[C320-list] Electrical problem

[Irving Grunes]

It looks like the RADAR is draining the battery.
Irv Grunes
#851

On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 9:37 PM, Mike Paris <mparis495 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
>