need help / what are sudbury switches for?

antlr-king · Post by **antlr-king** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 11:33 am

still trying to figure this boat out. on our trojan 30 right when you walk through into the cabin. turn around and look right under the top step. there are 2 large sudbury switches brown in color that have an on / off position. then on the reverse side of the wall in the engine compartment there are large black and red wireing connected to the switches. we have turned the switches on and off several times and nothing seams to happen. do any of you know what these switches are / were used for? thanks,

myakka · Post by **myakka** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 2:32 pm

most likely battery switches.Don't shut both of them off while the engines are running, you could kill the alternator.

antlr-king · Post by **antlr-king** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:25 pm

then i should just leave them on all the time?

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:51 pm

If nobody can confirm they are original you should follow the cables and see where they go and what they control. It would help if you sourced a wiring schematic for the vessel and see if they are in there. If they are, you should be able to determine their purpose.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:32 pm

My original switches are "sudsbury" and are still in the system, one for engines and one for house. I rewired my system but left the old switches in place.

g36 · Post by **g36** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:54 am

12 volt power switches
my 78 f32 has them and mine are as wowzer stated.

mine are
1 for 12 volt house power/port engine
and 1 for 12v power stbd engine

i turn them off when i leave since you could just go up to flybridge and take my boat for a ride if i leave them on. it also keeps from accidentely leaving some 12v something on. the bilge pumps are not affected by the switches but you do need to verify that on your boat if you do find these swtiches are active.

you never know what some previous owner has wired in.

bernietech · Post by **bernietech** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:25 am

what is a sudbury switch?

bernie

g36 · Post by **g36** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:26 pm

sudbury's? just a name ... manufacturer?
mine are the main 12vdc power disconnect switches from the battery

antlr-king · Post by **antlr-king** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:31 pm

so i should turn them off when connected to shore power. leave them on when under way. they look like original equipment. but i will trace the wires to make sure they are still connected. like i said, i cant see any change from on or off anywhere on the boat.

g36 · Post by **g36** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 6:41 am

you dont have to turn them off when connected to shore power. i do when i leave my boat. mainly for security. i dont want someone climbing on my flybridge and crank the engines and drive off in my boat. with them turned off you cant just start her up from the flybridge. although if they want something bad enough they could bust through the glass door or whatever to take her. also as stated before i also kill the power to everything just in case i left a light or radio on, its now off. i dont have to wonder did i turn everything off?