Welcraft 232 Coastal Owner'S Manual Download

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If one battery is fully charged and the other is totally

discharged, connecting them in parallel (by using

the BOTH position) can cause very high currents to

flow between the batteries. Extreme heat can be
generated by the sudden charging of the discharged

battery. Use caution in this situation. It is better to

recondition a discharged battery by slowly re-

charging it with an AC-operated battery charger.

The arrangement of the contacts of the typical OFF-
12-BOTH permits the operation of the switch in the

range of 1-2-BOTH without ever disconnecting the

batteries from the load or the outboard charging

circuit. This is important, as it is possible to cause

damage to the charging circuit if the battery is

disconnected while the engine is running. By
choosing the path of rotation of the switch, it is

possible to change from 1 to 2 without moving

through the OFF position.

Dual Engine/Dual Battery

Dual engines and dual batteries require careful
interconnection to prevent damage to the engine

charging circuits. In the dual battery wiring, the two

batteries and the two engine charging circuits are

entirely isolated so long as the OFF-1-BOTH-2

switch is NOT in the BOTH position. The switch

serves a dual function. In the OFF position it
disconnects the house load from the batteries. In

the 1 or 2 position, the house load is powered from

a single battery as selected. In the BOTH position,

the house load is powered from both batteries, and

the two batteries are connected in parallel. The

BOTH position should only be used for special cases,
such as attempting to start an engine and needing

additional battery power.

To prevent the paralleling of the engine charging
circuits, when operating in the BOTH position it is

advisable to only run one engine at a time. The only

time the BOTH position may be needed is in starting

an engine whose normal battery is too weak to

crank it over. In that case, the selector can be

moved to the BOTH position, temporarily paralleling
the batteries and allowing the engine (whose battery

is weak) to be started.
Once the engine is running, the switch can be
moved out of the BOTH position, and the second

engine started from its battery (which should have

enough charge remaining to crank it).

The normal operating procedure is:
1

For normal operation, select OFF, 1, or 2 as
appropriate to attach the house load to a

selected battery.

To parallel batteries for starting, turn the switch

to the BOTH position. Return the switch to OFF

as soon as first engine starting finished. Start

second

If the suggested procedure is followed, the charging
circuits of the two engines will not be connected

together in normal operation. One engine can

charge two batteries, but two engines should not

charge a common battery.

4.3

12-Volt Accessory Switch Panel

Helm Switch Panel
The helm switch panel is located at the helm.
Note:

Next to each switch is a circuit

protection breaker that can be reset by
pushing in the button.

The following is a description of the accessories
controlled by the helm switch panel:
Horn
Activates the boat horn
Anchor/Nav Lights
The switch is a three position switch. The middle
position is “OFF”. Moving the switch up activates the

navigation, instrumentation and compass lighting.

Moving the switch to the down position activates the

anchor light.
Courtesy Lights

Spreader Light

Activates the forward flood light located on the hard
top if installed. This light provides lighting for the

forward deck area.
Bilge

Activates the bilge pump located in the stern bilge.
Livewell/Livewell Lights

Activates the pump that supplies water to the
livewell and also turns on the livewell light.
Raw Water
Supplies power to the boat’s raw water washdown
pump.

Fresh Water

Supplies power to the fresh water system pump.
Wiper

Turns on and off windshield wiper
Stereo

Supplies power to the stereo
Accessory

Supplies power to any customer supplied equipment
of 12-volt outlet.

engine. If house load is needed connect to strongest
battery, either 1 or 2

This switch turns on or off the boat’s courtesy

lighting.