Thursday, June 9, 2011

Does my boat really need a battery switch?

I say yes, even on a small boat.  A battery switch will eliminate any stray current draws that could drain your battery while at the dock for a long period or on the trailer.  When this master switch is off, you can rest assured that a trickle draw will not drain your battery.

Another reason is that the switch can be used to quickly and effectively shut off power to your entire system while working on your boat's electrical system or, in the case of a short circuit which could lead to a fire.

Also, 1-2-BOTH-OFF battery combiner type switch is a cheap way to add a second battery, creating a redundant system, and giving you a house side and a starting side... more on that to come!

There are exceptions, where I recommend devices be routed around the battery switch (hardwired to battery), your bilge float switch for instance.  Also, never turn your battery switch off while your boat's motor is running!  For this reason a 1-2-BOTH-OFF switch should be a "make before break" type.

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