Emergency Start Switch

[savignr]

Last week I drained my Starboard battery to the point were it didn't have enough juice to start the engine. I went to use the emergency start switch and I kept popping the starboard breaker.
I started the genny, charged the battery for 15min's and I was up and running, no problems since.

So my question is should I have turned the battery switch OFF on the starboard battery before using the emergency switch?

My configuration is 4 batteries, 2 switches, each engine has two battery's.

Ray

 

[savignr]

Has anyone ever used there emergency start switch? It's the red switch next to the start switches for each engine.

 

[tbirdvet]

I do not believe you need to turn off any battery switch. The emergency button just hooks up both battery banks in parallel for starting. Not sure why you tripped a breaker unless if you were hooked to dockside power with charger on then perhaps the extra draw while attempting to crank the charger caused the breaker to trip.

 

[savignr]

Both times I needed to use the emergency switch I was on the hook, no dockside power. In a way it makes sense to me that you should turn off the dead side, It's an additional load across the 2 good battery's.
Well, the next time it happens I'm going to turn off the dead side, start the engine and turn it back on to charge.

Thanks
Ray

 

[2000SEARAY280SS]

Check the owners manual. The battery switch for mine needs to be on. When you press the emergency start switch it like you said puts the good batteries in parallel with the dead. If the dead battery switch is off when you start and release the emergency start switch the engine will die. May even damage your alternator.

 

[PlayDate]

Was the Port motor running when you tried to use the emergency start? That will normally cause the breaker to pop out. When the starboard batteries are depleted, use the Emergency Start to connect both battery banks to start the Starboard engine without the Port engine running. Once the Starboard engine is running, release the emergency start switch and fire up the port engine.


-JD

 

[Pilot]

Good info, thanks. I had to use mine a few times, never could get it to work and just limped home on one engine. I looked in my manual and not one word on how to use the switch (typical for a searay manual) and I was trying it while Port engine was running.

 

[PlayDate]

Good info, thanks. I had to use mine a few times, never could get it to work and just limped home on one engine. I looked in my manual and not one word on how to use the switch (typical for a searay manual) and I was trying it while Port engine was running.

You should hear an audible click on the solenoid that joins the battery banks together in the ER when you push the switch. The solenoid is basically a Ford style starter solenoid that mounts near the batteries. If it does not make an audible click....it or the switch needs to be replaced. It is a relatively inexpensive part that goes bad because it isn't used very often. It is really nice to have working when you drain the house/starboard batteries by using the stereo, refrigerator and water system!

The reason the the breaker trips has more to do with the alternator on the port engine. It is not designed to support charging a mix of fully charged and drained batteries.

-John