Hi All!

I have a 1995 Carver 390 CPMY that my wife and I enjoy very much, but the way they (Carver?) wired in the House bank is making me crazy! As far as I can see, the house bank goes to the inverter, and powers the 110v outlets and the microwave. The 12v lights, instruments, and refrigerator (when not on shore power) are powered by the starting batteries (!).

We can all agree this is a weird system. I don't think the house battery/inverter installation is a DIY affair, 'coz it looks too neat. The starting batteries are currently kept charged by a built-in charger mounted on the aft engine compartment bulkhead, and the house batteries are charged by the inverter when the boat is connected to shore power.

What we can't find is any switching that allows the house bank to run the 12v circuits in the boat! Under the companionway stairs is the switch that lets me chose starting battery 1/2/both, and under the dinette area is the inverter and a switch (on/off) that allows house battery juice to flow to the inverter.

This hasn't been an issue up to this point, 'coz anywhere we go we hook up to shore power, but any time on the hook, and the fridge will run down my starting batteries in no time! A friend suggested there must be a switch somewhere that links the house bank to the 12v circuits, but we simply haven't found it.

Does anybody have any clues here??? Thanks!