Battery Switch Use? 280 Sundancer

[jdegenna]

Hi,

I just got a 280 Sundancer. The Sea Ray guy mentioned that when we plug into the shore power, we should reach under the bench in and switch the battery switch from BOTH to OFF. When I do this....the lights don't work.

When I look at the AC/DC panel, the cabin lights are on the DC side.I see good voltage coming in to the breaker...(120V) but I find it VERY odd that the lights are on the DC side of the panel and flipping the batteries to off causes them to not work.

Can anyone help me out with this one??? IS this the proper operation? Should the battery switch be in the off position?

Thanks,
JD

 

[spirt320]

Correct, the lights won't work because they run off of 12v, so you would need to turn your battery switches on if you want lights. I know people who do both, leave them on all the time and turn them off when they are away from the boat. I leave my battery switches on. It is plugged into shore power. I do turn the lights off etc...when I'm not there.

 

[paulswagelock]

Not sure why he told you that, as it is incorrect. When at the dock on shore power, choose either battery 1 or 2, just not both. The reason for not both is if you leave and shore power goes out, you could come back with 2 dead batteries instead of just 1.

 

[mwph]

In addition to the above posts, you might want to determine A.) If you have one cranking battery and one deep cycle house battery, and B.) which battery is #1 & which is #2. If indeed you have a deep cycle battery, I would determine its position & then use it to power your cabin lights. Saving the high amp cranking battery for, well, cranking!

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