400: Auxiliary switch secrets

[jugga]

Hi, What do you guys have working under the auxilliary switch on the electrical panel ? I'm embarassed to say I don't have a clue what's under mine, I asked the previous owner and he didn't know either. All the manuals don't clear it up ... thanks !

[belizesailor]

Why not just crack open the panel and look?

[smac999]

Figure it out. And then label it... nobody should have an aux switch.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by smac999

Figure it out. And then label it... nobody should have an aux switch.

Most probably - nothing.
It was put there by Lagoon for your convenience if & when you want new extra equipment and wish to connect it to the panel.
If previous owner did not connect (seems so as he does not know what it is) then it is still free.

[jugga]

It does look like it's free, but I just don't know for sure. Of course I opened the panel to check, it's an electronic board - not an oldschool electric one where you can simply follow and test out the wires ... All our electrical stuff still works when it is shut off ... but it would be just my luck to not see something stealthly important, that's why I thought I'd ask ...

[Bean Counter]

Our Panel has the french word "Auxiliare" and the english sub text "Spare". I tried to track this on the lagoon wiring schematics and it seems it could be used for a second fridge. In the USA it may be used as the propane on/off solenoid. If you have a smart battery monitor you could switch everything else off so the amp draw is zero and then switch this one on and see if if there is any draw.

[jugga]

Thanks BeanCounter, I do have two refrigerators but both still work with the aux switch off. So I guess the aux is not in use. For a minute I thought it was the AIS, because even with the nav instruments switch in the OFF position, my AIS seems to be transmitting constantly. I can go 'dark' while sailing by going stealth via my plotter, but as soon as I anchor and switch the nav instruments off, my AIS is alive and sending ...

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by jugga

Thanks BeanCounter, I do have two refrigerators but both still work with the aux switch off. So I guess the aux is not in use. For a minute I thought it was the AIS, because even with the nav instruments switch in the OFF position, my AIS seems to be transmitting constantly. I can go 'dark' while sailing by going stealth via my plotter, but as soon as I anchor and switch the nav instruments off, my AIS is alive and sending ...

How did you check AIS at port? by looking at Internet website? The only conclusive way is to visit a neigbour with AIS equipment. Then turn yours transmission on/off and see what happens on his screen.
I would be very much surprised if your AIS still transmits if the navigation breaker is off.

[Bean Counter]

Our Raymarine AIS continues to transmit with panel Nav switched off, as does another L450 with a B&G system we know of. Must be wired to the VHF radio circuit as the Ray240E radio also does not switch off (unless turned off at the unit) and has no panel switch.

[Bean Counter]

Also if Marine Traffic is showing my position on the internet as of 5 minutes ago when my Nav has been switched off for two days, would be a good indicator that the AIS is transmitting.

[jugga]

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

Our Raymarine AIS continues to transmit with panel Nav switched off, as does another L450 with a B&G system we know of. Must be wired to the VHF radio circuit as the Ray240E radio also does not switch off (unless turned off at the unit) and has no panel switch.

I doubt it is wired to the VHF though, or do you mean your AIS stops transmitting when your VHF is switched off at the unit ?
My AIS seems lit all the time

[Bean Counter]

Originally Posted by jugga

I doubt it is wired to the VHF though, or do you mean your AIS stops transmitting when your VHF is switched off at the unit ?
My AIS seems lit all the time

For our VHF there is no panel switch, it has power available to it all the time.

The AIS is the same. Even if it is not transmitting an indicator light is still on (so it must have power in standby mode) Again there is no panel switch for the AIS, and it is not governed by the Nav panel switch

There is also no panel switch for the automatic self bailers.

I am suggesting there may be a circuit (probably related to safety) that is live to power these things even if all panel switches are off. They may have other breakers on the breaker board though in the electrical cabinet, if not I guess they rely on in line fuses. The Winches and Windlass have their own heavy duty breakers.

Friends have a 2016 L450 with a B&G system, they have no separate switch to switch off power to their AIS either, it transmits all the time.

In our case the older Raymarine system, the default when starting the plotter is to switch the AIS to non transmit mode. Unless you consciously switch it on through the plotter it will not transmit, even when plotter is closed down. If you turn transmit on through the plotter and then shut down the plotter the AIS continues to transmit.

[Ulstue]

We also have the AIS sending as long as the battery is switched on. (Main switch next to the stb. aft bed). You can switch the NAIS 400 off at the B&G Zeus^2 plotter.

[Rickthesailor]

Hi,

Our Auxiliary switch had nothing connected to it (L450F 2016)... so we used it for our mast top trilight...

Regards, Rick

[Rickthesailor]

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

For our VHF there is no panel switch, it has power available to it all the time.

The AIS is the same. Even if it is not transmitting an indicator light is still on (so it must have power in standby mode) Again there is no panel switch for the AIS, and it is not governed by the Nav panel switch

There is also no panel switch for the automatic self bailers.

I am suggesting there may be a circuit (probably related to safety) that is live to power these things even if all panel switches are off. They may have other breakers on the breaker board though in the electrical cabinet, if not I guess they rely on in line fuses. The Winches and Windlass have their own heavy duty breakers.

Friends have a 2016 L450 with a B&G system, they have no separate switch to switch off power to their AIS either, it transmits all the time.

In our case the older Raymarine system, the default when starting the plotter is to switch the AIS to non transmit mode. Unless you consciously switch it on through the plotter it will not transmit, even when plotter is closed down. If you turn transmit on through the plotter and then shut down the plotter the AIS continues to transmit.

Hi,

On our 450F (2016) the AIS uses the VHF antenna via a splitter, and there is an option to run the AIS in silent mode (receive only), but you need to wire that yourself... there are instructions in the manual... we leave ours in full receive/transmit all the time...

Regards, Rick