Operating instructions

4G4: DC Battery “On-Off” Switch
This switch is the DC circuit master switch
for the house service. It should be left “on” at all
times unless there is a fire or short circuit, and you
wish to cut off electric power to all DC voltage
except the starting circuits.
4G5: DC Circuit Breaker Panels
The nerve center of the DC electrical system is
the DC circuit breaker panels just right of the lower
helm. On these panel are the switches that control
power to the boat’s various systems.
As for the breaker panel itself, just as in your
home, most of these switches are true “circuit
breakers”: they feed power to somewhere in the boat
where there is another switch which, in turn, turns the
item on and off. An example of this would be the circuit
breakers for the horn and electric head. If the breaker
is turned on, the horn won’t work unless you push the
horn button, and the head won’t flush unless you are
there in the head compartment to operate it!
But some of the other breakers also serve as the
switch for the item. An example of this would be the
navigation light breaker or the macerator pump
breaker. So here is the list of switches and how they're
used: (“B” means used as breaker, “S” means used as
switch AND breaker).
The colors in the descriptions below mean:
Green = Leave this breaker on Always
Blue = Leave on Always when Aboard
Yellow = Use when Item is Needed
Red = Use with Caution in Exceptional
Circumstances
Above and below: The Upper and Lower DC Power Panels
Section 4G: Electrical Systems, DC 4.16