The battery switch is a battery-management component that allows you to charge and run your boat’s electrical components from a single battery. If you’re like most boaters, you have a battery charger and you run lights, electronics, and other appliances from your batteries, even when the engine is not running. That’s why you need one of these battery switches. A battery switch automatically disconnects one battery from being used to start the engine and allows you to run lights, electronics, and other appliances from a single battery, even when the engine is not running.
To help you select the best boat battery switches for your needs, we’ve turned to customer reviews on Amazon, where thousands of boaters have left ratings and rave reviews for their favorite products. These best-selling items not only have near-perfect ratings, but they also have dozens of glowing reviews describing why they’re so great.
Read on for the best boat battery switches.
Our Editor’s Best Boat Battery Switches Reviews
- Permits selection between batteries for starting, charging or operation in parallel
- For use with two or more batteries and systems under 50V
- UL listed, ignition protected and CE approved
- Capacity: 250A continuous, 360A intermittent
- Size: 5-1/4 inch x 2-5/8 inch
- Compact design makes installation in tight places easy
- Multiple mounting options; can be installed on the surface or rear of the panel
- Ignition protected and can be mounted in the engine room of gasoline powered boats
- One piece copper studs are 7/8" long and accept multiple cables
- Tactile textures on face let operate the switch in low or no light
- Heavy Duty: ABS plastic housing, durable made for safety use, rear cover insulates terminals against any short of circuits, equipped with 4 sets of bolts.
- Operation: On/Off 2 positions, 275 A continuous at DC 12V, 455 A intermittent at DC 12V, 1250 A momentary at DC 12V.
- Compatible: used for DC 12 - 48V systems to isolate and secure the electrical system, can stand alone or be locked together with other switch.Its purpose is to eliminate any power draw from the battery when vehicle or boat is not in use, disconnects the battery safely.
- Widely used for car, marine boat, RV, camper, travel trailer, truck, ATV, UTV, battery banks and other devices.
- Package include:1x On/Off battery switch,4 bolts incuded.
- Heavy Duty: ABS plastic housing, durable made for safety use, rear cover insulates terminals against any short of circuits. Design for 2 batteries vehicles, can switch battery 1 / battery 2 separately or both on and off.
- Purpose: eliminate any power from the battery when vehicle or boat is not in use, disconnects the battery safely.Avoid battery drain off.
- Operation: 1-2-Both-Off,4 positions, 600A continuous at 12VDC, 455A intermittent at 12VDC, 1250A momentary at 12VDC.
- Compatible: used for 12 - 48VDC systems to isolate and secure the electrical system, can stand alone or be locked together with other switch.Widely used for cars, marine boats, RVs, campers, travel trailers, trucks, ATVs, UTVs, battery banks and other devices.
- Package include:1x battery switch, 4 bolts,3x Copper Ring Terminals,4x Heat Shrink Tubings , 1x hex wrench.
- Switches a single battery to a single load group Ignition protected - safe for installation aboard gasoline powered boats
- IP66 waterproof, ISO 8846 and meets ABYC requirements
- Accepts two 4/0 AWG (95mm²) battery cables.
- Terminal Stud Size: 1/2"
- Continuous Rating: 600A, Max Voltage: 32VDC
- Compact design makes installation in tight places easy
- Provides an emergency combine feature to draw power from both batteries for starting or radio calls
- 3 mounting options; can be installed on the surface, flush or the rear of the panel
- Make before break feature allows switching between battery banks without interrupting power
- Ignition protected and can be mounted in the engine room of gasoline powered boats
- Includes AFD (Alternator Field Disconnect)
- Compact design makes installation in tight places easy
- Multiple mounting options; can be installed on the surface or rear of the panel
- Ignition protected and can be mounted in the engine room of gasoline powered boats
- One piece copper studs are 7/8" long and accept multiple cables
- Ideal Power Switch: With tinned copper inner studs, the boat battery switch has better contact performance and good conductivity, greatly reducing power consumption. Studs Size: 2 x 3/8" (10mm). Furthermore, the housing of battery kill switch is made of flame-retardant plastic for safer use in messy or moist environment
- 2 Position & Ignition Protected: This battery shut off switch is single circuit ON/OFF design, simply turning the knob to ON or OFF position to realize the control of the power circuit. Of course this car battery switch has ignition protection as its crank rating that withstands 900A for 30 seconds, 500A for 5 minutes, and 300A continuously
- Easy to Install: The battery disconnect switch is euipped with mounting screws for easy installation which could save your time and money on extra accessories. The 12V switch shell is easily disassembled, and the space inside the shell is large to complete the wiring tasks. Moreover, the switch base has partition design to reduce interference between wires
- Safe and Practical: This battery cut off switch is suitable for 12-48V DC systems, often used for the control and protection of electrical systems. When the battery is not in use for a long time, this car battery switch can safely disconnected the power supply so that can prevent leakage and reduce energy consumption
- Wide Compatibility: The marine battery switch is usually used with the battery box, fuse block which can isolate and protect the electrical system. This battery switch is widely applied to marine, boat, yacht, car, RV, camper, travel trailer, truck, ATV, UTV, etc. When your RV, boat or car is not in use, the power switch can safely disconnect the battery power, reducing the additional loss of battery power and extending the battery life
- Compact design makes installation in tight places easy
- Multiple mounting options; can be installed on the surface, rear, or front of the panel
- Battery On-Off switch with removable knob provides added safety to prevent accidental or unwanted current in the DC system; this is handy during electrical system repairs
- Ignition protected and can be mounted in the engine room of gasoline powered boats
- One piece tin-plated copper studs are 7/8”long and accept multiple cables
- Provides simplified simultaneous switching of two battery banks while maintaining their separation
- Provides an emergency combine feature to draw power from both batteries for starting or radio calls
- Compact design makes installation in tight places easy
- 3 mounting options; can be installed on the surface, flush or the rear of the panel
- Ignition protected and can be mounted in the engine room of gasoline powered boats
Best Boat Battery Switches Buying Guide
Before choosing the best boat battery switches you should consider following options:
1. Automatic Switches: Automatic switches are designed to turn ON the battery bank when the shore power is disconnected. This is achieved by sensing the voltage of the incoming AC from the shore and switching ON the battery bank when the voltage falls below a preset limit.
