Starboard DC Switch doesn't really turn off completely

[thenaz007]

So I dewinterized and started my 01 340 Sundancer without the crossover and my head and water pump were working. Now a week later I have to use the crossover to start my port engine (replaced port solenoid and cleaned all connections on electrical path last year), and I have no water pump pressure. Looking carefully at my Starboard DC switch in the galley panel I notice it doesn't seem to actuate positively, and it doesn't completely turn off that side of the DC. I have to turn off all the individual DC switches to get the meter for that Starboard side of the DC to go to zero. I took a quick stab at the sister Starboard DC switch on the panel under the engine hatch, and it seemed to positively turn on and off (I replaced the port Solenoid last year and wondering if I had a connection fail causing the crossover start). So I struggled with battery drain last year and now I suspect it depends on whether I count on this Starboard DC Switch in the galley panel or I also turn off all the individual switches - Would this be characteristic of a failing solenoid? . If this faulty switch causes a drain, why wouldn't my battery charging unit (new) keep up with it? I believe i was nearly out of water so if the water pump kept running (with the switch off) it may now be dead. I did fill the water tank before testing that the pump does not seem to supply pressure. So I'm thinking the Crossover switch is a Starboard Solenoid connection or fuse, and my port DC woes may be a bad toggle switch (or I wired it wrong when I replaced it 2 years ago...) or another Solenoid problem. I will go back tonight and test my batteries (with an actual load meter), feel the pump to see if it is running when turned on, see if I can unstick any Solenoids by actuating them repeatedly. Actually this may all be that bad or miswired toggle switch - I tried to wire the toggle one of 8 wires at a time to get it correct but I might have botched it. Are the line and load sides the same (i.e. wiring exactly the same) for the Port and Starboard galley DC toggle switches so I can check one by looking at the other? Sorry for the meandering post!

 

[techmitch]

So I dewinterized and started my 01 340 Sundancer without the crossover and my head and water pump were working. Now a week later I have to use the crossover to start my port engine (replaced port solenoid and cleaned all connections on electrical path last year), and I have no water pump pressure. Looking carefully at my Starboard DC switch in the galley panel I notice it doesn't seem to actuate positively, and it doesn't completely turn off that side of the DC. I have to turn off all the individual DC switches to get the meter for that Starboard side of the DC to go to zero. I took a quick stab at the sister Starboard DC switch on the panel under the engine hatch, and it seemed to positively turn on and off (I replaced the port Solenoid last year and wondering if I had a connection fail causing the crossover start). So I struggled with battery drain last year and now I suspect it depends on whether I count on this Starboard DC Switch in the galley panel or I also turn off all the individual switches - Would this be characteristic of a failing solenoid? . If this faulty switch causes a drain, why wouldn't my battery charging unit (new) keep up with it? I believe i was nearly out of water so if the water pump kept running (with the switch off) it may now be dead. I did fill the water tank before testing that the pump does not seem to supply pressure. So I'm thinking the Crossover switch is a Starboard Solenoid connection or fuse, and my port DC woes may be a bad toggle switch (or I wired it wrong when I replaced it 2 years ago...) or another Solenoid problem. I will go back tonight and test my batteries (with an actual load meter), feel the pump to see if it is running when turned on, see if I can unstick any Solenoids by actuating them repeatedly. Actually this may all be that bad or miswired toggle switch - I tried to wire the toggle one of 8 wires at a time to get it correct but I might have botched it. Are the line and load sides the same (i.e. wiring exactly the same) for the Port and Starboard galley DC toggle switches so I can check one by looking at the other? Sorry for the meandering post!

All of the individual switches/breakers should be turned off first before turning off the main breaker on the DC panel.

 

[thenaz007]

I never knew that. As I would typically run the same things I would just flick the left and right side DC master solenoid rocker switches in the galley panel and leave the individual switches generally alone. I think when I changed the starboard rocker switch previously I fat-fingered it and may have crossed a pair of the 8 connections. The switch does turn on and off but there is still a trickle going through in the off position. The switch light stays softly on whether energized or off, whereas the Port Switch is only illuminated when actuated. The other issue is why that bank of batteries wasn't being charged more than the parasitic draw. I had put a new charger and new batteries in last year to address this problem, no I suspect the new charger is also not charging the Port Battery bank. I also upgraded from 2 +1 to 2 + 2 batteries last year to add capacity and help make up for the relatively low cranking amps of the dual purpose Group 27 Lead acid batteries (650 is light for 454's...). So they both started great without crossover but the Port batteries died over a few weeks with a few DC switches left on but the questionable rocker off. I found a very loose (barely finger tight) ground at the main grounding terminal on the bulkhead. I cleaned the terminals and tightened and put one of each of my remaining 2 batteries on each circuit. Had to get back to work but hope both are now charging. I cant really reach my charger connections to get a continuity check to my batteries. I guess voltage will tell the story on each battery with the other disconnected and the charger / shore power on vs. off. Is their a wiring schematic for the DC Solenoid Rocker switches in the galley panel?