Sec. 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 Sec. 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

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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]