Stupid battery switch/inverter question

[sully75]

Blue seas recommends putting a switch between the battery and the inverter. I have a Guest two bank battery switch. But I have only one bank (solar powered boat with an outboard).

The switch is larger than I need but I was wondering if there would be something wrong with wiring it backwards, making the 1 bank side going to my regular switch panel, the 2 side going to my inverter. So the both position would have the inverter and my panel. Saving me having to buy two one position switches.

I assume this is a bad idea but just wondering if it isn't.


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[unclemack]

If I died tomorrow I wouldn't want to leave my heirs a mystery system that could be a danger to anyone unaware that I'd used an Off/1/2/both battery selector/combiner to switch on a mains inverter.

Electrically it can work but I'd prefer to use another switch. One clearly labelled "INVERTER"

You might want to add a house battery later anyway.

[Boatguy30]

I believe ABYC requires a switch. I used a large fuse and a surveyor wrote it up as a condition needing repair.

[Reefmagnet]

You need to protect the circuit anyway so this is what I would (and do!) use...



Pretty cheap on Ebay, too.

[sully75]

Originally Posted by unclemack

If I died tomorrow I wouldn't want to leave my heirs a mystery system that could be a danger to anyone unaware that I'd used an Off/1/2/both battery selector/combiner to switch on a mains inverter.

Electrically it can work but I'd prefer to use another switch. One clearly labelled "INVERTER"

You might want to add a house battery later anyway.

Ok that was the face slap I needed. Thanks.

For the record, why would I ever want a second bank?

[sully75]

I have the appropriate fuse for the record. I just need the switch.

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by sully75

I have the appropriate fuse for the record. I just need the switch.

The circuit breaker I posted as pic is also a switch. Saves digging around for that one of a kind spare fuse to replace the one that always blows just at the most inconvenient time.

Also, you might at some stage want to add a second battery once you discover inverters suck juice quicker than an alcoholic at a happy hour, and which is best kept isolated from the first using a combiner switch.

Having said all that, your original idea will work a treat, especially if you dymo label the retasked switch positions.

[sully75]

Good point on the circuit breaker. Duh. Thanks.

[unclemack]

Originally Posted by sully75

Ok that was the face slap I needed. Thanks.

For the record, why would I ever want a second bank?

Really didn't mean it that way, I'm just getting to the age when it's time to think about not leaving things in a mess.

Some people find their battery requirement increases over time.
YMMV, obviously.

[sully75]

It's fine! I want to do a good job with this and would rather not screw it up. I'm sure the 4th time I wire this boat I'll get it right.

I actually thought the circuit breaker above was only an "on" switch for after it popped. Can you switch it off too?

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by sully75

It's fine! I want to do a good job with this and would rather not screw it up. I'm sure the 4th time I wire this boat I'll get it right.

I actually thought the circuit breaker above was only an "on" switch for after it popped. Can you switch it off too?

Yep. The red button on top is pressed to open the switch and the lever that pops out is then reset to close it. You can also get them in panel mount formats.

[tinkrman69]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Yep. The red button on top is pressed to open the switch and the lever that pops out is then reset to close it. You can also get them in panel mount formats.

I second this. I also have one on my solar array and wind generator. It's also handy when working on the circuit. and some times I have good wind but cloudy skies, If I turn off the solar,so the controller on the wind gen. will give a better charge, as it won't be reading the extra voltage from the solar. On sunny days I turn of the wind, during the day. I get a lot more amp hours that way and less wear on the gen. a little off topic, but an extra add advantage to it.

Lance

[tinkrman69]

Originally Posted by tinkrman69

I second this. I also have one on my solar array and wind generator. It's also handy when working on the circuit. and some times I have good wind but cloudy skies, If I turn off the solar,so the controller on the wind gen. will give a better charge, as it won't be reading the extra voltage from the solar. On sunny days I turn of the wind, during the day. I get a lot more amp hours that way and less wear on the gen. a little off topic, but an extra add advantage to it.

Lance

a correction to the above. the wind gen. has a stop switch built in, but I still put the breaker in for safety.

[adlib2]

Originally Posted by sully75

Ok that was the face slap I needed. Thanks.

For the record, why would I ever want a second bank?

Why would you? Just name the Switch 'Inverter'.

[sully75]

Originally Posted by tinkrman69

I second this. I also have one on my solar array and wind generator. It's also handy when working on the circuit. and some times I have good wind but cloudy skies, If I turn off the solar,so the controller on the wind gen. will give a better charge, as it won't be reading the extra voltage from the solar. On sunny days I turn of the wind, during the day. I get a lot more amp hours that way and less wear on the gen. a little off topic, but an extra add advantage to it.

Lance

Hmmm...wondering if I should put a breaker on the alternator from the outboard? It puts out 5 amps, would I be smart to wire in a 5 amp breaker to shut it off on sunny days? I was under the impression that the MPPT charge controller would still work to top off the battery regardless.