[C320-list] Electrical Problem

[John Frost]

I always stop at BIG truck stops for their stash of 12 volt toys (fans, TVs,
lights, etc).
RV stores are another good source of 12V products.
But the truck stops have better t shirts and hats.

Happy Sailing!

John
2007 C320MKII
Hull 1118
Guntersville, AL



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Barbara Uhlman
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 7:51 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical Problem

On a similar vein, if you need a 12 volt coffee pot or whatever, go to a
truck 
stop and buy a black one much cheaper than a white marine one from WM!
Barb
Whisper, #1158




________________________________
From: Joseph Aberdale <summerwind3 at comcast.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Fri, October 28, 2011 7:44:46 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical Problem

My thanks to all for your helpful comments.

The battery, battery switch connections and starter connections were fine. 
A 
battery load test showed that the batteries were fully charged. Still, the 
engine would only weakly turn over, not enough to start it.  I removed the 
starter and had it bench tested.  It was drawing 180 amps.  Taking it apart 
revealed that one of the three brushes was completely destroyed and a second

brush was almost destroyed. I checked with my Yanmar dealer and learned that
a 
new Hitachi starter [original equipment] would cost me $359.  The auto
electric 
mechanic who tested my starter sold me the exact same starter for $150 and 
commented that the difference in price was due to the "marine" label put on
it 
by the Yanmar dealer. A lesson learned.

Joe Aberdale
#908

On Oct 22, 2011, at 11:23 AM, Robert Seastream wrote:

> Did the mechanic 'load test' your batteries or simply check them with a 
>voltmeter?  Voltmeters can't show current delivering capacity.  Four year
old 
>batteries should be OK, unless they were in a chronic 'undercharged'
state.  
>This can happen if (like me) you're on a mooring during the season without 
>access to shore power and must rely on the stock alternator to charge the 
>batteries during (usually short) motoring periods.  The stock alternator is

>rated for 55 amps and delivers about half that once derating for engine
heat is 
>considered.  I replaced mine with one rated for 125 amps.  It charges my 
>batteries from 25-50% to full charge in ~2 hours; much faster than the 4+
it 
>used to take.  I also have a Honda EU2000i generator should the need
arise.  We 
>bought our 2002 in November 2005; I replaced the batteries in April 2008 to
give 
>us a known baseline.
> 
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
> 
> On Oct 22, 2011, at 9:51 AM, Joseph Aberdale wrote:
> 
>> I have a very perplexing, troubling electrical problem that I would very
much 
>>appreciate your help with.
>> 
>> My 2002  320 has two 4D banks of Interstate batteries that are 4 years
old. For 
>>the past month I have been experiencing the following.  If I don't start
my 
>>engine once every 3 days, there is not enough power in the batteries to
turn it 
>>over to start. I then have to use shore power to start it. Recently, I
motored 
>>the boat for 2 hours to get to the marina that hauls it out for the
winter. Upon 
>>arriving, the mechanic checked the batteries and determined that they were
fully 
>>charged and did not have any dead cells. I turned the battery switch to
"off" 
>>and had all of the circuit breakers on the panel off as well. The bilge
pump is 
>>not hard wired to the batteries. I returned 3 days later and found the
batteries 
>>had some juice but if the engine did not start immediately, there was not
enough 
>>juice to try to start the engine a second or third time. I then connected
the 
>>shore power cord and it would not start the engine. Several hours later
with the 
>>shore power cord still connected, there was enough juice to turn the
engine over 
>>just twice.
>> 
>> Could something be drawing down the batteries even though all of the
breakers 
>>are off?  Are the batteries bad after 4 years because they cannot maintain
a 
>>full charge for 3 days? Your thoughts and help are appreciated. Thank you.
>> 
>> Joe Aberdale
>> #908
>