
NW Explorations
DREAM CATCHER OPERATING MANUAL
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4G4: DC Battery “On-Off” Switch
This switch is the DC circuit master switch for the house service. It should
be left “on” at all
times unless there is a fire or short circuit, and you wish
to cut off electric power to all DC voltage except the starting circuits.
4G5: DC Circuit Breaker Panels
The nerve center of the DC electrical system is the DC circuit breaker
panels just right of the lower helm. On these panel are the switches that
control power to the boat’s various systems.
As for the breaker panel itself, just as in your home, most of these
switches are true “circuit breakers”: they feed power to somewhere in the
boat where there is another switch which, in turn, turns the
item on and off. An example of this would be the circuit breakers for the
horn and electric head. If the breaker
is turned on, the horn won’t work unless you push the horn button, and
the head won’t flush unless you are there in the head compartment to
operate it!
But some of the other breakers also serve as the switch for the item. An
example of this would be the navigation light breaker or the macerator
pump
breaker. So here is the list of switches and how they’re used: (“B” means
used as breaker, “S” means used as switch AND breaker).