[C320-list] Starting Battery

[jonvez at comcast.net]

Quentin,
The factory installation will allow any of the 3 positions to start your engine. Is it possible that the voltmeter itself is miswired and therefore giving you a false voltage reading? Can you turn your cabin lights on without them dimming using just the one battery?
Before chasing down the wiring, I would suggest verifying the battery has anything left at the battery using a multimeter. Probably a good idea to see how the previous owner wired his boat as well, but this really does sound like a dead battery....

Good luck....

Regards,

Jon Vez


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Quentin Murphy" <qmurphy at sympatico.ca> 

> I tried to start my engine when the big red battery switch was on position 
> "One" and not even the blower or buzzer would run. When I used position 
> "Two" or "Both" the engine would start. One of my batteries (forward one) 
> is marked as "engine". Both my batteries show well in the green range 
> (tested with the charger circuit-breaker off). But I know this only shows 
> voltage and is not a true indication of cranking power. But if even the 
> blower wont run, then the battery would not show in the green range. On my 
> last boat (CS-30) the engine would start on position "One", "Both" or "Two". 
> As I only had this boat three weeks before winter lay up, I'm not yet 
> familiar with this boat's electrical systems as they are all a little 
> different. 
> 
> Either something is wrong with my Battery "One" electrical path or position 
> "Two" on the big red switch is only to be used for starting the engine. Is 
> the engine meant to start on position "One" as well or is "One" strictly 
> dedicated for "house" except in an emergency when you would bridge the two 
> battery banks using "Both"? 
> 
> p.s. I will be having a "Denaming Ceremony" and when the new name is applied 
> to the hull a "Naming Ceremony". Hopefully this will ward off the evil 
> spirits and subsequent bad luck. In the old days having women aboard was 
> supposed to upset the wind gods, but my last boat never crashed into the 
> dock (not enough to mark the hull anyway) or worse sunk. Have to find one 
> of those champagne bottles with a pre-scored crack so the hull is not marked 
> for the Naming ceremony. The bar will be well-stocked for both events. 
> Thanks for the demaning "prayer". 
> 
> 
> Quentin Murphy 
> Celtic Knot #667 
> 
> 
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