Emergency engine hatch only works 1 way

Spyderweb

Been reading on here how on some of our boats, jumping the 2 studs with a battery will both open and close the engine hatch.  On others it will only open.  So finally got around to checking mine, and it only opens the hatch.  I understand there are several scenarios where the override is useful, but to me, one big one was you could take your batteries out at the the end of the season, close the hatch with the jumper, shrink wrap the boat.  Come back in spring with batteries all charged from home, attach jumper, open hatch and reinstall batteries.  Those of us with systems that only open the hatch, could never do this.  There’s no way to close the hatch.

Why on earth would you have a system that only goes 1 way?  Am I missing something?

By the way, I tried reversing the cable, using panel switch, nothing.  

aero3113

@Spyderweb , did you try swapping the jumper leads to go the opposite way? Strange that it would only go one way?

LaRea

That's what mine does on the 370, and I could never figure out why.  The 342 went both ways.

On my boat, this works to close the hatch with batteries removed:
Turn both battery switches on
Connect shore power
Turn battery charger on

All AC and DC systems work including hatch lift.  (On my boat.  Your mileage may vary.)

skuter99

on my 270 the hatch goes up or down by reversing the battery cables on the studs

in the switch box

Spyderweb

@aero3113 @skuter99 Yes, I reversed jumper leads and nothing.  I was sure that would work.  
@LaRea would your system work if the charger is not hooked to any batteries (because they might be home)?

LaRea

It works on my boat with all batteries disconnected.  

Ian

There's still charger power on the 12v bus even without batteries installed.

Spyderweb

@Alswagg  Is that a good thing?