Riddle me This: Constant 12v @ Bilge Fuse on Panel?

[mnmpizza]

1986 Hunter 34 Owner here: Before I open up the back of the electrical panels, I'd like someone to explain to me how the Main Bilge Pump continues to have power when I've turned off the batteries on the battery switch? On my boat, I've noticed that the bilge pump will run if I have the batteries turned off.

As far as I can tell, it's the only 12v item which stays powered with the batteries all switched off.

I've attached a picture of my breaker panel. I'm going to be adding a 12v breaker which will control the newly installed refrigeration [retro'd the icebox]; and I'd like to have the ability to leave the refrigeration on at the panel once I turn off the battery switches and was hoping some insight as to how the bilge functions with the batteries turned off would be helpful.

Thanks, Shannon

 

[kloudie1]

On the battery switch on the side of the engine box, there is a small terminal and red wire that is a constant hot terminal from either 1 or 2 battery, whichever side it is hooked to (before the switch)

 

[kloudie1]

Small diameter (12 ga?) pinkish wire in the left of the bundle from the switch. Goes to the panel and thru the fuse to power the pump.

 

[mnmpizza]

EDIT: i just read your 2nd response. Thanks

Claude, thanks. And, I'm to assume that this red wire goes directly to the bilge fuse in the panel? I wonder if I could use this wire and "split" it at the panel: 1 side: goes to bilge [like original] and side 2 goes to the new 15A breaker for the refrigeration? That way, when i turn off the batteries, I could still have power to the refrigeration [unless I turned off that switch seperatetly]. I'd have to check the gauge of that red wire...

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. should work for fridge if the gauge is sufficient.. Guessing 10 ga (minimum)
would be needed for bilge pump + fridge..
EDIT: I am thinking that I will use it (with a switch) to power the memory of the radio when batteries are off

 

[mnmpizza]

You make a good point on the memory wire... The PO had installed a small 12v rechargeable battery behind the stereo. I would much rather get rid of the small battery and utilize this circuit for the memory...

 

[Ron20324]

When my B323 was fairly new, I redid some battery and switches wiring. I added a 3-fuse block just inches from the battery and there is an inline fuse in that wire to the battery. The block feeds to radio memory and the float switch each with it's own load-appropriate fuse.

 

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[Claude L.-Auger]

Yup.. should work for fridge if the gauge is sufficient.. Guessing 10 ga (minimum)
would be needed for bilge pump + fridge..
EDIT: I am thinking that I will use it (with a switch) to power the memory of the radio when batteries are off

Yeah...that would work as Kloudie says if gauge is sufficient. However I do not think it is smart to have your fridge wired directly on the same wire as the bilge pump. If the fridge run the batteries down, then your pump will not work. Safety issue here when you're away from the boat.

 

[Tom J]

Yeah...that would work as Kloudie says if gauge is sufficient. However I do not think it is smart to have your fridge wired directly on the same wire as the bilge pump. If the fridge run the batteries down, then your pump will not work. Safety issue here when you're away from the boat.

The bilge pump has it's own circuit for a reason. Safety first!