AC Converter switch? What does it do?

G

glickfix

New Member
Jul 15, 2008
11
Long Island, NY
I have an AC Converter switch on my switch panel and I'm not sure what it is for? Should I leave it on or off and what is it's purpose? Can anyone educate me on this switch?

Thanks for helping!:smt101
 
Turns on the battery charger. Leave it on when connected to shore power.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
I was told by MM not to leave it on when I leave for the week.

They said prevents bubbling over of the batteries in case of overcharge.

While I am using the boat during the weekend I tend to leave it on the whole time and shut it off when I leave.
 
Leave it on. A good charger won't overcharge the batteries to excess. However, that does not remove the requirement to check the electrolyte level in the battery and add water when necessary. AGMs, of course, excluded.

I leave mine on and have not cooked a battery yet.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
only time a battery might get cooked with a properly functioning converter is when two batts on one bank are in parallel (which is generally how SR does it with house batteries). if one is charged and the other is low, the well-charged battery will be subjected to "overcharging" as the converter attempts to bring the weaker battery up to snuff.
 
I guess that is why MM, everyone from service dept to delivery captain, told me not to leave on when leaving the boat for extended period of time?
 
Perhaps, but like the guys above told you, if things are in normal condition, there should be no problems. Make sure you replace all batteries at the same time to avoid forcing a condition where one is good (and getting cooked) while the weak one is trying to receive a charge. I leave mine on all of the time.
 
This is good to know -- thanks everyone! I, too, had been told to leave it off and last weekend came down to the boat to find dead batteries. Turned the Converter on and the batteries charged overnight. I thought something was wrong with the charger; when I called MM they told me the same thing again -- leave it off. I left it on but was worried. Thanks for the reassurance!
 
The dealers figure that most people are lazy. If they can at least get the owners to remember to check the engine oil, that's a huge accomplishment. So they figure that getting owners to check battery electrolyte would be like the second coming. Therefore, the dealers recommend leaving the converter off. It's bad advice, but they figure it's reasonable considering how little maintenance some people will perform.


Best regards,
Frank C
 
I'll admit it, I cooked a battery once due to lazyness and stupidity. The battery was as dry as a desert....smelled like rotten eggs coming from the bilge blower vent when it happened. Damn glad I was there to smell it and shut the charger off.

That only happens to you once.
 
Only time the A/C converter should be off is When disconnecting from shore power or when Reconnecting until you get a green light on the polarity. If you don't get the correct polarity on the switch panel DO NOT turn the A/C Converter on.
 
Yep...mines on all the time. When it is first turned on though it gives an extra shot of juice for awhile then settles in to a slow trickle if needed. If you turn it on and off alot I'm not sure this is a good idea. Just leave it on and relax.
 
If the boat is kept in the water, best to leave it on all the time. Should a hose or clamp fail, or something else begin to leak, your bilge pumps will run the battery down in short order and down she goes...
Lots of boats sink at the dock from nothing more than rainwater because the owner didn't have a charger or it wasn't on.
 
My normal routine for the last 8 years has been converter on only when I'm around on the weekends. Otherwise battery switches off and converter off. AC on dehumidify.
 
For me it's converter on, batts off, A/C on dehumidify. I figure the AC batter charger knows when and how much to charge the batteries. I check the charger when I get to the boat and it always is on -zero- meaning batts are charged and it is on trickle mode.
 
I was instructed to leave it on all the time while connected to power. When off the dock, shut it down (as always, take all load off when connecting and disconnecting). I have not had a problem (knock on wood) with any of the boats.
 
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