My Batteries Are Completely Disconnected but I Still Have a Reading on My DC Panel?
February 11, 2021 · 4 min · 4K views
What this video covers
A Hans Christensen sailboat owner reports measuring DC voltage at the distribution panel despite disconnecting the battery leads and disabling the inverter while connected to shore power.0:33 This condition occurs when a battery charger is incorrectly wired to the switched side of the DC distribution system rather than the unswitched side.2:23 When connected to the switched side, the battery charger acts as a power supply, energizing the DC panel even when the main battery switch is off.2:23 This improper installation creates a circuit where shore power feeds the charger, which in turn powers the DC distribution panel directly.2:39 To ensure the DC panel de-energizes when the battery switch is turned off, all charging sources—including battery chargers, solar controllers, and fuel cells—must connect exclusively to the unswitched distribution side.3:27 Proper separation of switched and unswitched distribution prevents this unintended energization and ensures predictable electrical system behavior.3:38
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