What happens if your battery switch is turned off while engine is running?

[Rscardina]

Wondering if there is any bad outcomes to what my heading describes...???

I was working on the boat yesterday and my son turned the battery switch to OFF while the engine was running.. I immediately shut her down with the key but was wondering if that could cause any issues with electronics or damage anything..rectifier, powerpack etc..etc..

Thanks for the input

 

[jonesg]

Re: What happens if your battery switch is turned off while engine is running?

Some switches might have a safety feature besides "make before break" , otherwise the diodes in the rectifier might get toasted, they seem to be the weak link.

Put a meter on your battery and see if v increase after starting the engine. You might have dodged a bullet

 

[Vic.S]

Re: What happens if your battery switch is turned off while engine is running?

If the engine was only idling and there was very little current going from the rectifier to the battery then you'll probably have got away with it. If it was running faster and putting a good current into the battery you may have blown the rectifier.