[C320-list] Electrical Problem

[Irving Grunes]

When our 2001 #851 starter went , we bought a replacement on EBAY a while
ago for about $139.00
Irv Grunes

On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 8:44 PM, Joseph Aberdale <summerwind3 at comcast.net>wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>
>>
>