280 Sundancer settings while docked

[Joe Yochem]

New owner - 2005 280.
Need advice on recommended settings while boat is docked, w/ shore power, for weeks at a time:

battery switches
heat on (at minimal temp) or off:
panel switches:

thanks

 

[jason78]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

With shore power connected, I leave all battery switches on. I leave the Heat on 65. I also leave the Fridge/Outlet, AC Converter and AIR Conditioner breakers on the AC Panel turned on. Everything else off.

The default setting for the Heat/Air runs the fan constantly regardless of if the compressor is running. I changed mine to only run the fan when the compressor is on. I also had to drastically calibrate the thermostat.

Jason

 

[Dave S]

There are a number of different switches and terminology here so it's best to make sure you understand what everyone is talking about here.

I have a 260DA and it will be different than your 280DA but similar enough that you will get the idea of what I do when I leave the boat at the dock. On my 260DA I have a main "rotary" battery switch which allows me to switch between batteries 1,2, Both, or turn them off. I turn this switch to OFF which disconnects battery power to the main panel in the cabin. In addition there are a number of other 12 volt switches on my battery panel that control other things. I leave all of these in the ON position as there are several that you don't want disabled such as your bilge pumps, mercathode or battery charger. These are hard wired to the batteries so turning your rotary switch to OFF does not affect 12 volt power going to the various other circuits like the ones I mentioned. Here is a picture of that panel on my boat.

In the cabin itself I leave the Main Power Switch ON and leave on all the other AC (110 volt) switches on except for those things that won't require or don't need power when I am gone such as the hot water heater. All of the 12 volt switches can be left as is if you have turned off the rotary battery switch as this essentially disables that whole portion of that panel which typically controls items only in the cabin

Other folks may do things a bit differently but this is what I have done on mine since the boat was new.

Dave

 

[gsmallwood]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

I turn both battery switches to off and leave the heat on 55. Set the AC/Heat fan to only come on when the heat is running. Turn off hot water breaker and cook top breaker. I leave everything else on. I also in the winter cut off my fridge and leave the door cracked so it won't mildew. I also open the bathroom door when I leave so it can get heat in there. I also have a boat safe bilge heater that is permantly wired in. I also have a weather station ( about $20.00 ) so I know what the minimum temp gets in the cabin and engine room. Temps here have been cold, about 30 in day time and 15 at night. My cabin stays at 55 and the coldest my engine comp has been is 38. I put in pink antifreeze in water system and get it in the outside lines and transome shower and fresh water washdown. No problems for a couple of years.

 

[jason78]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

The only reason I leave the battery switches on is because the dealer told me if you turn them off, the Charger will not maintain them. Then Mercathode will sit there and drain the batteries. Not sure it it is true but that is what I was told....

 

[Dave S]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

The only reason I leave the battery switches on is because the dealer told me if you turn them off, the Charger will not maintain them. Then Mercathode will sit there and drain the batteries. Not sure it it is true but that is what I was told....

Jason

I think you were given some bad information on that one. The batteries are maintained by the battery charger which is powered by the shorepower 110 circuit. Whether the battery switch is off or on makes no difference to the operation of the battery charger. In fact if you leave the battery switch on and there are some other 12 volt systems on as well then they will put more of a demand on the batteries. I can explain this further the next time we are both at the Marina.

Dave

 

[gerryb]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

Jason

I think you were given some bad information on that one. The batteries are maintained by the battery charger which is powered by the shorepower 110 circuit. Whether the battery switch is off or on makes no difference to the operation of the battery charger. In fact if you leave the battery switch on and there are some other 12 volt systems on as well then they will put more of a demand on the batteries. I can explain this further the next time we are both at the Marina.

Dave

+1 (Dealer is wrong on this one.)

 

[jason78]

Re: 280 Sundancer settings whike docked

Jason

I think you were given some bad information on that one. The batteries are maintained by the battery charger which is powered by the shorepower 110 circuit. Whether the battery switch is off or on makes no difference to the operation of the battery charger. In fact if you leave the battery switch on and there are some other 12 volt systems on as well then they will put more of a demand on the batteries. I can explain this further the next time we are both at the Marina.

Dave

Thanks for the correction Dave. I'll look forward to seeing you down there soon.

Correction to original post- My battery switches will now remain off.

Jason

 

[Presentation]

I keep the house switch, the battery switch on the right side in our boat, on house or both.

The reason I do this is I keep perishable food in the refrigerator.

In the A/C panel we leave the A/C converter (battery charger) and outlets/refrigerator switch’s on. However if power were to go off we would have a lot of spoiled food.

So in the cabins DC panel I also leave the refrigerator switch on.

The system will take the 120V AC first, and if not present it will use the 12V DC.