House batteries

P

PMR#47

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2023
Messages
9
Fluid Motion Model
R-25 (Outboard)
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2535A323
Vessel Name
Blue Seas
MMSI Number
338477968
I have always left the house battery switch on when I get back to the dock and plug into shore power. I also leave the battery charger on. Is there a need to have the house battery switch on when I'm on dockside power? My dock mates are 5-/5- on the subject.
 
So you're likely to get the same 50/50 difference of opinions here. But I'd ask why do you leave it on? If there's no particular reason to do so then why not turn it off? Boat electrical systems and devices are subject to moisture/corrosion and though rare random short/failures are possible.
 
PMR#47 said:
I have always left the house battery switch on when I get back to the dock and plug into shore power. I also leave the battery charger on. Is there a need to have the house battery switch on when I'm on dockside power? My dock mates are 5-/5- on the subject.
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None of the battery switches need to be on for the battery charger to charge the batteries. The charger is connected to the batteries prior to the switches.

The primary reason I leave our house battery switch on is because we leave the refrigerator on to minimize the restocking of some basic items between trips as well as to have ice on the boat when we arrive for a trip. I also leave the hot water heater on so we have hot water on arrival. It’s really just personal preference and how often you use the boat etc. Of course, I turn all the switches off when the boat is in storage.

Curt
 
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If you are plugged in and the battery charger is on it probably doesn't matter either way. There would be less risk of an electrical fire starting with it off but that should be very minimal. I noticed on my boat that some things that draw continuous current were wired directly, so turning off the switch doesn't really turn everything off anyways. I leave my switch on whenever the boat is in use, mainly to keep my beer cold. Then turn it off when in storage.
 
PMR#47 said:
I have always left the house battery switch on when I get back to the dock and plug into shore power. I also leave the battery charger on. Is there a need to have the house battery switch on when I'm on dockside power? My dock mates are 5-/5- on the subject.
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Your battery charger will work whether or not your house switch is on, keeping your batteries topped of.
If you shut off your house switch your refrigerators will turn off, as they only run 12 volt DC from the house bank.
 
If I turn off the house, you'll be smelling my bait in another state. I am always fearful taking my boat to service since they say they'll plug me in, but, I've had to spend all day cleaning fridges when they fail to do the necessary. Mayonnaise is also a major concern.
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments.
 
PMR#47 said:
Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments.
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One drawback no one has mentioned. If you leave the battery switch on with any kind of load, should the external power fail for whatever reason, it will kill your batteries quickly if not discovered in time. With the battery switch off the timeframe for dead batteries will be greatly extended.
 
I*think*that my solar panel covers the fridge consumption since I, knock on wood, don't get any electric bill. However, I'll leave that up to the folks who actually pay attention to power since I'm on the pedestal nearly 100%.
 
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I leave my house battery switch on to keep the refrigerator and Starlink on. I'll have a Trakkit on board soon to geofence the boat and it will also provide temperature via the Starlink. I'll let the insurance company know I've added this and it may lessen insurance costs and I'll have more piece-of-mind when out-of-town.
 
I always leave the house bank on. When the boat is in storage (no shore power) on the trailer during the summer it’s fine indefinitely running the refrigerator and always on devices. I doubt that would be possible without our 335 watt solar panel and VE Solar controller. House bank typically stays between 14.2 and 12.4 volts regardless of the amount of daily sunshine.
 
We leave the fridge on all year therefore, the house is on all year.

I have a 340W panel. If shore power fails, it won't kill the batteries.

I do reset the house power every so often, as there are devices on the NMEA network that seem to like a reboot.
 
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