Battery and 2 switch question

[Edwards85]

My red light came on for my 2005 24V PCM engine. *This 2005 24v is a newer boat for us. *I did some research on this and I panic when I read about having same voltage *between the two batteries. *I installed a Heavy *interstate starter batter and a deep cycle. *This is what I read on tigeowner.com "One battery runs the power plant the other is for acceries this is a drive by wire engine , part of the power comes to the ecm from the engine battery and part from the house battery it is very important that you never run anything other than the engine off of the engine battery, and do to the comunications between computers it is important to maintain proper voltage between batteries. There are two computers , tac and engine management". So, when I turn my battery switch to number 1 all works "stereo, electronics, and turns engine. *When I use switch 2 all works as well "stereo, electrinics, and engine turns over. That tells me that both batteries are running all at same time. *Any input on this.

[k5spencer]

You can run battery 1 or battery 2 or both at the same time. In both they are in parallel. When the motor is running it is pulling power from the alternator. "House" sounds like a motor home set up. The "house" battery is used for all the living area stuff. In the boat I like to run both batteries unless we stop and float or beach for a while and listen to the radio. Then I switch to one battery so I save the other for starting. Is the red light an idiot light for the alternator? loose belt or bad alternator?

[chpthril]

Where is the red light located and when is it coming on?

All electrical loads, other then the automatic bilge B+ are wired to the common post of the switch. The loads will draw off of which ever battery you have the switched dialed to. Sounds like your setup it wired correctly.

I dont think your 05 V w/PCM is TBW, but a quick look at he throttle will determine. Does it have a cable driving the throttle? There will still be a shift cable on the transmission. Also, if it is a PCM engine, I do not think it will have the electrical issue you mention. This was a Marine Power condition with the 06 TBW engines.

[Edwards85]

Here is a pic of the backside of the throttle. I have a 2005 24V riders edition marine power not a PCM engine, sorry. I do know that the original interstate batteries were two cranking batteries.

[Edwards85]

Here is a pic of where the light came on. Have ran the boat 4 times this year so far. Cruised for about 15 minutes. Came down to idle and light came on and heard a faint alarm sound. All gauges were fine, level and transmission level oil fine. Shut boat off and idle for 15 minutes and light finally went off.

[Edwards85]

Mike I would like to contact you regarding a ballast set up should I contact you through private message or call you direct?
Thanks for all your knowledge.

[chpthril]

Mike I would like to contact you regarding a ballast set up should I contact you through private message or call you direct?
Thanks for all your knowledge.

Your 05 is definitely a cable driven and not TBW. Also, with the multi-battery switch used up through 05, all loads except the auto bilge where wired to the common post of the switch, so the ECM only say one reference. Unlike in 06 when Tige went to an ON/OFF switch and a diode isolator dual battery system. This had the loads divided between the two batteries, thus the ECM ended up seeing two references.

The red light is the v-drive oil pressure and comes on to indicate low oil pressure in the v-drive. So its normal to be on at idle or off idle speed.

Engine oil pressure could be one thing that is causing the alarm, but you may not see low pressure on the gauge. IIRC, your MP engine has dual pressure sensors: one for the gauge (large one) and one for the alarm (smaller one). They are T'd off the engine. If that extended fitting or the sensor gets a little clogged with a little sludge, which is normal after a few years of service, then is will restrict the flow to the sensor and cause a false low pressure reading. In your case, it could be the small sensor for the alarm that getting the reduced flow.

You can contact me via PM, but email is the best.
info(AT)mikesliquidaudio(DOT)com