Which switch to switch?

[Times Like These]

I have a question that may have been answered before, and probably many different ways. Here goes. We own a 1995 290DA moored in freshwater on the TN River. When leaving the boat for weeks at a time, should I leave the AC Converter switch on? Also, should I leave the battery switch on 1, 2 both or off? I understand the bilge pump is hardwired and should not be affected by the switch. I fear I am over charging my batteries and would like any help please.

Thank you,

 

[sbw1]

Leave the converter on and switches turned to both. You should have a smart charger, and if not, keep the electrolyte levels up. "Both" charges both batteries.

 

[boatmailster]

Leave the converter on and switches turned to both. You should have a smart charger, and if not, keep the electrolyte levels up. "Both" charges both batteries.

No way!
Battery switch has nothing to do with with battery charger (if wired correct) - they are being charged while charger is on, not matter what is battery switch position.
Bilge pumps with automatic float switch are also independent from battery switch and you can leave battery switch OFF, shore power switch ON and battery converter ON

 

[Nehalennia]

What kind of charger do you have?

 

[J Levine]

I owned a 95 290 for 6 years. I always left the boat with the converter on and both battery switches off. I have been doing the same with my 370 for 5 years now. The chargers are wired directly to the batteries on both boats with the bilge pumps wired around the battery switches. Turning off the batteries when you leave the boat insures that everything is turned off. Nothing like getting 1 hour down the road on the way home and realizing that you left the bilge lights on.

 

[2003380]

If you are on a mooring, you must have a very long shore cord to get to the mainland??

 

[Hampton]

If you are on a mooring, you must have a very long shore cord to get to the mainland??

That was my thought. I'm picturing a mooring buoy with power.

 

[skibum]

I was just sitting here wondering if the OP meant to say "docked" rather than "moored" since that's how everyone answered...

 

[Southpaw II]

Leave the converter on and switches turned to both. You should have a smart charger, and if not, keep the electrolyte levels up. "Both" charges both batteries.

I agree...I've never turned my batteries off, and my boats have always stayed in the water year round. In the winter, I've got heat on, as well as the bilge heater. In the summer, I run the A/C on a low setting, just to keep the cabin from over heating. When I had a new 290 DA in Tennessee, my fridge lasted 2 years in the heat before it gave up the ghost. The life of these units is much shorter when exposed to high temps...they just have to work too hard. Keep the batteries topped off, and all systems running.

 

[Asureyez]

I'm year round in the water and the converters are always on, both house/rmginer batteries switched to on. Life's good.

I'm on 30 months for Deka Maintenance free (24 month Gels)

 

[osd9]

I think the OP maybe talking about a single engine boat with a dual battery bank setup.....we don't know, he doesn't tell us. 1995 290DAs came in two flavors.....single or duals.

If it is a single motor setup as I described above, then it would depend if the onboard converter is capable of, and wired, to charge each bank seperately. If it is, then you should never have the converter on and the battery switched to both. Each bank will charge seperately and independantly. If a short on either bank should occur, it wouldn't effect the other bank.

If, on the other hand, your onboard converter is only capable of, and wired, to charge one bank at the time, then you must leave the switch on both in order to put both batterys in parrellel so that they can charge simulataneously.

We need more info......!!!!

 

[Times Like These]

Thanks for the input. She has a single engine with two batteries. As for the charger, I am not sure of the model. I assume it is factory. The batteries are 2.5 years old and I only topped them off three times with distled water. The last time being in July. Moving forward, I plan to leave the AC converter switch on and turn the battery switch off when I leave her at the slip. If there are any more details that you need, I will get the info, as I plan on being on the lake tomorrow. Sunny with a high of 75 in Tennessee this Saturday. Thanks again, I really enjoy this site!