On my 1999 361 I have an DC Power Center and AC Power Center panels with a number of switches and indicators whose function I do not understand nor can find any documentation for. On DC panel, what does DC Main switch do? On AC, what does the Battery Charger switch do? When should it be set to of/off? What is the purpose of the Shore 1 switch or the meaning of Reversed Polarity indicator on the image below? Thanks in advance.
What do these electric switches do?
- Thread starter sailingrock
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Well...... by the questions it appears you are brand new to larger boat ownership.
Ac main breaker turns on the shore power when you are plugged in...... battery charger does what is says. Flip the switch when you are plugged in and it will charge your batteries. You may even have one that says hot water..... that will turn on your hot water heater.
DC main breaker turns the power on so you can use all your 12 volt items like refrig., lights, stereo, instruments etc.....
You may want to pay someone to show you around.
Good luck and welcome to boat ownership.
Ac main breaker turns on the shore power when you are plugged in...... battery charger does what is says. Flip the switch when you are plugged in and it will charge your batteries. You may even have one that says hot water..... that will turn on your hot water heater.
DC main breaker turns the power on so you can use all your 12 volt items like refrig., lights, stereo, instruments etc.....
You may want to pay someone to show you around.
Good luck and welcome to boat ownership.
DC main breaker feeds 12 volts to the rest of the DC breaker bank, throw it and the bank under it should be dead. Charger breaker feeds 120 volts to the battery charger, throw it and the charger should not be getting 120 volt. The AC breakers can be left on when you unplug the shore power with no inverter installed. When you plug shore power back in you will have live 120 volt circuits to the 120 volt breakers that are on. The only time you need to switch them off is if you don't want the circuit hot or if you have a inverter installed and you don't want you circuit hot while shore power disconnected and using up battery. I'm assuming the shore 1 breaker is a large amp breaker that protects the shore power circuit that feeds the AC panel from the point of the breaker to the separate breakers. The reverse polarity alarm is exactly what it is called. It senses the error of a circuit having neutral connected to hot.
DC main acts as a breaker for the entire panel. Saves wires.
Batt charger should enable the battery charger to operate. Leave it off unless you need to charge the batteries.
"Reversed polarity" is an undesirable condition when the hot and neutral leads have somehow gotten reversed, usually by incompetence. "Shore 1" just indicates that you could have 2 shore power inlets, but I suspect that's not the case.
Yer welcome!
Wow! With such an active forum owning a boat seems much easier than I thought! Thank you so much!
I do have an inverter, which I assume is switched on by a separate panel (Link 2000) with buttons for Invert (idle mode) and Charge (pwr share). I understand from the above I should put Battery Charger to off if I do turn the inverter on. Is that correct?
Am I correct in assuming I should have main breaker off when off shore power, Battery charger off when off shore power and under sail?
I do have an inverter, which I assume is switched on by a separate panel (Link 2000) with buttons for Invert (idle mode) and Charge (pwr share). I understand from the above I should put Battery Charger to off if I do turn the inverter on. Is that correct?
Am I correct in assuming I should have main breaker off when off shore power, Battery charger off when off shore power and under sail?
Welcome to the forum!
I've read its recommended to shut off the breaker at the shore power pedestal before plugging into the pedestal. Not sure how many do that.
I have no experience with inverters so not sure if that impacts whether you leave the charger breaker on or off when not connected to shore power.
It's best practice to shut off the boat main AC breaker before disconnecting the shore power cord and having it off when connecting the shore power cord. That prevents any possible arcing at the plug in the event breakers for items like a battery charger or water heater are left on.
I've read its recommended to shut off the breaker at the shore power pedestal before plugging into the pedestal. Not sure how many do that.
I have no experience with inverters so not sure if that impacts whether you leave the charger breaker on or off when not connected to shore power.
Welcome.
I bought a BIGGER boat (C25 to C34) in 1998 and know how you feel.
Buy this book:
Boatowners Manual for Mechanical and Electrical Systems - Nigel Calder
I bought a BIGGER boat (C25 to C34) in 1998 and know how you feel.
