Volvo penta 2002 adding an ignition switch

[Marlingschap]

Hi folks, I started my engine this week, then discovered I hadn’t turned my fuse panel on via my battery isolater switch. Since upgrading my main battery switch a few years back (blue seas 4 terminal add-a-battery and ACR) I had mistakenly assumed the big red switch turned off the ignition circuit too. I have the push-button Volvo Penta control panel in the cockpit and now realise I need to add a switch to manually disconnect/turn on the ignition circuit up to the push button switch. Has anyone any comments about this task? I don’t want to over complicate things, perhaps a hidden ‘kill’ switch inside the boat would be an idea? I need to do something, as I now realise my boat can be started from the cockpit when I’m not there.

 

[PaulGooch]

If you have isolated the engine battery and the panel is live it's wired up incorrectly.

 

[Refueler]

If you have isolated the engine battery and the panel is live it's wired up incorrectly.

Have to agree there .....

When you turn the main battery power switch off - that should kill all power to all systems on board ... except for maybe an auto pump ...

My SR25 : I turn on main power - but engine start is still dead until I flick the switchy on the start panel ... then I get the alarm telling me that alternator is not chargng ... I press the start button and away she goes ... alarm goes off as alternator energises.

My C38 : I trun on main power - again engine start is dead until I put in the key and switch on start panel ... again - alarm for alternator ... press start button etc.

 

[Marlingschap]

If you have isolated the engine battery and the panel is live it's wired up incorrectly.

Thanks for your response, I’ll carefully check the installation.

 

[Marlingschap]

Have to agree there .....

When you turn the main battery power switch off - that should kill all power to all systems on board ... except for maybe an auto pump ...

My SR25 : I turn on main power - but engine start is still dead until I flick the switchy on the start panel ... then I get the alarm telling me that alternator is not chargng ... I press the start button and away she goes ... alarm goes off as alternator energises.

My C38 : I trun on main power - again engine start is dead until I put in the key and switch on start panel ... again - alarm for alternator ... press start button etc.

Thanks, I’m I’ll check what I’ve installed now. I’d never thought to check and see if the ignition was live before turning the main isolater on. At least I know there’s a problem now! Thanks.

 

[Marlingschap]

I checked my battery switch connections yesterday and discovered I had originally connected an extra cable from the alternator to the starter battery terminal in the Blue Seas main switch. I can’t recall why I did this at the time as it is not a required connection in according to the installation instructions. This cable effectively left the engine in an energised state all the time but as far as I can see, did not affect the switch functionality or the ACR charging. I have removed the cable and now can only start the engine when the main switch is turned to on or combined on. I’m just glad after some years I stumbled upon this problem by chance. A short test trip of the boat showed no running problems and the battery monitor looks happy.