Volt meter switches on a 3807

[VicB]

Hi Guys,
We just purchased a 1988 3807 and are getting to know this boat. During the sea trials, the surveyor marked the volt meters at the upper and lower helm as INOP. In digging around, I found two independant switches for these meters to be turned on or off in the hanging closet in the aft berth. Is there any reason NOT to leave them on? They don't work unless each engine key is on. I can't figure the reason to have them switched in the closet anyway.

Thanks,
Vic

[buster53]

We used to have that same boat and the only switches I recall in the aft closet were for the bilge pumps and if you weren't careful, could easily turn off.

[g36]

Although I have a 405 my volt guages work whether key is on or off and I have switches under my stairs for them. I usally leave them on. You look closer they are probably a breaker type switch. But using a handheld multimeter it would be easy to check them or power to them

[VicB]

Buster, the there are bilge switches as well. There is a main battery switch, manual fuel transfer valves, these two voltmeter switches and 3 bilge switches. I also had in my head that the bilge pumps were wired direct to the battery, but those switches are there and there are switches in the 12V distribution panel.

G36, we are practically neighbors. Currently our boat resides in Scottsboro, which is not too far from you.

[Viper]

Congrats on the purchase, roomy boat! I have the same setup in my 3807. Haven't bothered digging deeper, don't know why they were set up that way. Eventually I'm going to rewire and relocate that whole setup and in the process trace exactly what does what. I'll probably eliminate them in the process and change how the meters get powered up.

[km1125]

I'm guessing those switches are breakers because they would tie in to the 'input' side of the master battery switch. You would certainly want protection for those wires going to the bridge, as well as for auto side of the bilge pumps that get served from the same place. Your switches in the DC panel for bilge are probably for the manual bilge switches at the helm

I leave the voltmeters active. Easy to keep an eye on the batteries by just checking those switches periodically and it will tell you if there's something amiss with your charger. Eventually you will be able to tell whether the charger is feeding charge to the battery by the voltage at the meter.