Richard D
Well-Known Member
I have a 32 foor wooden boat and am experiencing problems with the batteries going flat. I am a nuts bolts and gearwheels guy but electrics have me beat and need advice. When I got the boat in july I was told it had had a new isolation switch but had my doubts it was wired right, as certain things seemed to work when, to my mind, on the wrong position but as everything I needed to work, did work I put it out of my mind.
I now have to do something and need some answers to the following questions.
1) Even in the off position I have a drain of over 1 amp
2) When on position 1 what systems besides the engine starting systems should be on, I have a drain of 2.7 amps on this circuit
3) On position 2 what should be on besides cabin lights, on poss 2 only, I have .67 amps drain, with from what i can see is everything off.
4) The isolator switch is switching off the negative power, the live system 1 wire going to the starter solenoid, is this the usual on an earth return system.
5) The wires going to the isolator switch are about half the size of all the main battery leads, I have not traced them to the battery as they go under some wood work that makes easy tracing difficult with out major deconstruction, I have found a metal electrical box with wires of a similar size coming out of it, is it possible the isolator wires go to this box and so control things without the need for wires as big a the positive battery leads. Also any idea what is this box supposed to do.
6) The radar seems to be on all the time when not in the off isolating position, is this correct and what would be the norrmal power to make it work.
7) There are many wires piggy backed onto the main battery clamps both engine and system 2, is this normal. 2 I have isolated are the auto bilge pump and the wind generator, which I presume would be normal.
8) Last year I met a guy who swore by this manual that was specifically for solving boat electric problems said it cost about £40 any idea of the name of it.
9) With it in off, syst 1 syst 2 or all, I cant hear or see any equipment in operation apart from the radar.
Regards Richard
Sorrt this is so long, hopefully I can solve some folks mech problems.
I now have to do something and need some answers to the following questions.
1) Even in the off position I have a drain of over 1 amp
2) When on position 1 what systems besides the engine starting systems should be on, I have a drain of 2.7 amps on this circuit
3) On position 2 what should be on besides cabin lights, on poss 2 only, I have .67 amps drain, with from what i can see is everything off.
4) The isolator switch is switching off the negative power, the live system 1 wire going to the starter solenoid, is this the usual on an earth return system.
5) The wires going to the isolator switch are about half the size of all the main battery leads, I have not traced them to the battery as they go under some wood work that makes easy tracing difficult with out major deconstruction, I have found a metal electrical box with wires of a similar size coming out of it, is it possible the isolator wires go to this box and so control things without the need for wires as big a the positive battery leads. Also any idea what is this box supposed to do.
6) The radar seems to be on all the time when not in the off isolating position, is this correct and what would be the norrmal power to make it work.
7) There are many wires piggy backed onto the main battery clamps both engine and system 2, is this normal. 2 I have isolated are the auto bilge pump and the wind generator, which I presume would be normal.
8) Last year I met a guy who swore by this manual that was specifically for solving boat electric problems said it cost about £40 any idea of the name of it.
9) With it in off, syst 1 syst 2 or all, I cant hear or see any equipment in operation apart from the radar.
Regards Richard
Sorrt this is so long, hopefully I can solve some folks mech problems.
