Posted by Colin (24.231.221.80) on July 15, 2004 at 14:44:55:
In Reply to: Battery switch; Can/should it be done while motor is running? posted by Paul on 13:10:42 07/13/04:
Battery switches are make-before-break between 1 to both, and both to 2. So you can switch from one to the other without damaging the diodes of the alternator. Just DO NOT MOVE SWITCH TO OFF WITH ENGINE RUNNING. The problem with the engine dying when switched to battery No.2 sounds like a combination of a low (bad?) battery and RPM not high enough to produce output from alternator. Idle speed is not high enough to excite the alternator. 1800 RPM is probably needed to excite alternator and then you can drop back to idle.