Engine room start button

[bostonhatteras]

Thinking about installing engine room start switches but perhaps in a bit unorthodox fashion. I've got a new pair of imtra windlass foot switches with covers. I want to wire these directly to the battery and switch terminals on the starters, bypassing the helm keys, and mount them on the overhead framing in front of each engine. Typically, one wouldn't want a starter switch continuously live, but I'm thinking that the captive hinged cover will act as a defacto 'off' lock out. Before I waste a bunch of time making brackets for ridiculously large start buttons anyone see any issues with this?

 

[Captain Ralph]

I would put a working switch/breaker with it.
Maybe just install a horn button or momentary HD switch to keep all easy.
Save the foot switch for when yours, on deck, does fail.

I guess your just going to pull the rack down by hand to shut the engine down?

 

[Boatsb]

Or put in a start switch/button and be normal.

Many have been done this way. Simple and when it's time to sell there's no problems.

 

[Sadey]

This is what we used when we installed ER gauges with start/stop buttons. 1 red and 1 black. Use loctite, this was my second start button. Lots of vibrations on those DD’s.

 

[bostonhatteras]

A stop button isnt a bad idea, although pulling on the shut down solenoid link is pretty easy. So no ones er start buttons are wired through the helm keys?

 

[Sadey]

Mine are not. So no alarms. Not sure if the Allison’s have an in gear lock out when starting.

 

[rwaldrop13]

None of the DD Hats or other boats we looked at were key-starts. Granted, a couple of those boats the entire look was from the dock and walk away. But every Detroit Diesel boat I looked at had start-buttons.

 

[brettportzer]

None of the DD Hats or other boats we looked at were key-starts. Granted, a couple of those boats the entire look was from the dock and walk away. But every Detroit Diesel boat I looked at had start-buttons.

But you have to turn the key for the button to work, at the helm.

 

[jmooney]

My engine room switches are hot , the keys do not have to be on. To stop the motors , I pull the governor stop rod manually. Never had a problem. The stop linkage is easily reached on a motor yacht. This might be a problem with sport fishing boats , so a stop switch might be needed.

 

[JD5652]

But you have to turn the key for the button to work, at the helm.

No keys for my 1976 58 LRC. I have helm and ER Cole Hersee pushbuttons.

I ALWAYS start my engines from ER. Let them idle for a few minutes while I do my initial ER walk arounds to ensure nothing is leaking, arcing or sparking.

 

[Sadey]

No keys for my 1976 58 LRC. I have helm and ER Cole Hersee pushbuttons.

I ALWAYS start my engines from ER. Let them idle for a few minutes while I do my initial ER walk arounds to ensure nothing is leaking, arcing or sparking.

Same here. I turn the keys on at the helm so the alarms are active which also allows for a neutral check on the sticks. Then to the ER to start one, wait for oil pressure and water flow in the strainers. Then start the other with the same checks then back to the 1st then the 2nd for the same checks as JD5652.

 

[bostonhatteras]

As always, I now have a much greater understanding of the situation due to your replies. The snap down cover on the foot switches acting as the lock out was the entire reason to use them. Since its a non-issue to have hot start buttons in the ER then I'll go with the normal cole hersey momentary push buttons. Thanks guys and happy Memorial Day!

 

[Captain Ralph]

As always, I now have a much greater understanding of the situation due to your replies. The snap down cover on the foot switches acting as the lock out was the entire reason to use them. Since its a non-issue to have hot start buttons in the ER then I'll go with the normal cole hersey momentary push buttons. Thanks guys and happy Memorial Day!

Please don't forget the breaker or fuse.
Murphy is always waiting, on all of us.

 

[Tonygmiller]

I have them in ER. in my LRC turn the key on upstair while walking to ER i can listen for fuel pumps and start down stairs. and give them a once over. turn off at key topside.