Battery Switch Confusion

[DanOnTheBoat]

Hello everyone. So I'm looking to get and install an on/off battery switch for my boat, since everytime I go to use the boat I have to manually connect and disconnect the wiring so it wouldn't drain if something was to be left on. I've watched plenty of How To videos and im still confused. It's almost a 40 year old boat so theres going to be some confusing wiring. The issue with my boat is how its wired... It's a mess... Don't know who wired this but yeah. I don't even know where to start LOL. Anybody be able to help that has experience with this? Anything would help.View attachment 20250204_132009.jpg

 

[dingbat]

Hello everyone. So I'm looking to get and install an on/off battery switch for my boat, since everytime I go to use the boat I have to manually connect and disconnect the wiring so it wouldn't drain if something was to be left on. I've watched plenty of How To videos and im still confused. It's almost a 40 year old boat so theres going to be some confusing wiring. The issue with my boat is how its wired... It's a mess... Don't know who wired this but yeah. I don't even know where to start LOL. Anybody be able to help that has experience with this? Anything would help.View attachment 405311

Wrong end.......other end goes to switch.

Wires (yellow and red) currently connected to the positive wire terminal go to the "accessories" terminal on the switch.

The "grounds" (yellow/ white and black) stay with the ground cable

 

[cyclops222]

That is visually looking like a simple thing to correct. A simple MAIN Battery switch with just ...ON... OFF... Would stop you from having to disconnect 1 battery post cable each time. What is the hp of the main motor ?
I will do the web looking for a simple HEAVY DUTY on / off main switch.
Amazon has the...Blue Sea System 6006 switch. VERY simple to wire in to the + positive battery cable.

 

[DanOnTheBoat]

That is visually looking like a simple thing to correct. A simple MAIN Battery switch with just ...ON... OFF... Would stop you from having to disconnect 1 battery post cable each time. What is the hp of the main motor ?
I will do the web looking for a simple HEAVY DUTY on / off main switch.
Amazon has the...Blue Sea System 6006 switch. VERY simple to wire in to the + positive battery cable.

That's what I want, just an ON/OFF switch. i;m assuming it won't matter what kind of On/Off switch I get their all the same.

Horsepower of my engine? That would be 120HP inboard Mercruiser.

 

[DanOnTheBoat]

Wrong end.......other end goes to switch.

Wires (yellow and red) currently connected to the positive wire terminal go to the "accessories" terminal on the switch.

The "grounds" (yellow/ white and black) stay with the ground cable

Hm okay yeah that clears some things up. If I were to wire it up to a switch would i connect all of those to the switch how it is?

 

[dingbat]

Hm okay yeah that clears some things up. If I were to wire it up to a switch would i connect all of those to the switch how it is?

You could, but I would take the opportunity clean up the mess using the appropriate wire colors, ie ground wires should be black

 

[cyclops222]

You could. Just cut the cable where the new ends would be right where the switch connections are. Squeeze on 2 ringed connectors to be bolted to the back of the big switch. Done

 

[ESGWheel]

Typically, the use of the battery “stud” which uses a nut to hold down the wires is used. Your picture shows your connections are using the battery “post”. A typical marine battery disconnect switch uses a stud type connector. See picture. So, to install one of those requires changing out the end of the battery cable. This is done by either buying a new cable with the proper ends or having the proper tools to cut off the post style end and crimping on a new terminal end to go on a post.

A suggested simple solution is to use a battery disconnect that fits your current set up like this one link.

Its inexpensive and an easy install and does not require any wiring modifications.

 

[legalfee]

 

[cyclops222]