Alternator Question

[Brent Evans]

Does the alternator charge both battery banks regardless of whether the rotary switch is set to any position: both, engine, house or off?

[patrice]

I would answer;
depend on how it was wired.     

[Stu Jackson]

Patrice is right.

From the "101 Topics" "Electrical 101" thread:

OEM 1-2-B Switch Wiring History  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4949.msg30101.html#msg30101

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams  This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6604.0.html

This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring:  The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137615

[Ron Hill]

Brent : The normal C34 wiring is:
From the alternator output to the lug on the starter solenoid.  That lug also has the #4 wire from the battery selector switch.  Then that selector switch position determines which battery bank is being charged. 

That's how the factory wired the boat in 1986.  Good luck in checking your wiring.

[Jim Hardesty]

Brent,
If you have a battery voltage meter (the one by the dc breakers that shows % battery charge) wired up you can answer your question with out following wires.  With the engine running above idle and the selector swith set to 1 see what voltage you are getting at each battery.  If both are charging sould be about 14+ volts  if only one is getting the 14+ volts and the other is about 12 volts only the one is charging.  Do this also set to 2 and see what happens.  With it set to both they should read the same.  Thats the way it works on mine.
Jim

[Ron Hill]

Brent : You might want to take Jim's idea and use a hand held multi meter on the battery/s to check the switch wiring.  
The later C34s have a much better Voltmeter in the main electrical panel than the ones install in early production.   A thought

[Brent Evans]

Many thanks to Stu, Ron, Jim and Patrice.  Or is it Pat Rice?
I'll be down to the boat this weekend and sort it out.  Regards, Brent