I recently purchased an O'Day 272 and I don't know what process I am supposed to follow for the electrical system. I am hoping it is relatively standard and that some of you might be able to help me get oriented.
Here are the components in play:
My main questions are:
Here are the components in play:
- Shore power. Seems like a standard cable. The box on the dock has 2 30A switches. I think one is for the GFCI on the dock and the other is for the cable to the boat.
- Diesel inboard. Westerbeke 10-two. I assume this has a generator capability in addition to being a motor. It has the Admiral instrument panel with gauges, two buttons and an on/off key. The panel has a sticker saying "charger disconnected?"
- Two batteries. I assume these are just like the batteries in cars/trucks.
- Perko battery selector. Has positions for Off, 1, All, 2. It has a warning to stop the engine before turning to Off, so I have been turning it to off after stopping the engine.
- Blue Sea Systems BatteryLink.. I think this is their "add a battery" kit. It appears to be hard-wired to both batteries and then plugs in via a 110 outlet in the cabin.
- Blue Sea Systems AC panel. It has a volt meter, dual switch for 30A Main and Reverse Polarity, and switches for battery charger, outlets, and spare.
- 12V panel with switches for cabin lights, running lights, 10A spare, radio, instruments, and a 3 position switch for anchor/off/running.
My main questions are:
- What should be the configuration when I leave the boat. I assume I can leave shore power plugged in to charge/maintain the batteries? What should the Perko be set to? How should the AC panel switches read? Everything on the 12V should be off?
- When getting ready to depart, I unplug the shore power, and... what should the Perko be set to. What about the AC panel. Am I good to turn on the 12v instruments now?
- Once the engine is running and I am motoring out of the marina, should I change anything? What about after turning the engine off while sailing or at anchor?
- Do I ever touch the BatteryLink panel? Or does it just do it's thing automatically?