Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

[DK in Chicago]

A couple years back I had my boat in because it wouldn't start and I was told that the points were burned out, and that this could happen if you use the stereo and other electronics when the engine is off and it will eventually burn out the points.

So for the past year I haven't used the radio when I turn the boat off, but I just got a new radio for the boat and really want to use it while I'm hanging out at the sandbar or wherever when the boat is off, but don't want to screw it up.

So what can I do, or did I receive misinformation? I need some help here........

Thanks in advance!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

dude
I have some property to sell, next low tide wanna see it?
running ANY electronics simply WONT burn out points in the dist.
however leaving the key on with the engine off CAN burn out points.
so you wire your electronics correctly to the battery switch NOT the ign switch.
that way it all works with the key off.

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

Lol.. Ya, where's it at?

Thanks for the heads up, ya I hear what you're saying, so as long as the key is in the off position, just flip the accessory (battery) switch on and I'll be good to go....

Sweet! Thanks for the help..

DK

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

And I'm guessing if I don't want to worry about killing the battery I will have to install a second one? How does the second one get charged? Yes I'm new to this lol thanks..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

what kind of hull/engine are we disscussing?

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

It's a 17' 1988 Sea Sprite (Kinda the size of a small Bayliner) with a 3.0L Mercruiser (135hp)

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

the 3.0 should have a 50-65 amp alenator. plenty big.
3 basic ways to do what you want.
add a second battery and a on 1,on2 and all type of battery switch.
run all hull systems off one battery and the engine from the other.
draw back is you must remember to switch the battery from both to the house battery and back.
you could ad a voltage sensing relay, I have had issues with them.
or add a battery isolator that uses 1 altenator to charge two batterys, leave all hull/house functions on one and all engine functions on the other.

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

Ok, based on that info I've decided to go with this batter isolator:

But that is where my understanding of how to get this set-up up and running ends... lol I can follow wires and follow directions, so I'm hoping based on the pictures I have taken you could get me where I need to go for this project...

All I want on B2 is the radio & the lights.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't use electronics when engine is off if your engine has "points" ?

dunno where they tapped what power feeds, that you have to look for.
typically for the isolator you remove and tape off the altenator output lead, then using a correct Ga wire for the run length you go from the alt to the isolator input.
then one isolator output to the battery switch for batt 1 and the other to the batt switch of batt 2.
ALL battery negative terminals must be tied together with a cable no smaller than the engine ground cable.