Properly installed bilge pumps and carbon monoxide alarms are often wired directly to the battery so turning off the isolator will not stop those from working. And dont forget to pay attention to the warning which says stop engines before switching off.
Guest Battery Switches
Should i turn my boat battery off. 2nd leaving keys in any vehicle is a invitation to anyone to take a joy ride. If your boat has one battery on it you will have a single battery that handles everything. Never use the both position except to parallel both batteries if theyre both flat almost like an attempt to jump start your own engine. Turning off the boats motor will not prevent the battery from draining. I was busy typing long novels. Malibu did not wire bilge pumps directly to the battery until 2010 unless the boat owner changed it themselves.
Over the course of the season youll use both batteries equally. Sharon 2017 t at b css 2015 toyota sienna minivan westlake ohio. I always take the keys out and turn the battery off when leaving the boat. 1st like frank said the bilge pump is tied directly to the battery. Leaving the battery switch on will let the bilge pump work but will also drain your batteries some. To charge or use the battery the switch must be on.
Welcome mikep i turn the battery switches off when i am not using the the boat. You can keep the bilge switch on with the batteries off if you leave it in the water. Isolate your batteries when you leave the boat. By turning off the battery master switch youll ensure that there are no parasitic loads depleting your batteries while youre away. You might not be aware of it but while your boat is turned off your battery could still draw power from things such as the radio bilge pump fish finder or even a clock. There is a slight drain from the electronics on these boats.
Once the boat is running it shouldnt be pulling from the battery unless you have huge stereos that draw more than the alt puts out. Then it will run the boat off the alt but it will also pull from the battery which will run it down over time. However this battery will only be charging while the motor is running. You arent required to keep your switch on but i imagine that most folks want to charge their battery while they can. If turned off the battery is isolated from charge or discharge. Once you turn off the engine the alternator will stop charging and then your lights radios and other equipment will put a steady pull on that battery.
What i found out was that yes you should disconnect the battery if your boat is stored on land but if you store your boat in the water then no.