DC Engineroom Panel on 99' 380 DA

Yellovette

Yellovette

Member
Feb 14, 2023
35
Pender Harbour (Garden Bay) British Columbia
Boat Info
1999 Sundancer 380 DA "EnD Play"
Engines
Twin CAT 3116 Diesels (350 hp) ZF V-Drives
I was completing an inverter install the other day when I went to turn of a circuit on the DC panel, (the one in the engine room) and much to my surprise none of the switches functioned!
upload_2023-4-2_16-52-13.jpeg
upload_2023-4-2_16-52-13.jpeg It was like they're just decorative. What's up with that? Any explanation?
 
Yellovette said:
I was completing an inverter install the other day when I went to turn of a circuit on the DC panel, (the one in the engine room) and much to my surprise none of the switches functioned! View attachment 142272View attachment 142272 It was like they're just decorative. What's up with that? Any explanation?
Click to expand...
Unless you are talking about the three switches in the middle, the ones on both sides are circuit breakers.
 
So what did you mean here "went to turn of a circuit" on or off?
As @techmitch is pointing out the three in the middle turn the main battery solenoids on and off.
To function those need a ground as well as battery positive.

Did you have either of these panels open when installing the inverter?
Are you sure you hooked up all the ground wires when you were working on the inverter?
 
techmitch said:
Unless you are talking about the three switches in the middle, the ones on both sides are circuit breakers.
Click to expand...
The battery solenoids function. What you refer to as circuit breakers, appear to be an on/off rocker switch which does NOT move, (unlike the ones in the panel in the salon).
hughespat57 said:
So what did you mean here "went to turn of a circuit" on or off?
As @techmitch is pointing out the three in the middle turn the main battery solenoids on and off.
To function those need a ground as well as battery positive.

Did you have either of these panels open when installing the inverter?
Are you sure you hooked up all the ground wires when you were working on the inverter?
Click to expand...
hughespat57 said:
So what did you mean here "went to turn of a circuit" on or off?
As @techmitch is pointing out the three in the middle turn the main battery solenoids on and off.
To function those need a ground as well as battery positive.

Did you have either of these panels open when installing the inverter?
Are you sure you hooked up all the ground wires when you were working on the inverter?
Click to expand...
 
None of the circuit breakers will physically toggle on/off?
 
OK sorry misspelled "Off" and wrote "Of". Did not have panels open when I installed the inverter. The inverter functions quite well, no problem with it. My question relates to the switches, (breaker not battery) which don't move. Can't be turned off or on.
 
Yellovette said:
OK sorry misspelled "Off" and wrote "Of". Did not have panels open when I installed the inverter. The inverter functions quite well, no problem with it. My question relates to the switches, (breaker not battery) which don't move. Can't be turned off or on.
Click to expand...
Those are called "guarded" circuit breakers. To turn them off manually you need to slip a small blade in the slot over the top of them and trip them off. They are used to prevent inadvertently switching them off.
 
ttmott said:
Those are called "guarded" circuit breakers. To turn them off manually you need to slip a small blade in the slot over the top of them and trip them off. They are used to prevent inadvertently switching them off.
Click to expand...
Oh THANK YOU for that explanation! That makes a lot of sense now that you've explained. I know there is a warning that damage could occur if they are turned off while the engines are running, so this safeguard does make sense.
 
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