Battery Power Question.

[rangoons]

I just got my 28' Albin last year so I am still learning about it. I just noticed that if I turn my batery switches to the off position and disconect from shore power, all of the switches on the dash still have power. ie the washdown pump, windshield wipers, baitwell, lights, ect... Is this normal or should I hire an electrician?

[AlMar]

Well, obviously, you have a straight shot from the battery. My opinion is, is neither a great thing, nor a bad thing. As long as you remember to turn everything off, there shouldn't be any extra drain on the battery. And if you have a major electrical problem at night, you can see how the bait is holding up while you wait for Sea Tow

AlMar

[Double Lucky]

everyone has a different way of setting up their boat's electrical system, but, in mho everything on the 12 volt system should be disconnected when the battery switch is in the off position--except for the bilge pumps. otherwise, why have a master battery switch? Russ

[SpaceCoaster]

My '94 seems to be wired the same way as yours is Rangoons. Turn the battery switch to off and most of the DC items are still powered. This doesn't make much sense to me and I've been considering changing the wiring. Is this wiring scheme common to most 28TEs or only older models?

[Maye Marie]

I am not sure if you bought a new boat or used. It sounds like someone has changed some wiring on your boat. Based on my 2001, the battery switch will turn off every thing except for a couple of things wired direct. One of them is the bilge pump.

The bilge pumps feed go direct from battery and up behind the dash into a power bar. Then the bilge pump switches pick the power up there. Reason so you never turn off your bilge pumps. There should be a second power bar in same location powering the other accessories and the power feed would come from your battery switch. That might be were the problem is, some one picked power for your dash from the wrong power bar. Most of all switches are looped together on your dash panel. So one power feed line over and a lot of those items would come alive.

[rangoons]

Thanks for your answers. I think I would like to have evrything except the bilge pumps turned off when I turn the batteries off. I'll call someone.

Thanks for your help.

[Veebyes2]

Turn the breaker panel off or trace it's power source & re route it to the battery switch.

Albin, various installers, mechanics & owners do all kinds of weird things to a boat.