Battery Relay Switches

aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
in General Boating Discussions

I can never remember how these should be set. This is how I ran the boat last season. Port and Starboard set to “on” and emergency set to “Auto”. Is this correct?




2008 330EC
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,139 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2021
    You can do it that way. Alternately, they can all be on “auto” and then you use the switches in the port side 12v panel to turn them on/off. 
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can you explain that? Is one way better than the other? 
    2008 330EC
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What switch on the port side panel are you referring to?


    2008 330EC
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,139 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Beside the transom door. 
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
    LoL! I was thinking Starboard in my head!
    2008 330EC
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭

    2008 330EC
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,139 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That’s the one!
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I never touched these switches, I always leave them on. Should I put the relays in auto and turn the switches on and off? Is there a reason to do this? One way better than the other?
    2008 330EC
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,139 ✭✭✭✭✭
    As far as I can tell Rinker used these relay switches to reduce heavy gauge wiring - this way the switches don’t have to be mounted in an accessible location (alongside the generator and house battery switch). 

    I have always used them on auto. 
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,763 mod
    Set them on auto!

    On my boat, each starter battery has a fat cable from the battery up to that 12V panel near the transom door -- a distance of about four feet.  Those wires are always hot.  If there's a short-circuit anywhere along that length, turning off the battery switch does not disconnect power to the short.

    With relays, the cutoff is right next to the battery.  The switch up at the panel is just a remote control for the cutoff.  Set the relays on "auto" and use the panel switches to disconnect the batteries.

    I wish I had thought to install relays when I rewired my boat.  It's a safer setup.
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