can't switch the battery off

[kingfisher]

can\'t switch the battery off

After 3 years in storage, my boat became alive again last weekend, by hooking up two new batteries.
The good news: to my surprise, everything still works: fridge, lights, radio, even the volvo starter engine (she doesn't start yet, that will an interesting exercice, once in the water)
The bad news: I have a 1+2 manual battery switch. Normally, with the switch on "0", the ship is dead. Now, when I put the switch on "0" everything still works (lights, fridge,...) except the engine start.
Where does the current come from? Defective switch?

OK, nothing working would be worse, but I want to leave my boat at the end of the weekend, safe in the knowledge that she is fully disconnected.

 

[fireball]

Re: can\'t swithc the battery off

Sounds like it ...

 

[boatmike]

Re: can\'t switch the battery off

There are a lot of these switches that were in fact made in China. They look like the Vetus ones but aren't. Assuming your wiring has not been changed I would take it off and strip it down. You may find all the contacts corroded together and its only the nob that is rotating! If you buy a replacement get one from a known supplier not a Chinese copy!

 

[srp]

Re: can\'t switch the battery off

If you can't manage to sort it before the weekend you can always disconnect the battery again.

 

[MoodySabre]

Re: can\'t switch the battery off

Must be the switch. Probably corroded inside and not turning properly between the contacts. At least it's cheap to replace!

 

[VicS]

Re: can\'t switch the battery off

I seem to remeber it being reported that some of them unscrew their insides if turned anticlockwise. They shouldn't of course because you need to be able to turn them both ways.

 

[chasroberts]

Re: can\'t switch the battery off

Always assuming that all the stuff that won't turn off is actually routed through the switch?????