If you are worried about it install a "zap stop"

Some switches if switching from "1" to "both" to "2" will make before
breaking and not zap your alternator. If you battery switch opens or if you
go through "none" then yes you may fry your alternator.


"ray lunder" wrote in message
...
The AmplePower people agitate for strict prohibition on this saying it
will smoke the diodes in your alternator. Is this true? What are you
supposed to do? Start the boat with the starting battery, let it run
for 10 minutes, turn the engine off and start it again with the house
batteries and charge them under way? What say all of you?

Rick wrote:
If you are worried about it install a "zap stop"

Some switches if switching from "1" to "both" to "2" will make before
breaking and not zap your alternator. If you battery switch opens or if you
go through "none" then yes you may fry your alternator.


"ray lunder" wrote in message
...
The AmplePower people agitate for strict prohibition on this saying it
will smoke the diodes in your alternator. Is this true? What are you
supposed to do? Start the boat with the starting battery, let it run
for 10 minutes, turn the engine off and start it again with the house
batteries and charge them under way? What say all of you?

Probably the easiest way to test to see if your battery switch is a
make before break type is to switch on a light you can see easily from
the battery switch then slowly move the battery switch from 1 to both
to 2 and back a few times and watch to see if the light flickers or
goes out as you move the switch. Do this with the engine off of
course. If there is a flicker your switch may be worn. If the light
goes out completely at any time in any position other than off you have
the type of switch (NOT make before break) that can fry your alternator
diodes.

Ken Heaton, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia wrote:


Probably the easiest way to test to see if your battery switch is a
make before break type is to switch on a light you can see easily from
the battery switch then slowly move the battery switch from 1 to both
to 2 and back a few times and watch to see if the light flickers or
goes out as you move the switch. Do this with the engine off of
course. If there is a flicker your switch may be worn. If the light
goes out completely at any time in any position other than off you have
the type of switch (NOT make before break) that can fry your alternator
diodes.

Great answer! Common sense prevails.

Gary