Battery Cutoff Switch

77vetter

New Member
Dec 1, 2019
22
Boat Info
2005 200 Sport
Engines
4.3 MPI
Look at adding a battery cutoff switch to my 200 sport. I just like to cutoff the battery when its in storage between uses to ensure I have no incidental battery drainage. I found this one that seems like it would be good for marine and had good reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Audew-Battery-Switch-12V-Waterproof/dp/B07DPNRWXW/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7OnxBRCNARIsAIW53B-v_QThYB0vMlEbtEO4LVgZJygq5i8INPBN7_iGsbEhC-V3b37JxdYaAomsEALw_wcB&hvadid=214480696312&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9020386&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=12560358828806467975&hvtargid=aud-836690481282%3Akwd-346877632205&hydadcr=9495_9892224&keywords=marine+battery+switch+disconnect&qid=1580934726&sr=8-6

The way I understand how to install these:
  1. Remove the cable wire(s) that are currently on the positive post of your battery and install them to the back of one of the posts on this switch.
  2. Purchase a new positive battery cable and attach it to the other post on this switch and then the other end goes back to the positive post on the battery.

You leave the ground on the battery as it was and you don't need to "ground" the switch? Meaning you purchase a battery cable set but you only need the positive cable. Is that correct, nothing else is required?

Any further guidance or help (photos ;) )would be appreciated.

thanks!
 
You have the basics figured out, however if you have an auto bilge pump you would have to make sure that it maintains power even with the disconnect in off position. I would imagine that you trailer your 200, so just my thoughts as far as the bilge pump.
 
You have the basics figured out, however if you have an auto bilge pump you would have to make sure that it maintains power even with the disconnect in off position. I would imagine that you trailer your 200, so just my thoughts as far as the bilge pump.
sorry for not knowing, but why does the bilge pump need to maintain power? And yes we trailer it to the lake and back to storage after each weekend/useage.
 
That looks like a knock-off BEP Mairne switch.

Id ask, why not consider going with a dual bank switch and adding in that 2nd bank. Never met a boat that didnt need a 2nd bank. Im a huge advocate for dual banks.

If you wet-slip or store on a lift, you want the auto-bilge to have power even when the main switch is off. If you store the boat in a dry rack, you likely leave the plug in. If the dry rack is not covered, heavy rain can fill the boat. You would want the bilge to run.
 
Just keep it simple. Especially if the battery(s) are in a easily accessible location.
 

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Looks like that is a cheap chinese knock-off. I would go with a Blue Sea or Perko for the small price difference on a mechanical part that will be used often. Why take any risk of it failing?
 
Looks like that is a cheap chinese knock-off. I would go with a Blue Sea or Perko for the small price difference on a mechanical part that will be used often. Why take any risk of it failing?
thanks for the info, will look at a Blue Sea!
 
Bilge pumps usually have a float switch that activates the pump if the water in the bilge gets too high. So if you leave your boat in the water a lot, and you develop a leak, the float switch won't work if it doesn't have power. Usually they have a direct connection to the battery. If you always pull your boat out after every use that may not be necessary, but that is normally how they are wired.
 
Bilge pumps usually have a float switch that activates the pump if the water in the bilge gets too high. So if you leave your boat in the water a lot, and you develop a leak, the float switch won't work if it doesn't have power. Usually they have a direct connection to the battery. If you always pull your boat out after every use that may not be necessary, but that is normally how they are wired.
Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that's how the worked. We never leave the boat in the water as we don't live on the lake or have a slip.
 
Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that's how the worked. We never leave the boat in the water as we don't live on the lake or have a slip.

Having the bilge pumps direct wired to have a continuous power source is best practice and should be followed. You may not need store the boat in the water now, but you or some future owner might.

There's also such a thing called "sinking on the trailer". That's when the bilges get flooded from a combination of rain water and a drain plug has been left in or is clogged. It happens! And a CSR member is dealing with the aftermath of this right now. Having the pump direct wired to the battery could prevent it.

On that specific switch, it's clearly an inexpensive Chinese knock-off. I know you said you were going to look at Blue Sea (really good stuff!) Good-quality electrical components on a boat are very important. A battery switch has a lot of current going through it. Could that one be OK? Sure. However I personally would not be comfortable buying that type of important and high-amp component when they can't even use proper spelling in the product description. The consequences of an on-board fire are simply too high for me to take that risk. Just ask 8 people that died in a recent marina fire down South.
 
Having the bilge pumps direct wired to have a continuous power source is best practice and should be followed. You may not need store the boat in the water now, but you or some future owner might.

There's also such a thing called "sinking on the trailer". That's when the bilges get flooded from a combination of rain water and a drain plug has been left in or is clogged. It happens! And a CSR member is dealing with the aftermath of this right now. Having the pump direct wired to the battery could prevent it.

On that specific switch, it's clearly an inexpensive Chinese knock-off. I know you said you were going to look at Blue Sea (really good stuff!) Good-quality electrical components on a boat are very important. A battery switch has a lot of current going through it. Could that one be OK? Sure. However I personally would not be comfortable buying that type of important and high-amp component when they can't even use proper spelling in the product description. The consequences of an on-board fire are simply too high for me to take that risk. Just ask 8 people that died in a recent marina fire down South.
Really good information, and so true about good quality electronic components, will for sure order the Blue Sea option. Thanks again for all the advice, much appreciated, these forums are invaluable:)
 

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