Electrical switch question

[onefishtwofish]

I want to install a simple on/off main switch for my boat. My thought is to run all the + wires to the switch, then to the + on the battery. I will leave the onboard charger straight to the battery so I can shut off the main and still recharge the boat. I have something slowly bleeding power (a short) somewhere since when I leave it sit for a week or more not on the charger, the starter battery bleeds down (the TM batteries hold their charge, so I know it is on the cranking/electronics batery). Also if the VHF is left on or a aerator switch gets bumped, no worries since the main will be off. I have one like this on my camper. Since it is the cranking battery, it will need to handle a high current. Do I need a 50 amp breaker switch or what? everything I can find is either a toggle switch that does not look safe to handle the load I need. Anyone else have anything like this or know what the name of the switch I need so I can find one online? I have breaker switches on the TM already and those should work if they can handle the load.

[bman]

Google Perko Battery Switch...

[Jumptrout51]

Perko

[onefishtwofish]

I saw those. How do they connect to the terminals? I could not find anything with a rear view. The place I have to mount it, I cannot reach behind. I could build a little box that would give me some clearance though.

[bman]

Black wire goes to the empty post...

[onefishtwofish]

Cool. That is exactly what I want. Thanks

One question though. Why do I need a black wire? If I am using it as a hot on/off (one position switch), why not just wire it as shown? Is that for safety grounding?

[Snapperlr]

You don't; no grounds on a battery switch. The three terminals are Battery 1, Battery 2 and the starter.

[Jumptrout51]

http://www.ehow.com/how_7511450_wire-du ... -boat.html

[onefishtwofish]

Gotcha. I won't be using that switch, but the on/off switch which should only have two terminals.

Thanks