Having a neutral safety switch installed in your boat is the best thing that you can do for yourself and others before you go on boating.
The basic thought of a neutral idea safety switch is to provide you with a safety function that would prevent your boat from suddenly and unexpectedly moving, which can otherwise be dangerous.
A neutral safety switch in a boat keeps it from starting the boat’s engine when your boat’s transmission is in gear.
Just a few years back, a 90’s motor vessel’s engine started while it was in gear which ended up damaging the dock.
Fortunately, this incident came with no injuries, but there are many other cases of mishaps that has everything to do with the safety switch on a boat.
One thing you should keep in mind if you own a boat is that you should not automatically assume that your boat would be built with a neutral safety switch and should check it and get it installed to avoid any incidents.
Why Should We Test A Safety Switch On Board?
Just making sure your boat has a neutral safety switch installed is not enough.
Just like buying a plant for your window side is not enough, you will have to look after it, give it time attention and make an effort to look after it and to make sure that it is in a healthy shape.
Neutral safety switches ought to get faulty over time which is why you should be giving it regular checkups as much as you can.
So that you can get the maximum utilization out of it when you need it, so always make sure you test your neutral safety switch before you go boating.
How To Test Neutral Safety Switch On Boat
- You will need a voltmeter/multimeter that can read resistance.
- Once you get the meter, place the two leads of the neutral safety switch, both on each side of the meter.
- Set the voltmeter/ multimeter to read resistance
- Turn only the ignition on and not the engine
- You will see a resistance value on your meter, which will tell you that the electrical circuit has continuity
- With the key still on and the engine not running, shift the transmission forward
- Make sure there is no resistance value on your meter or “OL,” which will signify that your electrical circuit does not have continuity.
- Thus not allowing your engine to start
Conclusion
In the above article, we have discussed everything from why we should test a neutral safety switch to how to test a neutral switch.
I have given you a brief introduction on what is a neutral safety switch, how it works, and where it is needed.
Other than that, I have also given you a brief guide on how you can test your neutral safety switch all by yourself without getting any other help.
I hope this guide will help you with your boat’s neutral switch!
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