Power to ignition with main power switch turned off.

Jan 22, 2008
26
Catalina 310 77 Atlantic Highlands NJ NJ
The other day I asked the crew to set the battery switch to 2 before I started the engine.
The engine started just fine and when I went below I noticed that the battery switch was actually "off." I immediately shut the engine down, adjusted the switch to the desired battery and all was well.
I am wondering if this is normal set up on the 310?
There is no battery drain, as I had not been on the boat in nearly two weeks.
Not sure what the implications are.
Any thoughts?
 
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Likes: jssailem
May 20, 2016
3,014
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
Might be an artifact of someone wiring the alternator to the starter lug, and having it wired to a battery bank at the same time, both options are recommended in various places but bad to do together. I would recommend doing one or the other, personally I like the alternator wired to the house, and not the starter, just make sure the wire to the house can carry the current put out by the alternator (read MainSail's article on battery switches).


Les
 
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Likes: jssailem
Nov 16, 2012
1,037
Catalina 310, 2000, #31 31 Santa Cruz
Sure sounds like someone did some rewiring. I'd be tempted to take some time to figure out and draw the current state of your wiring. Then you can decide what you want to do: leave it, or modify.improve it.
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,759
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
You NEED to do some real troubleshooting on what you have.

These links may help:

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

This is a newer primer for boat system wiring design with a thorough digram: Building a Good Foundation (October 2016)
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...dc-electrical-foundation.181929/#post-1332240

The Short Version of the 1-2-B Switch Stuff: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.msg38552.html#msg38552 This is a link to the Electrical Systems 101 Topic, reply #2

What are ACRs, Combiners & Echo Chargers? (by Maine Sail) [scroll to the top]
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=742417 and http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,9404.msg70131.html#msg70131

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We don't know what you do have. YOU do need to find out.

Someone might have turned the switch off when the engine started, you were topside then...

Good luck, keep us posted.
 

paulj

.
Mar 16, 2007
1,361
Catalina 310 Anacortes,Wa
The manual says do not start or run engine with the master switch turned to off.

paulj
:hook2:
 
May 20, 2016
3,014
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
That’s because it will cause problems with the alternator if there is no where for the power to go.

That is Assuming it was wired like it was when it left the factory. But as it left the factory it would never have started in the off position.