Monterey Boats 186MS, Owner'S Manual, Page: 66 / 254

66
MONTEREY
BOATS
Electrical System
Boats with One Battery and One Battery
Switch
On boats with one battery, the battery switch
feeds the engine and the 12 volt accessory panels.
The battery switch has two positions, OFF & ON.
When the battery switch is ON, the engine and
accessory circuits are activated simultaneously
and current flows from the battery to the engine,
accessories and electronics. When the switch is
in the OFF position, the engine and all DC circuits
are deactivated except for the automatic bilge
pump switch, which remains activated.
Boats With Two Batteries and One Battery
Switch
On boats with two batteries and one battery
switch, the battery switch will have four positions,
OFF, 1, 2 and 1 & 2 (both). The operator can set
the switch to supply 12 volt power from either
battery # 1 or battery # 2 separately or by both
batteries simultaneously. The selector switch also
directs the charging current when the engine is
operating.
For example: When the switch is on battery # 1,
the engine and the 12 volt system will be supplied
power by battery # 1. Battery # 2 will be isolated
and in reserve. Battery # 1 will be charged by the
alternator. When the selector switch is on battery
# 2, the engine and the 12 volt system will be
supplied power by battery # 2. Battery # 1 will
be isolated and in reserve. Battery # 2 will then
be charged by the alternator. When the selector
switch is on “1 & 2,” the batteries are connected
in parallel so the engine and the 12 volt system
will be supplied power by both batteries. Both
batteries will be charged by the alternator.
The “1 & 2” position should only be used when
starting the engine, as this requires extra electrical
power, or when both batteries are low and need
charging. Otherwise, it is recommended that the
selector switch be set on battery # 1 or battery
# 2 when the engine is operating. While in port
or at anchor, the battery selector switch should
be set to either the battery # 1 or the battery #
2 position. This will keep one battery in reserve
for starting the engine. The battery switch should
be turned to the “OFF” position when leaving the
boat unattended.
Typical Dual Battery Selector Switch Panel
No Digital Voltage Sensitive Relay
Boats With Two Batteries, One Battery Switch
and Digital Voltage Sensitive Relay (DVSR)
Some model option packages include a dual bat-
tery selector switch with an automatic isolator/
relay that controls the charging of both batteries
whenever the engine is operating. DVSR equipped
battery switch panels are identified by the pres
-
ence of the DVSR unit in the panel next to the bat-
tery switch as shown in the photo in this section.
Battery switch operation will be the same as de-
scribed in the Boats With Two Batteries and One
Battery Switch. The main difference is that the
DVSR will automatically charge and maintain both
batteries no matter which battery is selected to
provide power to the boat.
Once the engine is running, the alternator will
begin charging battery # 1 . As the voltage in the
battery raises to a preset level, the DVSR, which
is located in the circuit between battery #1 and
Single Battery Selector Switch Panel