§  80.860   Reserve power supply.

   (a) When the main power supply is not on the same deck as the main
   wheelhouse or at least one deck above the vessel's main deck, a reserve
   power supply must be provided and must be so situated. The location of
   the reserve power supply must be located as near to the required
   transmitter and receivers as practicable and meet all applicable rules
   and regulations of the United States Coast Guard.

   (b) The reserve power supply must be independent of the propelling
   power of the ship and of any other electrical system, and must
   simultaneously energize the radiotelephone transmitter at its required
   antenna power, the required receivers, the emergency light and the
   automatic radiotelephone alarm signal generator. The reserve power
   supply must be available at all times.

   (c) The reserve power supply may be used to energize the
   bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone and the VHF radiotelephone installation
   required by § 80.871.

   (d) All circuits connected to the reserve power supply must be
   protected from overloads.

   (e) Means must be provided for charging any batteries used as a reserve
   power supply. A continuous indication of the rate and polarity of the
   charging current during charging of the batteries must be provided.

   (f) The cooling system of each internal combustion engine used as a
   part of the reserve power supply must be adequately treated to prevent
   freezing or overheating consistent with the season and route to be
   traveled by the particular vessel involved.

   (g) The reserve power supply must be available within 1 minute.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986;  52 FR 35246 , Sept. 18, 1987]