Weird discovery: 2007 310 DA Cockpit fridge not on a (logical) breaker?

mobocracy

Active Member
Jun 29, 2014
541
United States
Boat Info
310 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mag & Bravo III
I discovered last week that the cockpit fridge (OEM installed Norcold AC/DC unit) does not lose DC power when the main control panel Refrigerator switch is off. I didn't get into any further investigation to see if it was on the "TV/12V RECEPTACLE" breaker, as that and CABIN LIGHTS were the only other 2 DC circuits switched on. I wasn't connected to shore power, so it wasn't running on AC power.

Maybe I'm overly fired up, but is this Fridge normally on any breaker? I had it completely removed 3 years ago to get gain access to the pump out hose fitting and I don't remember it being tied to an inline fuse, either.

Since there's no obvious way to disable DC power, I'm kind of tempted at a minimum to mount a toggle switch so I can make sure it doesn't run down the batteries in the even we lose shore power. I might even add a small breaker if its not otherwise protected.
 
According to my schematics, it's on a 15A breaker at the battery switch panel. As I recall, those breakers cannot be used as a switch.
 
It should be tied into a 15A breaker at the Main Distribution Panel (the switch you are referring to is actually a breaker), and when off that should kill DC power to the fridge. Sounds like either that breaker is bad (stuck in closed position) or it was bypassed at some point. Either situation is not good and should be corrected.
 
According to my schematics, it's on a 15A breaker at the battery switch panel. As I recall, those breakers cannot be used as a switch.

That's good to know. It's funny that they "can't be used as a switch" because you have the right skinny tool, you can switch them off (I did so to troubleshoot a bilge pump float switch).
 
Cap'n, me and the OP have the same boat... we have a fridge in the cabin and a fridge in the cockpit. The one in the cabin is on a breaker (in the cabin DC panel). It can be turned off with the breaker/switch. The one in the cockpit is tied to a breaker in the battery switch panel (also in the cockpit). It is a breaker only, can not be turned off (I think).
 
Hey Jim, that’s absolutely correct. As I was reading OP’s post, I read “cabin” fridge vs “cockpit” fridge for some reason. And yes, that fridge would be live all the time unless that main distribution breaker is tripped.

We will probably move up to a 310 next unless I can get a 14 or 16’ wide slip beforehand. Really like the ‘06 and ‘07 models. 310s aren’t very common around here compared to 320s, 340s, and on up. The roof stanchions on my dock are mounted inside the slip and are 2.5” wide. So my 12’ wide slip is really 11’ 7”. I’m pretty darn good at handling boats, but even put in perfectly the rub rail would get chewed to pieces on an 11’ 5” beam boat.
 
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It's funny that they "can't be used as a switch" because you have the right skinny tool, you can switch them off (I did so to troubleshoot a bilge pump float switch).
Thanks for the tip... I'll have to check that out.
 
Those breakers are called "guarded" breakers. They're used to prevent someone from accidentally flipping a breaker to OFF. As mentioned, stick something into that little hole to turn the breaker OFF just as if you would do it with your finger. They're the same thing as you have in the cabin - just guarded.
 
Yes there is... duh!

Same control the adjusts the temperature will also turn it off.
 
Those breakers are called "guarded" breakers. They're used to prevent someone from accidentally flipping a breaker to OFF. As mentioned, stick something into that little hole to turn the breaker OFF just as if you would do it with your finger. They're the same thing as you have in the cabin - just guarded.

I always wondered about that arrangement. I guess it makes sense they're made difficult to turn off, I wish they weren't quite so difficult. A ty-wrap was the only thing I could find on the boat to fit the little opening, and I've kept it in the breaker space for this purpose. It takes like 3 tries sometimes to get it just right.
10-4 good buddy! :)

For the life of me, I can't remember... but is there an on-off switch inside the cockpit fridge?

There is, and it seems like an obvious thing to use it if you wanted the fridge totally off. But I want it to run on shore power at the dock, I just don't want a loss of shore power to kill my batteries. I'm willing to re-chill the beer as necessary.
 
There is, and it seems like an obvious thing to use it if you wanted the fridge totally off. But I want it to run on shore power at the dock, I just don't want a loss of shore power to kill my batteries. I'm willing to re-chill the beer as necessary.
Understood. Just a couple side notes on this, but the fridge will run on AC power by default. Meaning, you don't have to turn the DC breaker off - if you lose power, it will only run on DC till the AC comes back on. And, realistically, you can run little fridges like that (especially without opening them) for days without worrying about the battery.

However, this is all kind of a moot point since best practice is to turn the battery switches to OFF when you leave the boat.
 

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