Battery switches seem to be always on
- Thread starter Akapeterc
- Start date
Obviously the starting battery switch is not wired to control the starting battery circuit. In what position is the "house" battery switch when the engine starts? If it is also Off then the battery is connected directly to the solenoid terminal. If not then you have the starting battery wired through the house battery switch. More of a concern would be to where is the alternator output lead connected to as you would not want the engine running with the alternator output in an open circuit. It is possible that a PO may have chosen to wire the starting battery through the house switch to have all in just one switch but that could lead to mixing of different type batteries which is also not desirable. Identify your battery banks and the types of batteries and follow the (+) wires to the switches; you should have the wire from the starting battery go to the starting switch and that from the house bank go to the house switch.
Benny's right. Here are some wiring digrams that may help you identify what you have installed.
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
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
On my 44DS I leave both banks On. There is a solenoid on my panel which cross connects both banks when the "Start" button is hit in the cockpit. No reason to ever leave them anything but "On" unless one bank or the other is discharged.
Look at Maine's last boat switch diagram. It utilizes two boat switches as your picture indicates you have. I added a second boat switch to my panel so I could wire as Maine outlines and take advantage of the flexibility of that system. It works quite well for me.
Given the simplicity of construction of the switch itself, my guess is that the jostling restored a lost contact in the primary wiring to the switch.
