Marine grade dual battery switch

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I wanted to have the option of using 1 or 2 batteries if we were to dry camp even though this year it seems we have booked all our trips having electric! I went to West Marine and picked up a Blue Sea Systems m-series 300A dual battery switch. I already had the 2 batteries installed so I just made a small mount plate out of thin aluminum and mounted it right to the battery box holder angle iron. Now I can select either battery, both batteries or off for storage. You will notice the different sizes of the cables...these are what I had laying around. The grounds (negatives) are tied together to the large white ground wire. I left the 30A fuse and holder inline for circuit protection.

[lx22f/c]

Nice clean look. You did a great job,
Should be trouble free.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Robert

[BlueHaul]

That looks really good! You sure have a lot of room between the battery boxes and the trailer. On our 24FBS, we have to tip the battery boxes forward a little to get the cover on!

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Yeah lots of room. I debated on doing a toolbox up there but due to cost I will pass for now. Thanks!

[Tail_gunner]

Looks very nice!!!

Question: did you put a corrosion barrier between aluminum bracket and the steel angle iron?

A thin piece of rubber or a thin piece of plastic will prevent dissimilar metal galvanic corrosion between the aluminum and steel. Being exposed to the elements, it's a definite probability. Your aluminum bracket will last much longer.

[RoyBraddy]

Nice job and idea on using the Blue Sea marine quality battery switch. We have been doing this same idea since 2009 here on my four GP24 12VDC Interstate standard issue batteries. My layout is for four batteries (two groups of two each) with each groupd using a four-way Blue Sea Battery and then a third Blue Sea four position switch selecting the two groups. Certainly gives you full control of using one, two, three, four, or all off letting you play games with what batteries you want to use for camping or other things. Each Blue Sea switch position is OFF-BAT1-BOTH-BAT2

My photos here only shows three GP24 batteries being used. I am now thinking upgrade mode since 2009 and will be installing a metal box with two 150AH 12VDC batteries here on the trailer tongue with another group of two each 150AH batteries mounted in the back of my truck bed. This allows me to use my batteries for separate things I am involved with as well as using them all together giving me around 600AHs capacity when camping. The two locations required to spead out the battery weight also.




I was going to use the enclosed optional back cover for my Blue Sea switches like you did but never got them ordered. Looks like a more safer install having the heavy cables ring terminals enclosed and out of harms way. Without the back cover the cables are rather close to the trailer frame but I have not had an issues with them being this way...

my setup from the Off-Road Trailer 12VDC Power Distribution panel to the batteries is shown here.


Roy Ken

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I didn't worry about the corrosion between the aluminum and steel as I painted the aluminum pretty good. Worst case is if it does corrode, I can grab another piece as I have access to any aluminum I want as I work in an aluminum plant. Nice job on your setup Roy Ken!