter.
- if the switch is on both, then basically it bridges both batteries together, so both battery 1 and battery 2 run the engine starter and appliances.


So all the switch is doing is deciding to keep the circuits seperate (battery 1 position) or bridge them together (both position).

In conclusion, the best setting for the switch on 260 EC's is to leave it on battery 1. This preserves the crank battery. If the house is drained, you need to start the boat or plug in 110V. If the crank is dead, then it will be a bigger problem. Then go to "Both" setting and hope your house battery will turn the engine!