ARCTIC STAR OPERATING MANUAL
NW Explorations | 21
Maintenance
The NW Exploration technician services the generator prior to each charter and on a regular
schedule and daily checks of the oil level is not necessary. During the daily engine room check,
include inspecting two items at the generator:
•
Fuel filter located to the port of the generator aft of the main fuel filters
•
Seawater strainer located under the teak grate at the aft of the engine room, below the
fuel manifold.
5.3
12-volt DC Electrical System
Most of the onboard electrical components operate with 12-volt DC power that is stored in a
bank of batteries that w
e call the ‘house bank’. There are also batteries for starting each of the
two main engines and the generator. The house bank and starting batteries are isolated from
each other so that the starting batteries cannot be used for cabin lights or other domestic and
navigation needs. When the batteries are being charged with shore power, or the generator,
then all batteries are being charged.
5.3.1
12-volt DC Distribution Panel
The 12-volt DC distribution panel is the
upper portion of the electrical panel at the
port side of the lower helm station. The row
of battery switches at the lower right-hand
corner of the panel connects each bank with
the associated 12-volt DC circuits.
Breaker switches on the 12-volt DC panel
provide power to the various circuits as
listed below.
Circuits highlighted in green can always be
left ON and circuits highlighted in yellow can
be turned ON as needed.
Note:
The Bilge pump breakers must always
be in the ON position and the bilge toggle
switches must be down in the AUTO
position. The pump is then control by a float
switch that turns the pump on when there is
water in the bilge. If the bilge pump toggle
switches are in the MANUAL position, the
pumps will run continuously and will eventually burn out. If the breaker switches are in the OFF
position, they will not pump water out of the bilge.
On the top right-hand corner of the 12-volt DC panel are the main engine breaker switches and
start and stop button. These will be discussed in Section 6.4.