Parallel Switch Position

[The Masons]

According to the R27 manual PDF on page 15 it states the following: "Once the EMERGENCY PARALLEL switch is placed in the on position the power from the HOUSE batteries will be transferred to the ENGINE battery. Use only for EMERGENCY." If the stern thruster uses that same switch, as does my 2013 R27, does this mean I should only turn it to on just before I intend to use the stern thruster (or for emergeny situation)? Thanks.

 

[Andrew Custis]

Your thruster should not use the parallel switch. The parallel switch is basically a built in pair of jumper cables. You should only turn it on if you need to use the house batteries to start the engine. Otherwise, it should remain in the off position.

Hope that helps,

 

[CAPTCRUNCH]

According to the R27 manual PDF on page 15 it states the following: "Once the EMERGENCY PARALLEL switch is placed in the on position the power from the HOUSE batteries will be transferred to the ENGINE battery. Use only for EMERGENCY." If the stern thruster uses that same switch, as does my 2013 R27, does this mean I should only turn it to on just before I intend to use the stern thruster (or for emergeny situation)? Thanks.

You might be misled by the routing of the cable from the top of the stern thruster fuse block. Having just spent a good bit of time in that neighborhood replacing the fuse, I'm pretty certain the cable runs up behind the "parallel" switch and then to the right to the "thruster" switch without making any connection to the "parallel" switch.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

One thing that can be done, if you're concerned with low truster battery power or running down the truster battery while docking, locking, etc. is to run your generator and battery charger in this type of situation. You'd also want your battery charger turned on. Obviously this doesn't help those that don't have a generator.

Jim

 

[pugtug613]

On my 2012 R27, my thrusters have their own battery. I turn on 3 switches. House, engine (motor & generator), and thruster. The parallel switch is to "combine" all the batteries if needed.

 

[pugtug613]

Once a month or so just put a voltmeter across each battery. They should all be no lower then 12.6 when fully charged. If, any battery is let's say 12.2 or lower, when they should be fully charged, you need to look at that battery. When I say fully charged, that means you just ran your engine for at least 30 minutes, or your plugged into shore power for a few hours, or your battery monitor is down to "trickle" charge.

 

[The Masons]

Thank you all for the insight. I began going down this route when the stern thruster wouldn't activate. I guess it was coincidence that after I turned the parallel switch to the "on" position the thruster worked. (The bow thruster worked fine either way). I've noticed the stern thruster has been intermittent so I reseated the connector under the cockpit rear seat and need to check it out more thoroughly.