[C320-list] Electrical problem

[sholdr at aol.com]

yes to changing the charger -- had a ProMariner and did damage my 
batteries -- went to Xantrex and so far so good

Went with wet cell -- cheaper, readily available, I am not paranoid 
about their acid spilling , do require some maintanence but not onerous 
compared with the other things the boat requires --
Just my 2 cents

sholdr
Camelot #322


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Paris <mparis495 at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Tue, Jan 12, 2010 7:48 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem


I'm going to buy new batteries. Are there any potential problems with 
me just replacing the batteries? Mainly, could I damage the new ones if 
there is some unknown problem at the source of my electrical troubles. 
 
Secondly, wet cell or AGM? The West Marine price for a wet cell is $292 
and an AGM is $539. Is the AGM that much better? 
 
Finally, should I replace the ProMariner with the Xantrex 20 just on 
principle? It doesn't seem to be giving me problems but many have 
strong feelings against the ProMariner. 
 
Thanks, 
Mike 
#734 
 
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Hare" <catalina at thehares.com> 
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com> 
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 5:24 AM 
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical problem 
 
> Mike, 
> 
> A couple notes. When you disconnect the batteries to measure them you 
be > sure to wait an hour of so to get their true voltage. The 13.6v 
was > likely still showing the effects of just being on the charger. 
More > likely, the voltage should be 12.5 or so after standing for a 
while. 
> 
> I'm not suspecting the charger here as much as just old batteries. 
They > show the classic signs of dying batteries. They charge fine but 
have no > CAPACITY. 
> 
> -Jeff 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: "Allan S. Field" <allan.field at verizon.net> 
> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:30:20 
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com> 
> 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] On Behalf Of Warren 
> Updike 
> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 5:19 PM 
> To: 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 
> 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] On Behalf Of Warren 
> Updike 
> Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2010 6:39 PM 
> To: 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] 
> 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 
> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 12:51:37 
> To: Catalina List<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> 
> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:01:57 
> 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 
> 
> 
> 
>