Hey all, I have an 04 280DA. Twin 4.3. 3 batteries. There is an emergency start switch on the dash. I have inadvertently pushed it and it immediately tripped a breaker. All the battery and relay wiring looks original and I disturbed, so I thought I would ask the Forum before I pull out the wiring diagram and waste hours of wire chasing….. Cheers!
Which breaker did you trip? That switch connects the STBD and PORT battery banks together - used to start a engine with a not so healthy battery bank. Helps in those instances where you are out on the lake anchored/drifting listening to tunes, running the fridge, etc - and you ran your house batter bank down.
Thanks. Tripped the starboard side. Port side wouldn’t start. Barely turns over. Seems like a starter going bad. Starboard side was running. I pushed the switch and it immediately killed the starboard engine and tripped the breaker. Then I tried it again with the breaker still tripped and it kicked the port breaker out. I’m wondering if the solenoid may have a short.
Take a look at pg 58 to start, your going to have to make sure the switch(s) are wired correctly https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/2004_280 Sundancer_2004 280 DA OM.pdf
Could be that. However, might be worth load testing both batteries to eliminate that before anything else.
I can see where if one battery were completely dead, or that bank's starter were bad enough, it might trip the opposite bank's breaker. There is only so much help the good side can lend to the bad. That said, I'd take a look at the wiring for the emergency start solenoid, as well as having clean connections at both starters and your battery switches.
If I remember correctly, and don't hold me to this...On our 320 I did the same thing. It turned out for me to be a bad battery. Isolate them and load test first. Trying to crank an engine with extra juice shouldn't pop breakers. Our electrical gurus should chime in here.
