Big Beneteau Owners - What Does this Push Button Do ?

[bene505]

Anyone know what this push button does? It's at the top center, just to the right of the red alternator light on the instrument panel on my 2000 Beneteau 505.



Here's what it looks like on the other side. It's the one in the center of the picture with 4 red wires coming off it.



It's a push button, not a momentary type. When I push it, the instrument lights flicker for a moment.

I never got to meet the previous owner, so I really miss the hand-off discussion that could have taken place.

Regards

[Joli]

Probably a battery combiner.

[cdennyb]

curious if it's for the diesel engine "glow plugs"? dont know for sure, would think those would be on a momentary pushbutton. Looks like the wiring is for a relay of some kind.
Sorry.

[beneteau-500]

i have a similar set up and but mine is a key one it takes out the neutral on the electrical circuit but may be wrong

[HHNTR111]

I agree, I think it is a battery combiner. My Cambria has the same type of switch, real handy when you want to use all your amps to start the engine.

[bene505]

Wouldn't the wires have to be really thick to be a battery combiner?

This boat has completely separate systems for the engine and house batteries -- separate alternators, separate on/off switches, you get the idea. (Same shore charger, other than that they don't connect anywhere.)

Here's another picture to stimulate the thought processes. It looks like it once had a cover/label on it that has since fallen off.



Regards,
Brad

[Sailmonkey]

what sort of engine? do you have glow plugs? does the relay that all the wire are connected to stay engaged for a few seconds then drops open by it'self? where do all the wires go?

[bene505]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

what sort of engine? do you have glow plugs? does the relay that all the wire are connected to stay engaged for a few seconds then drops open by it'self? where do all the wires go?

Sailmonkey,

Our boat has an 85 hp diesel, it's a Perkins Sabre.

I don't see any wires on the engine that could be glow plugs.

The push button switch stays engaged after you press it. No dropping out.

There are 2 mystery relays - one hanging off each alternator. I don't know what they do either. I'll see if I have a picture somewhere.

Regards,
Brad

[Kordie]

Originally Posted by bene505

Wouldn't the wires have to be really thick to be a battery combiner?

Brad

Not if the switch trips a relay to combine the batteries -I don't think they'd run that sort of current through to the instrument panel - bioth for voltage loss reasons and safety.

[bene505]

Originally Posted by Kordie

Not if the switch trips a relay to combine the batteries -I don't think they'd run that sort of current through to the instrument panel - bioth for voltage loss reasons and safety.

Agreed. And the wires would be thick, expensive and heavy.

Here's a picture of the top of the engine. (No pictures of the relays hanging off the alternators yet.)

[Sailmonkey]

How are your alternators controlled?
do they both create current at the same time?
Will the charge idiot light remain on sometimes until the button is pushed?

[bene505]

Some addition information... I've been over the electrical system pretty well. I even made this diagram of the back side of the switches.



There are 5 things I don't understand: 1) the mystery push button switch on the engine panel, 2) the two little 12v radio shack-type relays that hang off the alternators, 3) how to turn the engine compartment's blower on (I replaced the blower this winter), 4) a tiny, 0.0035 amp, current drain off each bank (in the picture above), and 5) A switch in the salon that has wires that are difficult to trace. Not sure what that salon switch does. It's the top switch in this picture:

Edit: There's a 6th thing I don't understand. I haven't traced what the light is for at the bottom of this picture. It should be easy to trace though:



Appreciate the help!!

Regards,
Brad

[bene505]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

How are your alternators controlled?
do they both create current at the same time?
Will the charge idiot light remain on sometimes until the button is pushed?

The (65 amp) alternators are connected to separate batteries. Not sure how they are controlled (whether the regulator is built into the alternator or outside).

They do generate current at the same time. After starting the engine, the current to the engine battery drops down to zero after a short time. The house bank (2x 4D Gel batteries) takes awhile to fully charge. So they behave like they are on separate circuits.

The red idiot light behaves as a low voltage light. Once the engine turns over, it goes out right away.

Regards,
Brad

[Sailmonkey]

I'll go out on a limb here.......I think your mystery button is the alarm mute.
When you turn on the key, is there a buzzer? If so, when you press the mystery button does the buzzer silence for a time, then return?

look at page 48 of this manual.

http://www.perkins-sabre.com/Manuals/TPD1317E.pdf

I'll be willing to bet that one of the toggles on the panel is for the blower also.

[bene505]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I'll go out on a limb here.......I think your mystery button is the alarm mute.
When you turn on the key, is there a buzzer? If so, when you press the mystery button does the buzzer silence for a time, then return?

look at page 48 of this manual.

http://www.perkins-sabre.com/Manuals/TPD1317E.pdf

I'll be willing to bet that one of the toggles on the panel is for the blower also.

Thanks Sailmonkey,

I'll have to check that out. I don't think it muted the alarm when I was playing with it last night. (We are on the hard so I didn't start the engine.)

Good idea on the toggles. The side-by-side toggles are engine-on (the buzzer sounds) and starter (momentary on). The other 2 toggles are for the stern spot light that shines on the swim ladder and for the overhead cockpit lights. Maybe the blower was disconnected from a toggle when the PO put in the transom light. There are some stray wires behind the instrument panel. I could test them for connectivity with the power wire on the blower.

Regards,
Brad