Filling and Emptying Ballast question

[Guma]

What is the norm when filling and emptying ballast...

motor running
or
motor off and key turned to accessories

[xpjim1]

Each system is diferrent. On my system I fill with engine off and key off. I ussually empty while underway with engine running

[talltigeguy]

The MC owner's manual and MC dealers recommend filling with the engine on. But IMHO, they are retarded. Why the heck I would want to asphyxiate a guy trying to put on his wakeboard is beyond me. And guys that sit on the swimstep with the engine running are not the brightest, in my book.

The theory is that the pumps pull so much amperage that the engine should be running to be sure the pumps get enough juice and function properly. Jabsco pumps pull about 12 amps, IIRC, so three of them pull 36 amps. If my battery can't handle 36 amps for 6 minutes, then I need a new battery. My stereo pulls more than that at higher volumes and I don't run the boat just to turn on the stereo.

There should not be any excuse for anyone with a factory installed tige ballast to run the engine while filling or emptying the ballast because the pumps are aerators and use much less power than the Jabscos described above.

[G-MONEY]

I do it both ways, no problems