Location of battery on/off switch

H

Hotbirk

New Member
Nov 2, 2012
35
Rochester, NY
Boat Info
2011 185 Sport
Engines
4.3 Mercruiser TKS 190 HP
I just bought a 2011 185 sport and the owner mentioned it had a battery on/off switch. Can anyone tell me where this is located and what it looks like?
 
It's a small red toggle switch (up position says "run", bottom position says "off") that is built into the lower leading edge of the mounting plate for the throttle/shifter.
 
I though that was the engine kill switch... not the battery on/off switch???
 
Look at the battery and follow the red wire from the pos term on the batt. It should have a switch between it and the motor.
 
A kill switch is different than a battery switch. A kill switch only cuts power to the spark plugs, not the rest of the boat.

However, if it's (the actual/real battery switch) wired correctly you should still have power to your bilge pump and radio memory, even if the switch is "off". Also ECM, but only if you have an MPI engine - I can't tell from your signature.

A battery switch was not a standard feature on that boat so you may or may not have it. It's about 6" in diameter, usually red in color with a black knob - Follow John's advice to find it.
 
Last edited:
NorCalGlenn said:
It's a small red toggle switch (up position says "run", bottom position says "off") that is built into the lower leading edge of the mounting plate for the throttle/shifter.
Click to expand...

That is the kill switch, not a battery switch. Turning that to off will not prevent the battery from draining with the radio, etc.
 
Well, that's a bit concerning for me because (1) I custom ordered my 190, (2) ordered and paid for that option, and (3) when I took delivery of the boat and given my 'walk-thru' by my dealership was told that was it. That when the switch was in the OFF position, it killed all power accessories, etc.

:huh: and :smt013 combo going on right now.
 
NorCalGlenn said:
Well, that's a bit concerning for me because (1) I custom ordered my 190, (2) ordered and paid for that option, and (3) when I took delivery of the boat and given my 'walk-thru' by my dealership was told that was it. That when the switch was in the OFF position, it killed all power accessories, etc.

:huh: and :smt013 combo going on right now.
Click to expand...

If you paid for that option, then you should have an actual switch. It gets mounted in different places in different boats - but I would check your engine bay. If I was mounting it, I would put it on that divider between the storage area and the engine.
 
Thanks, Dennis. I pick the boat up from my service shop on Monday (it's getting winterized) and will check. I remove my battery after every outing and have never seen a switch, but was never *really* looking for one.
 
NorCalGlenn said:
Well, that's a bit concerning for me because (1) I custom ordered my 190, (2) ordered and paid for that option, and (3) when I took delivery of the boat and given my 'walk-thru' by my dealership was told that was it. That when the switch was in the OFF position, it killed all power accessories, etc.

:huh: and :smt013 combo going on right now.
Click to expand...

you said you were talking about toggle the switch on the throttle before? I've never seen that switch kill the accessories. Would be nice if it did because it often gets hit and turned off and people don't think of it because everything else worked.
 
That is what I thought... When I get home later I will follow the red wire and see what I find! The guy who sold me the biat said it had one but I didn't see it... I will let y'all know!
 
Ok so the only thing I found is a little black box with a red button on it... is that what I am looking for? what else could that be?
 
That sounds like the circuit breaker.

it will usually look something like this
Fig%209601.jpg


or this
EzAcDc-EZC-034.jpg



these are basic on/off switches. If you have multiple batteries it will have a 1/2/off/both selector
 
Yeah it is a circuit breaker... looks like I don't have one. Can the circuit breaker be used for the same purpose?
 
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