Fridge not on battery switch

[timmyk78]

So I turned my battery switch to the off position and my fridge still ran. I have a 1985 260 Weekender with twin 190 mercs. 3 group 27 batteries. I know that one of my batteries on port side is isolated, not on the switch and only starts the port engine. The other battery on the port side is battery #2 on switch. Starboard side battery is #1 on switch and has a few other wires hooked up to it. I use #1 for starting starboard and when i'm at anchor for the radio,etc. # 2 is my back-up in case I drain #1. Is it safe to assume that the fridge is wired directly to #1? I have a charger on #1 when at shore power. It sure would suck to drain both and have to use the emergency jump button. I have never used my fridge at anchor but would like to.

 

[Hampton]

There's no real need to assume anything, especially with a slightly older boat with loan wires running to batteries.

Try pulling one lead off of each battery, starting with #1, until the fridge shuts off (turn way cold so it doesn't turn off from temperature). It'll be a good opportunity to clean the battery terminals a little.

 

[timmyk78]

good idea. I'll start with the one with the few extra wires (#1). I know that the auto bilge switch is hooked directly to #1. I also read the manual for the fridge and it indicates it has to be wired directly to battery.

 

[boatmailster]

First unscrew your battery switch and check if refrigerator 12V wire is not connected to wrong post on batt. switch