Battery Isolation?

[OverTime]

Hi all,
I've noticed that some people isolate their battery banks when not in use and others leave the battery switches on. I'm trying to decide which way to go? I'm at the boat a lot, not necessarily running it but I'm there to monitor things. Is there a preferred method? Thanks.

 

[Jesperjo]

It probably depends on the boat, but generally in my experience, leaving the battery switches on unless you are on shore power guarantees you’ll get back to dead batteries. There are a number of things that bypass the switches, like bilge pumps, CO detectors, and so on. On your R-29 that 24x7 panel is in the mid berth. The things on it are meant to draw only so much power that they won’t drain the batteries even over a long period of time.

On our R-25, we had no shore power hookup, and we accidentally left the house switch on once. It wasn’t actually showing as on, it looked off, but it was just clicked past the off setting. In two weeks, we got back to the boat and the house battery was so drained it wouldn’t even take a charge without us jumper in the house to the thruster battery. It probably was the refrigerator that drained it, but I don’t know that for sure.

If you are on shore power, it won’t matter as much, since it tops the batteries off. There’s not that much stuff that you would want running though, unless you have a security system, or an Internet connection that you want to always have on. Check out the fuses in the boat, or just the manual (https://www.manula.com/manuals/fluidmotion/ranger-tugs-r29/1/en/topic/fuse-location-values), and you can see what’s there and decide if it is worth it.

 

[NorthernFocus]

I guess the question is why would you leave it on? Unless there is a specific reason the safest thing to do is deenergize everything possible.

 

[Jesperjo]

Yeah great question. I have only ever had two reasons. First, if I want to keep the fridge cool, like if we are moored somewhere and have food in there, and two if I have a security system or Internet that is not on the 24x7 panel. Others may have other reasons but those are the two where I have left them on.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Yeah great question. I have only ever had two reasons. First, if I want to keep the fridge cool, like if we are moored somewhere and have food in there, and two if I have a security system or Internet that is not on the 24x7 panel. Others may have other reasons but those are the two where I have left them on.

I took the question in the OP to mean whether to leave the battery switches on when the boat is not in use. Certainly if you need something powered it's a moot point and switch must be on.

 

[Eagle 2]

I turn them all off. I leave a dehumidifer on inthe saloon, as well as a couple golden rods on, but that's AC from shore power.

 

[gregc]

I leave the house on. Engine off.

 

[William Sanborn]

I walk over to the boat at the Club most afternoons to Read or "nap", and leave the house on all the time, but all the Circuit Breaks are off except Water Pressure and V Berth lights. Boat is plugged in to 120 V, and with Solar it keep the batteries floated at about 13 V. If I need to use the head the power is on, and wash water is available. Engine and Thruster are off unless we plan to cruise.

2011 RT 27
Bill