What are these switches for?

[HotDirk01]

Subject boat is 1982 Sea Ray 360 SRV. There are two switches on the electrical panel that I don't understand (please see pic). The switches in question are the one labled "AC Converter" and the unlabeled switch right below it. I don't know their intended use and would appreciate some guidance - on or off and when.

 

[Little Ducky]

AC Converter is your built in battery charger.

I'm in a wet slip so I leave mine on all year long.

 

[markrsimon]

Given the age of the boat, the battery charger may be an older style that can overcharge and cook batteries. If its the original unit, I’m not sure you would want to leave it on all the time. Perhaps only use it when you are at, and using, the boat.

If its a newer charger that monitors and maintains - then yes, leave it whenever docked and connected to shore power.

As for the switch below - its unlabeled so fair game. If you can open the panel and verify that something is wired to it - that could be a first step. Otherwise you could try observing the amp meter - and seeing if it moves when turning that switch on/off. However either way it just tells you something is hooked up - not what. Tracing the wire, or trying to find the thing that turns on/off might be your only options.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Yep, AC converter is Sea Ray speak for battery charger. The unmarked other switch probably started out in life as a spare. As an FYI, on newer sea rays the panel switches are also breakers. Think of like your home, but built for many more on/off cycles. So before you replace any you might investigate to see if that was done as well with you boat. It’s a good bet as I don’t see any evidence of breakers elsewhere.

AC wiring on a boat is a big deal, and unless you have an appliance (Like an inverter) that was not included on the original spec it is unlikely the switch does anything. That said, if there is something connected to it you should consider having a qualified marine electrician check it out. Boats require some extra consideration with their AC wiring than homes, just being a licensed electrician is not enough. You need someone with boat AC knowledge.

 

[HotDirk01]

Thank you. Since charger is a new ProNautica 60 amp charger, i will leave labled switch on at all times. As for the unlabled switch, when on shore power the test needle on the port engine increases slightly when switch is turned on. This suggests to me it has some sort of involvement in charging the batteries and i think i will leave it on all of the home as well.

 

[HotDirk01]

AC Converter is your built in battery charger.

I'm in a wet slip so I leave mine on all year long.

Thanks, my neighbor at the marina whose panel is the same as mine (Wellcraft) gave me the same advice but i wanted to hear from other Sea Ray people.

 

[HotDirk01]

Yep, AC converter is Sea Ray speak for battery charger. The unmarked other switch probably started out in life as a spare. As an FYI, on newer sea rays the panel switches are also breakers. Think of like your home, but built for many more on/off cycles. So before you replace any you might investigate to see if that was done as well with you boat. It’s a good bet as I don’t see any evidence of breakers elsewhere.

AC wiring on a boat is a big deal, and unless you have an appliance (Like an inverter) that was not included on the original spec it is unlikely the switch does anything. That said, if there is something connected to it you should consider having a qualified marine electrician check it out. Boats require some extra consideration with their AC wiring than homes, just being a licensed electrician is not enough. You need someone with boat AC knowledge.

Thanks for the FYI