Keys on or off?

Nobody has mentioned this but when the keys are on the fuel pumps are on (pressurized) so why would you leave them on once the engines are off? I would imagine that would be detrimental for the fuel pumps over time.

We turn off our keys and turn off the battery switch for the generator, Port battery is on (house) and for now the starboard battery is on until the next time I'm back at the boat. (Just had our security cameras wired into the DC panel.)

Regarding leaving the keys on, even though they're inside a locked cabin, why leave them on and make it easy for someone to just come and fire up your engines?

I don't think my fuel pumps energize until I hit the start button. Plus with the battery switches off nothing has power but the ac stuff. Our club asks that we leave the keys available in case of emergency. I have just been leaving the battery charger and fridge breakers on the ac side and turning the battery switches off which kills everything else.
 
AC:
Refrigerator/Freezer - On
AC Converter - On
Air Conditioner Pump/Relay - On
Salon Air Conditioner - On (on Dehumidify mode)
Port Systems - On (for cockpit ice maker and electrical outlet for boat cleaners to use)
Everything else off
DC:
Refrigerator - On (in case of power failure)
All else, including both ignitions, off. Keys off but left in keyholes on panel.
All three battery solenoids are left on/energized until boat goes into winter storage.
 
12v
keys and ignition switches off
head system off
fresh water pumps off

120v
water heater off
pan heaters off (these are left on early spring and late fall)

everything else is on except the overboard discharge circuit, which is never on.
 
I've only had my boat a few weeks and have been wondering about this. Manual says to de-energize battery solenoids when away "for an extended period." But what is extended? Have been down at the marina every weekend so far!

I was keeping my ignition keys in the "on" position because I like to have the depth display working while on the hook and it is only energized when the keys are on.

Then I read this in the manual:

The hourmeters measure cumulative hours of operating time. They should be used to keep a careful log of engine maintenance as well as performance data and fuel consumption. Do not leave ignition key on with the engines off, as this will increase the engine hours on the hourmeter. (emphasis mine).

What this is telling me is that my engines are accumulating hours whenever the key is in the on position. Maybe that's only true for some systems, because some of you say you leave the keys on all of the time, which would be piling up the hours and I'm sure you would have noticed. Maybe the rocker switch needs to be in the on position as well (to accumulate hours)?

Water heater: my hot water smelled like vomit. I shocked the fresh water system with bleach, then vinegar and it is normal now. Thought about leaving the heater on to prevent the return of that terrible smell. I think I turned it off, though (haven't finalized my putting the boat to bed routine).
 
My keys switches seem to do nothing but prevent the engine from starting when the helm switches are pushed. Maybe some are set up differently. I don't have rocker switches and solenoids for the battery just
traditional rotary switch.
 
Interesting thoughts...

On my 420AC I keep the keys in the ignition turned off. 12V battery stays on.
 
If everyone turns their batteries off. How do you keep your fridge going? Just curious. I keep all switches on and a/c is set to dehumidifier mode.
 
And what about your bilge pumps? Are they wired direct to the battery or through your panel or battery switch? Would suck to sink because your pumps weren't on!
 
And what about your bilge pumps? Are they wired direct to the battery or through your panel or battery switch? Would suck to sink because your pumps weren't on!

bilge pumps are direct wired to the battery....I was thinking maybe the 12VDC for frigs was too but I don't think that is accurate....

cliff
 
Fridges work on ac when 12v is off.
 
Fridges work on ac when 12v is off.


actually I think it is just the opposite....frigs will always run off AC first if it is available...if AC is not available they will switch automatically over to DC power...that assumes the frig is a dual power unit.....

as long as AC power is available the frig will run and does not care if DC power is available or not....

cliff
 
Dock water off.

Not to hijack this thread but glad someone mentioned this. Over the past two years we had two boats sink in our harbor because the hoses/connections inside the boat burst. Both boats filled up with water until they sank.

I now disconnect the hose from the dock faucet - guess I'm OCD about stuff like that.
 
actually I think it is just the opposite....frigs will always run off AC first if it is available...if AC is not available they will switch automatically over to DC power...that assumes the frig is a dual power unit.....

as long as AC power is available the frig will run and does not care if DC power is available or not....

cliff
yes, ac power supply converts to 12v and is automatically detected when on.
 
Keys On and engines switches on, batteries off (essentially turning off the power to the engine switches). AC: Battery charger on, refrigerator on. The boat is my behind my home, as we don't worry about leaving the keys in or locking it...
Why do you keep the keys and engine switches on? I really don’t see a reason to do so.
 
Not to hijack this thread but glad someone mentioned this. Over the past two years we had two boats sink in our harbor because the hoses/connections inside the boat burst. Both boats filled up with water until they sank.

I now disconnect the hose from the dock faucet - guess I'm OCD about stuff like that.
Smart move.
It’s pretty common around here for people to disconnect them on unattended boats.
In all my years of boating I don’t think I ever left my boat with the dockside water connected to it for that reason.
In fact, I very rarely even use the dockside water on the boat. I use the tank instead and just keep filling it up when it gets low. It keeps the tank fresher.
We still don’t drink the water from the tank or make coffee with it, but we use it for everything else, including brushing teeth with no odors or residual foul tastes.
 
We don't unhook the dockside water but I have two different in-line valves I shut off when we leave the boat. The last thing my wife (Admiral) always says to me as we are leaving is "Did you remember to turn the water off?"
Nothing better than my better half making sure I don't forget something important.
 

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