[C320-list] Electrical problem

[Allan S. Field]

Mike - What kind of battery charger do you have?  If the original stock
ProMariner, that probably may be your problem as it's true value is in
cooking batteries!  With our old ProMariner, the cooking actually set off
the carbon monoxide detector.

With wet cell batteries, you also need to periodically add distilled water
as they are not "maintenance free." 

And do I ever envy our ability to go for a day sail this winter!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Herrington Harbour South
Rosehaven, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Mike Paris
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 9:02 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Electrical problem

Last weekend I went out for a day-sail. I usually put the battery sith on
"both" but I forgot and left it on "2" for the trip. The engine started
normally, I motored for about 30 minutes and then sailed for about 2 1/2
hours. When I went to restart the engine it was dead (no sound when pushing
the start button). I changed the battery switch to "both" and the the engine
started right up. The electrical draw during the sail was a fully cooled
refrigerator, the chartplotter and ST60 gauges. My boat is always plugged in
to shorepower with charger on when in the slip. I have two wet-cell
batteries that I believe are about four years old (I've owned the boat for 2
1/2 years). I'm not knowledable about electrical systems so I'm looking for
advice as to steps to take to find possible problems when I head down there
this weekend. 

Thanks to all,
Mike P
#734