Leaving battery switches on when docked

[bridanad]

Hi,
Just a question. My drawer refrigerator runs on 12V only. When I leave the boat, I would love to keep the drawer refrigerator going (drawing off the battery). As long as the battery is being charged from dock power, is there a potential problem with this? Is it much better to keep the battery switches to off when the boat is not being used? Does it matter?
Thanks,
Michael

 

[Great lakes pirate]

I leave my batteries on 24/7. I keep the battery charger on also. Never had a problem.

 

[mwph]

A potential problem could be this... If you lost shore power for a time long enough that the fridge (& anything else you might have left on) could drain the batteries, then your boat is in the water with no bildge pump.

Lots of factors might be considered in deciding if this is or is not a concern for you.

 

[bridanad]

Hmmm...excellent point!

 

[skibum]

Set the switches so that you are only running off of one battery. If you lose power, the pumps will still work because the fridge has only killed one battery.

Make sure that you figure out which battery (or batteries) the pumps use.

 

[mwph]

Like I said, a lot of factors to consider. One solution could be to install an additional battery for the fridge. Lots of options I guess, all depending on your current battery & switch set up.

 

[CV-23]

Never thought about the bilge pump being on one battery! I'll have to check that out on my 270. You can always learn something here, Mike.

 

[tbirdvet]

I also have the same drawer but I found it cools down quickly so I turn off my batteries and when I return I turn on the drawer fridge. I do not like leaving anything on when I'm not there except charger and my main fridge.