Battery Hookup Help Needed!

[redfishfun23]

Hello everyone! I am back to ask for assistance. I am illiterate when it comes to electricity and batteries, just thought I would put that out there to begin. I unhooked my 2 12 volt marine batteries to charge them and now am unsure in the configuration. I have an isolator switch on the back so I can use one or both batteries. I did not have the batteries hooked up positive to positive and negative to negative. I believe I had one jumper wire running from battery #1 positve to battery #2 negative. Does this sound right? I did label them before I unhooked but the ink on the labels faded so bad I could read it. As I said I fear electricity and do not want to blow up my batteries. I appreciate any guidance here that would be offered.

[slayer]

you are correct....that places the batteries is series giving you 24volts

[onefishtwofish]

Like this

24v-trolling-motor-wiring-diagram.gif (17.07 KiB) Viewed 2616 times

[onefishtwofish]

nm

[onefishtwofish]

Why did you unhook them to charge? Besides onboard, there are some 2 battery chargers (I have an onboard for my saltwater boat, a Minn Kota 2 battery charger for my duck boat). You can leave them hooked up to charge.

[redfishfun23]

Thank you! And I unhook them due to an unfortunate event when I tried to charge them while on the boat and lets just say I had to buy new batteries.......there was a loud POP and some instantaneous melting of battery terminals......again I know little about electricity and fear it more now.......haha. Is it wrong or bad to wire them this way if I am not running a trolling motor? will it harm the starter or the motor itself? Thank you again.

[fishinfool]

Yes it will harm your outboard motor starter and all the electronics on your boat including your lights. I am certain you have a 12 volt system. Connecting the batteries in the above diagram gives you a 24 volt source.
See the enclosed link, it should solve your issues.
http://www.jerrylabella.com/ship_shape_ ... grator.jpg

FF

[fishinfool]

Here is the pic I was trying to upload earlier. I hate brain farts....

battery_integrator.jpg (206.65 KiB) Viewed 2571 times

[redfishfun23]

Thank you for the diagram!