[C320-list] Electrical problem

Sun Jan 10 18:37:20 PST 2010

After the electrical system seemingly checked out okay yesterday, the 
original problem returned on today's sail. With the battery set to "2", she 
started right up and I motored about 10 minutes to the gas dock and she 
started again without problem after filling up. I then motored out for about 
25 minutes and then sailed for about 2 1/2 hours. Near the end of the trip 
the radar blinked off and gave a message of "no data source." The chart 
plotter stayed on but there was no radar. It's my understanding that the 
radar will do this if the feed drops to 11 volts. When I went to start the 
engine a short time later, it was completely dead. I switched the batteries 
to "All" and it started right up. It seems that something is draining the 
batteries. The batteries, though old, checked out okay in a load test 
Saturday. FYI, I have the ProMariner 30-3 charger. Any ideas would be much 
appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
#734

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeanne DeLaCruz" <jfdelacruz at msn.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

I had a Promariner that cooked my 1 year old 4d flooded batteries.

#846.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Allan S. Field<mailto:allan.field at verizon.net>
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>
  Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 2:30 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Warren - it is Mike that I am thinking still has the stock ProMariner.  If
  so, that probably is the culprit for his problems. - Allan

  -----Original Message-----
  From: 
c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com<mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com>
  [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren 
Updike
  Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 5:19 PM
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Allan, I don't have a ProMariner. Mine is a 50A LewMar that was on the 
boat
  when I bought it.  According to the manual, it will float the batteries at
  14.1V, although I don't leave it on when there is no DC load. The charger
  relay for the starting battery kicks in at 13.7V.  Apparently, a constant
  voltage around 14V will not hurt the batteries.  The previous set of
  batteries lasted 7 years so I expect my charger works OK. ---Warren

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Allan S. Field [mailto:allan.field at verizon.net]
  Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2010 6:50 PM
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Warren - Does the ProMariner reach and maintain float?  I thought that was
  the problem with it - it just kept on cooking and is not a true 3-stage
  charger.  But I could be wrong...  Where is Jeff Hare on this?! - Allan

  -----Original Message-----
  From: 
c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com<mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com>
  [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren 
Updike
  Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2010 6:39 PM
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Mike, according to the experts (not me,) the only way to assess the health
  of a wet cell deep cycle battery is to perform a load test on it.  All
  previous advice is useful.

  Water the batteries, clean all connections, and recharge. Monitor the
  charging voltage to be sure the charger is working correctly. When the
  charger enters float stage, disconnect and let the batteries sit for a 
day.
  After at least 24 hrs. test the voltage again on each battery. If still
  high, they're good.  If dropped by more than a tenth or two of a volt, you
  may have a problem. Have a load test done.

  As Karl suggests, you can test each cell with a hygrometer (compensate for
  temp.) to determine if one cell is weaker than others.  I recall that if 
the
  cell to cell difference is more than .20, the cell is likely weak.

  Four years is on the near side of lifetime for deep cell batteries
  constantly charged.  Consider that your charger could be the problem.

  If the tops of the plates inside the cells have been left high and dry for
  any length of time, chances are your battery is done and can't be 
recovered.

  Warren & Pattie Updike
  Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
  Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

  -----Original Message-----
  From: bruceheyman at cox.net<mailto:bruceheyman at cox.net> 
[mailto:bruceheyman at cox.net]
  Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2010 9:20 AM
  To: Catalina List
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Mike,
  Also check the connections and the cables.  Several times I've come across 
a
  situation where a dodgey cable end or connection would handle the low
  current demands of the fridge and GPS but balk at the couple of hundred 
amps
  required by the starter motor.
  Bruce
  Somerset 671 SoCal
  Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

  -----Original Message-----
  From: bruceheyman at cox.net<mailto:bruceheyman at cox.net>
  Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 12:51:37
  To: Catalina 
List<C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>>
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem

  Mike,
  Check fluid level and add distilled water as required. Charge over night 
and
  then check each cell with a hydrometer.
  Bruce
  Somerset 671 SoCal
  Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

  -----Original Message-----
  From: "Mike Paris" <mparis495 at gmail.com<mailto:mparis495 at gmail.com>>
  Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:01:57
  To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto: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