Are battery on/off switches a safety item?

Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
My 1980 O'day has a simple electrical system. A battery, 4 breaker panel, electric start and charging outboard. The breaker panel controls nav lights and 4 or 5 cabin lights.
Being new to me last winter I planned on replacing the electrical panel, installing LED lights, upgrade the wiring and installing a battery switch.
Well, the electrical projects never got done.
Now I have had the boat a year the electrical system seems adequate for how I sail.

So my question is this. Is a battery on/off switch considered a safety/security/essential item? Should I make it a priority project for this spring?

Or is it more a nice to have so you don't leave something on and drain the battery?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
The short answer, yes it is a good safety item to have a battery switch.......

When you smell that burning electrical smell how are you going to isolate the batteries to knock it down without a switch???

Having been on a boat during a race that this exact thing happened on (with another forum member here) that is exactly what happened, we killed the batt switch instantly. When you smell that smell you kill that switch as fast as possible....... A fuse is key too....
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Ward H said:
...So my question is this. Is a battery on/off switch considered a safety/security/essential item? ...
Click to expand
Yes, it is all three. Safety is always a prime concern. Security, yes, as in peace of mind security. Essential, not so much, or it would be OEM installed. But more important, is there a fuse on the pos cabling coming off the battery before it runs to any electric device (panel, fan, whatever)? THAT is more important. My B323 has three batteries, and an on/off switch for each one- but each battery pos still has a 100 amp fuse before it goes to the on-off/buss bar, then another mega fuse after the pos buss bar..
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,321
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Besides the safety reasons already mentioned, I'd add a 1-2-both switch because, as you spend more time cruising and acquire more toys, you're also going to want to add a second battery, with a smart charger hard wired into your shore power system. It's a relatively inexpensive investment that will tie in nicely with future improvements. BTW I really like your boat.... you've become quite salty these past two years.
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
MMhmm. When the smoke starts running out, jerking the cables off of a cooking down battery sounds terrifying. The starter hangs up, sumpins gonna die. The battery could explode. Starter run away. Black smoke rolling out the hole. Women screaming, dogs barking. Owner drinking liquor straight out of the bottle. Again. Then the trouble starts..
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,965
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Want to get sleepy sailors out of bed, particularly while off-shore? Whisper "I smell smoke."

Not a joking matter. We had a fan burn up once, way out, and that announcement got everyone up in seconds, in whatever state of dress they were in. Would have been funny, if it were not for the smoke....
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
This boat had neither a battery switch nor battery fuse. A single group 24 battery did this!!


 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
8,004
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Are you sure that didn't take a Hellfire missile strike? Must be a Whaler because - it's still floating!
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Chris Patterson said:
MMhmm. When the smoke starts running out, jerking the cables off of a cooking down battery sounds terrifying. The starter hangs up, sumpins gonna die. The battery could explode. Starter run away. Black smoke rolling out the hole. Women screaming, dogs barking. Owner drinking liquor straight out of the bottle. Again. Then the trouble starts..
Click to expand
this describes a typical redneck saturday night at the pickup truck mud bog races, but understandably, you left out the really dramatic parts ...:D
 
C

Crackaloon

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Oct 8, 2013
42
S2 27 Delaware Bay currently
Maine sail is on track there. Usually it's more of a pain to add a fuse or put it on a breaker than a financial hardship. Take the time and play it safe. Maybe even if you're not the owner when there is a simple problem you could be the unsung hero that saved a life or even just lungs
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
centerline said:
this describes a typical redneck saturday night at the pickup truck mud bog races, but understandably, you left out the really dramatic parts ...:D
Click to expand
Oh MAN! I have GOT to tell this one. My wife is from Westchester, N.Y., probably never SEEN dirt, much less touched it. Mud bog here in Winnabow, (gotta love that name, huh?). "Baby, we've gotta go, it'll be another whole cultural experience for you".

"Should I wear boots?" Well dear, half the name incorporates the word mud, I suggest boots. Out she comes inna pair of Wellington boots, NO less than 500 bucks, 6 inch heels and all. Hell let's go. I got her talked through all the rebel flags, bringing up images in her mind I suppose of the klan, cross-burning and the like, with the explanation that we don't really do that anymore. Contrary to popular belief, most ol' country boys could care LESS what people look like, only our military kills people that doesn't look just exactly like us, but anyway. She's standing there and a bogger passes slowly by on pit row, she is standing there straight as an arrow, decidedly nervous about the whole affair. I also had to reassure her that your average hillbilly can't tell a northerner by the looks, although it can sometimes be evidenced by expensive clothing, tree-bark not being her fashion statement of choice. So, this guy throws a spot of 'mud' NO larger than a seed in an orange, and lands in her hair. (That she pays HUGE money too to some bloke that does movie stars, and some viewings after autopsies). "Is that mud in my hair?" "Why, just this spot, baby", which I plucked out and showed her.

"Let's go. Let's go right now!" She looked like she had been VIOLATED. Assaulted even.

I should have grabbed her, and rolled her around IN the mud, but it was a weekend, and bail can be kind of tough. Oh well.

(Sorry folks, had to tell that one)..
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I'm sure this all has something to do with "on-off switches", but it escapes me at the moment.
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Concerns

Maine Sail said:
This boat had neither a battery switch nor battery fuse. A single group 24 battery did this!!


Click to expand
Maine Sail,

Did you get off safely without getting burned? Did you have insurance on the skiff? :>)
 
Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
OK, the batt switch moves up to priority 1 on the project list. Thanks for confirming that.

Actually, last year during Defender's spring sale, I bought the Blue Sea 1, 2, Both, Off batt switch along with some MRBF fuses and studs. Also got an 6 or 8 breaker panel and some other stuff that never made it to the boat for install.
Now I have sailed it for a season some of it seems not so necessary.

Chris, funny story.
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Yeah Ward, I just threw it in there for the entertainment value, not to stray your thread. I sort of figured you, and a few others here might just like the slight diversion. Odd, when I go through the board, I know instinctively of who may say what. Stu and CapRon is common sense, and are not shallow. If Maine says something electric, I listen. The same with Rich's wealth of knowledge, and Jackdaws obvious sail trimming advice, experts all.
When my name pops up, by now, most people should know that it will probably be some rambling diatribe, with a little boating thrown in for measure. But I occasionally get 'called down', generally from someone with too much time on their hands, and recently, for something that I did not even say at all. That's why on my customer list I have 'preferred customers', regular boaters that I barely know, the idiot list, and the nut list. The last list is actually quite protracted, of whom I pay little regard. it's the same adage as if a person comes up to you, has a big red wig on, and a huge rubber nose, I'm probably not going to give this advice much relevance. But sorry I drifted you Ward.
I'm going to head back to the hill. There's usually somebody there that I can ruffle their feathers a little. Simple people are easy..
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
jibes138 said:
Maine Sail,

Did you get off safely without getting burned? Did you have insurance on the skiff? :>)
Click to expand

A few 8 year olds and the coach got off safely before the flames went wild. This was one of the junior race program chase boats at our YC and yes it was insured.... We almost lost an entire dock full of 420's and Opti's.....
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,213
CC 30 South Florida
It is a safety item to allow a quick disconnect in case of a short or when the boat is left unattended. Having a single battery all you may need is an ON/OFF switch.
 
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