Do I need a battery kill switch

[adam7]

After having a new starter solenoid installed on my motor, I had a local dealer take a look at my navigation lights as the bow lights were not working. They said the switch was bad, but they managed to hook it up in such a way that they will work for the time being.

Having been back there in the wires myself, I remembered that the ground was not connected to the bilge pump switch. When I had hooked it up the LED for the switch would turn on, and stay on. I figured this is because the bilge is supposed to be directly connected to the battery so it will work if the boat takes on water when I'm not around. The question I have is, how much do I need to worry about that one LED when the boat is sitting for a week or two at a time?

Should I just go disconnect the positive battery leads when it is in storage, or go and get a kill switch?

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

I'm not sure what you're saying ??.
I have 2 LED's lights that stay-on all the time.
It tells me that my 2 bilge pumps are on automatic Green lights or Red lights for off.

 

[adam7]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

I'm not sure what you're saying ??.
I have 2 LED's lights that stay-on all the time.
It tells me that my 2 bilge pumps are on automatic Green lights or Red lights for off.

Well... I suppose that you answered half the question, the light is supposed to remain on. So the next question is if I need to worry about that light staying on for say, 2-3 weeks while the boat may be sitting unused. I'm sure I'll be disconnecting the battery when it is time for the winter, but for right now I'm guessing that the LED isn't going to draw enough power to be a problem. Right?

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

if I need to worry about that light staying on for say, 2-3 weeks

No the LED's draw is so so so so so little of amps that your battery is laughing at them.

 

[adam7]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

That is what I was hoping for, thanks!

Now on to searching for a GPS....

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

SF was right about the LEDs - they do draw a very small amount of current. Other devices, however, such as a radio might draw a little more even when turned off. (It depends upon the model.) A battery disconnect switch is good insurance against a dead battery.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

Heres what I have.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

Why are your LED's lit? They shouldn't be.

My switches are LED lit and the lights only come on when the switches are activated or if the bilge pump actually starts running. Thant's how you know it's activated automatically.

I've never seen switches that stay lit all of the time. Might want to double check.

 

[adam7]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

Why are your LED's lit? They shouldn't be.

My switches are LED lit and the lights only come on when the switches are activated or if the bilge pump actually starts running. Thant's how you know it's activated automatically.

I've never seen switches that stay lit all of the time. Might want to double check.

I should probably call Key West back to ask them. That's how I got the wiring diagram to get some of the switches re-hooked.

 

[mikenusaf]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

Sounds like they are hot wired and not wired through the acc position, if there is one on your boat.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Do I need a battery kill switch

The LED lights get their power from the battery feed THRU the switch, not the feed TO the switch, therefore they should not be lit until the switch is thrown or the automatic items come on automatically.