Buy this book:
Boatowners Manual for Mechanical and Electrical Systems - Nigel Calder
... I second that... There are lots of mechanical and electrical system issues that are covered in that book. I knew "how to sail" when I got my first boat... meaning I knew how to make the boat go... and was fairly handy as a homeowner/DIY car repair guy... but the mechanical systems and electrical systems specific to boats has different issues than the systems in your car/house which you might not expect.
Ironically, ask SAILboat owners what they spend the most time/energy/headaches working on in maintaining their boats, and many (most?) will tell you they spend lots of time with their heads and shoulders crammed into bilges and engine compartments, and various places fiddling with engines, wiring, pumps, plumbing, and things that don't at first glance seem like they'd be big parts of being a SAILor (spoiler: they are). That book, specifically, is a great way to get started, and to keep around as a reference when you don't understand some system (or part of a system) that's new to you.
If you only buy one book (imho) it should be that one, and if you want to buy two books... buy that one to keep on the boat, and then buy a second copy of the same book for home
Thanks again. Just ordered the book. Yes the picture above is exactly what I have EXCEPT I don't have the widget controlling your switches 3 & 4 from the top (they are covered on my panel). Is that 'interlock'? What is the purpose of the AC Power switch there - it seems to give AC power even when neither on shore or engine.
I do have another panel though which looks like this. Is that just a monitor or does it serve to switch between shore and inverter (considering the warning above it)?
I do have another panel though which looks like this. Is that just a monitor or does it serve to switch between shore and inverter (considering the warning above it)?
It's a Link 2000, a battery montinor and if you have a combined Inverter Charger by Freedom, it also controls the I and C functions. If you have a separate I, that's why the sign is there, but it would be odd.
What I/C do you have?
Let us know and we can give you lots of info about the Link 2000 (I have one and know how to use it).
You can download the manual from the Xantrex website, discontinued products. If you can't, pm me and I'll email it to you.
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,752
Welcome to the forum @sailingrock good to see another NW sailor joining in the fun.
Congratulations on your new boat.
I spent several months looking and reading about all the controls and things on my boat. Asked lots of questions. Flicked lots of switches just to see what would happen. Climbed into and successfully extracted myself from a lot of awkward tight spaces following wires and hoses. Not sure if I found all the spots but most of the main ones.
The Nigel book is an excellent resource. Stu is an electrical wizard. Definitely send him a “pm”(private message). He can share his electrical 101 links. Extremely helpful.
Additionally MaineSail https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?forums/musings-with-maine-sail.135/
Here on the forum is another great resource for things electrical.
As you can see in this post. Pictures that show the item in question (ie. a specific switch) are often better if they include more of the panel or area of your boat, along with your description.
We love to see a picture of your boat.
Congratulations on your new boat.
I spent several months looking and reading about all the controls and things on my boat. Asked lots of questions. Flicked lots of switches just to see what would happen. Climbed into and successfully extracted myself from a lot of awkward tight spaces following wires and hoses. Not sure if I found all the spots but most of the main ones.
The Nigel book is an excellent resource. Stu is an electrical wizard. Definitely send him a “pm”(private message). He can share his electrical 101 links. Extremely helpful.
Additionally MaineSail https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?forums/musings-with-maine-sail.135/
Here on the forum is another great resource for things electrical.
As you can see in this post. Pictures that show the item in question (ie. a specific switch) are often better if they include more of the panel or area of your boat, along with your description.
We love to see a picture of your boat.
You can order the interlock from bass .You switch off the top switch(shore power) slide the lock up then turn on the inverter switch (ship)
You may have an automatic relay installed that when you disconnect shore power you switch over to inverter ,however this could drain your batteries if you don't shut inverter off
You may have an automatic relay installed that when you disconnect shore power you switch over to inverter ,however this could drain your batteries if you don't shut inverter off
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,752
Great cautionary message.
All the more reason to spend time learning all of the benefits and hazards on your boat. Nothing is totally automatic.