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I'm sure this has been asked before but can't find the thread. We have bought 25' narrowboat and need to rewire the 12 volt system. I'm thinking of just having engine, bilge pump, water pump, LED lights + small telly off an inverter. (no fridge or heater. I plan 2 batteries start + 100 amp leisure. I fancy an adverc but they are too expensive. To start with I thought we'd go the basic route ie battery 1,2,1+2,Off switch. How does it work? When you start do you leave it on 1 to recharge the start battery and then move it to 2 when the start battery is charged? How do you know when each battery is charged and when do you use 1+2 or is that just for emergencies. Does anyone know of a good explanation on the internet or would I be better saving for an adverc and blocking diodes? Where is the cheapest place to find a new or SH adverc? Many thanks in anticipation

I have a small challenge. When I left my car in Weybridge to bring the boat back to Stoke Bruerne the battery warning light came on about five minutes before arriving at the boat. The battery is not old (9 months and still under guarantee) so I suspect it may be the alternator has failed on the car (8 years old and 70,000 miles). I will take my multimeter with me and check what voltage is at the battery before starting it (hopefully) and after. I expect, if the alternator is working, it will be about 14.2v. As it is a day trip to get the car I don't suppose I'll have much chance of getting the alternator fixed if it is that which is playing up. I have been trying to do some lateral thinking and know that the boat starter battery is now almost 7 years old (and working fine) but I suspect it is getting towards the end of its useful life. I know the specification (90ah), the physical size of the battery and the terminal layout. Now to the question (!). If I need to buy and new battery to get me home I thought I may as well buy one that would be suitable as a replacement starter battery for the boat as once the issue with the car is resolved I would expect the current battery to recharge and be OK so is there anything I need to be aware of if I need to buy a new battery to get me home so that it is suitable as a replacement starter battery for the boat. Thank you in advance for any advice.

Hi All, First off apologies if this is already covered but every search I do keeps freaking the forum out, producing no results and instigating flood control. Apart from that its going very well. I've just bought 4 x 230AH 12v Monolith Semi traction Batteries. I intend to eventually hook up Solar power and I intend to get a smart alternator regulator, probably the alternator regulator first. Something like this: http://www.shop.sterling-power.com/acatalog/ProSplitR.pdf Solar panel wise I hope to get 2 x290W panels with a 60A MPPT controller. Am I better off having 2 banks of 2 x 230AH 12v Batteries or 1 bank of 4 batteries. Everything on the boat is run off 12V. i have an inverter but don't would only have to use it once in a blue moon. I had originally thought of having 2 banks. the first for essentials and the second for luxuries. Essentials: Bilge Pump Water Pump Shower Pump 2 x 12V lights Headlight Horn Luxuries: 12V Fridge (in summer) 12V TV laptop via 12v car charger USB Phone Charging Car Stereo, Amp and Sub Additional Lighting Having 2 banks I feel like I can run down my luxury bank without worrying about whether I can have a shower in the morning, but another mate suggested that with a big enough bank I'd be less likely to run out in the first place. Another suggestion was that having a fall back system is always good on a boat, maybe i should just put both banks on one of those big switches that lets you use 1,2 or both. I've a sneaking suspicion I've just answered my own question, but I've typed it now so never mind Any thoughts would be much appreciated, particularly a link to a wiring diagram for 3 banks (Starter battery is a 110AH sealed battery), a 12v switch, a 3 output alternator regulator and an mppt controller. Cheers, Ben Heron