Interior Lighting on Shorepower

[packerlandpilot]

I just got a new boat and I have a general question about something I've noticed that is weird with the interior lighting. While on shorepower, whenever I turn on the switches for the interior lights, I get an alarm buzzer indicating that an electrical device is on when the engine is not running. The lights are 12V DC. Do most boats have a transformer to reduce the shorepower from AC to DC so that there isn't such an issue? Is there a switch that I am not finding the have the lights run on shorepower rather than the batteries? As reference, the boat is a 32' Bayliner.
Thanks

 

[rbh]

Re: Interior Lighting on Shorepower

your owners manual should instruct you on the use of shore power and what to look for if the buzzer sound, I hope.
rob

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Interior Lighting on Shorepower

Any boat that runs on shore power that utilizes the 12v lighting system, must have a power invertor somewhere... (same type of thing on an RV that converts the 12v system when the trailer is plugged in).

These invertors are usually automatic (which yours seems to be otherwise your 12v lights would pop the second you tried to run 110v through them). So that part I can answer...

As for your warning buzzer, I don't know, sorry... there should be something that would let you disable it when on shore power...

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Interior Lighting on Shorepower

An inverter changes 12vdc to 120vac. It is used when no shore power is available to power 120-volt devices.

Shore power on a boat typically powers such things as the fridge, receptacles, A/C, microwave ... and a battery charger. The 12-volt system runs off the batteries, and the charger/power supply keeps the batteries topped off.

Are the ignition key(s) turned on when you hear the alarm?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Interior Lighting on Shorepower

I get an alarm buzzer indicating that an electrical device is on when the engine is not running.

Does your owners manual tell you this, or is this your interpretation of the alarm?

 

[packerlandpilot]

Re: Interior Lighting on Shorepower

An inverter changes 12vdc to 120vac. It is used when no shore power is available to power 120-volt devices.

Shore power on a boat typically powers such things as the fridge, receptacles, A/C, microwave ... and a battery charger. The 12-volt system runs off the batteries, and the charger/power supply keeps the batteries topped off.

Are the ignition key(s) turned on when you hear the alarm?

The keys are out of the ignition at the time I hear the alarm. If the keys were in the on position, even with the lights off, an alarm would sound. The purpose of the alarm is a general purpose indicating something is wrong (i.e. something is drawing power from the battery when the engines are not running).