Advantages:
a. Prevents the battery bank from over-discharging.
b. Reduces the need for maintenance.
c. Aids in keeping the batteries fresh when they are not in use.
Disadvantages:
a. The automatic switch may not detect the loss of AC power if it is disconnected slowly.
b. The battery bank may not be able to power essential items in an emergency if the automatic switch is set too low.
2. Manual Switches: A manual switch is used to connect the battery bank to the loads when the AC power is disconnected.
Advantages:
a. Allows the battery bank to be used when AC power is disconnected, even if the automatic switch is set too low.
b. Easy to set to the desired voltage level.
Disadvantages:
a. Requires regular checks and adjustments.
b. Potentially dangerous, as the battery bank may be connected to the loads even when AC power is connected.
3. Non-Disconnectable Switches: This manual switch is designed to control the battery bank in the event of AC power failure. The switch can be turned ON only when the AC power is switched off.
Advantages:
a. The switch is easy to operate.
b. Prevents the battery bank from being accidentally connected to the AC loads.
Disadvantages:
a. May not be able to power essential items in an emergency.
b. Requires regular checks and adjustments.
4. Dual Battery Bank: This setup uses two 12-volt batteries in series to form a 24-volt battery bank. The dual battery bank is connected to essential loads, while the starter battery bank is used to start the engine and run the auxiliary equipment.
Advantages:
a. Provides enough power to run essential loads even when one of the batteries is discharged.
b. Easy to wire.
c. Cheaper than a larger battery bank.
Disadvantages:
a. Potentially dangerous, as both batteries are used at the same time.
b. Battery bank may not last as long as two single batteries connected in parallel.
c. Requires regular checks and adjustments.
5. Parallel Bank: This type of battery bank uses two 12-volt batteries in parallel to form a 24-volt bank. The parallel battery bank is connected to the essential loads.
Advantages:
a. Longer battery life.
b. Less maintenance.
c. Cheaper than a dual battery bank.
Disadvantages:
a. Potentially dangerous, as both batteries are used at the same time.
b. Requires regular checks and adjustments.
c. Takes up more space than a dual battery bank.
What else you should know about boat battery switches
1. What is a boat battery switch?
A boat battery switch is a switch that is used to turn the battery on and off.
2. How does a boat battery switch work?
A boat battery switch is a device that is used to turn the power on and off to the boat battery. It is usually located in the engine compartment or near the battery.
3. Why is a boat battery switch important?
A boat battery switch is important for several reasons. First, it allows you to isolate the battery so that you can work on it without having to worry about electrical shocks. Second, it prevents the battery from accidentally being discharged, which could damage the boat. Finally, it makes it easier to keep track of the battery’s charge level so that you can ensure it is always ready to go.
4. How do I install a boat battery switch?
There are many ways to install a boat battery switch, but the most common and recommended way is to use marine-grade battery terminals. First, disconnect the negative (-) terminal of the battery. Next, using a battery terminal wrench, remove the positive (+) terminal from the battery. Now, take the battery switch and connect the negative (-) terminal of the battery to the negative (-) terminal of the switch. Finally, connect the positive (+) terminal of the battery to the positive (+) terminal of the switch.
5. What are the benefits of having a boat battery switch?
There are many benefits to having a boat battery switch. A boat battery switch allows you to easily and quickly change between different batteries, which can be helpful if one battery dies or if you want to use a different battery for a different purpose. A boat battery switch can also help to prevent battery theft, as it can be difficult for someone to steal a battery if it is not easily accessible.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best boat battery switches. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best boat battery switches will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.