the polarity light on the dash panel, on the 12 volt side the bottom light is flashing. I have noticed whenever we run the hot water the Xantrex charger turns on. i ran my house batteries down to low water, almost dry recently and they are 4 years old. My question is, is the bulb going bad ( i suspect it is not) or is it time to replace the house batteries? or is their something else going on.. I posted a quick video of the light blinking this morning and the link is below. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.
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Suspect bad bulb, polarity does not change like that. I have replaced several of the lights. Are you running the hot water tank off the inverter? If so, why?
Started boating 1965
Bayliners owned: 26 Victoria, 28 Bounty, 32, 38, and 47 since 1996 -
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mmichellich wrote:
Suspect bad bulb, polarity does not change like that. I have replaced several of the lights. Are you running the hot water tank off the inverter? If so, why?
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For the battery charger to kick on when you start the hot water tank, you have to be starting to use a 12 volt load at same time. Are you running water so pump turns on?
Started boating 1965
Bayliners owned: 26 Victoria, 28 Bounty, 32, 38, and 47 since 1996Comment
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mmichellich wrote:
For the battery charger to kick on when you start the hot water tank, you have to be starting to use a 12 volt load at same time. Are you running water so pump turns on?
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I would suspect your batteries, they should handle any small load with-out rhe charger turning on.
After 4 years I do not trust batteries, especially when they have been let go until nearly dry.
Check the temp of the batteries while the charger is on and see if one is hot, also you can open the battery caps and see if one cell in any of the batteries is bubbling more than the others or not at all.
Personal opinion is: Buy new batteries, they are the life blood of you boat.
Since your charger is of the new type, I suspect a bad cell in at least one battery, 1 bad cell can cook all the batteries, I know, glad I was not in the engine room when that battery exploded.
Pat says: DO-IT-RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!
Bayliner 3870 "ALASKA33)
Twin 350 GM power
Located in Seward, AK
Retired marine surveyorComment
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OK, I will go down and check the cells.. I suspect you are right about changing the house batteries... Thank you for the advise.
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mmichellich wrote:
For the battery charger to kick on when you start the hot water tank, you have to be starting to use a 12 volt load at same time. Are you running water so pump turns on?
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Nothing wrong with checking batteries, but when the batteries are fully charged, it does not take hardly any use to remove the surface charge and drop the voltage enough to restart an auto battery charger. The real issue is over night and other longer term usage are batteries dead or needing to be fully charged if not left on shore power overnight. If you can go about 24 hours with no charge with normal usage, your batteries are darn good. Heck many times with big freezer loads in the summer, my batteries will be down to 50% after 8 hours during the heat of the day. Time to start the gen set then.
Started boating 1965
Bayliners owned: 26 Victoria, 28 Bounty, 32, 38, and 47 since 1996Comment
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mmichellich wrote:
Nothing wrong with checking batteries, but when the batteries are fully charged, it does not take hardly any use to remove the surface charge and drop the voltage enough to restart an auto battery charger. The real issue is over night and other longer term usage are batteries dead or needing to be fully charged if not left on shore power overnight. If you can go about 24 hours with no charge with normal usage, your batteries are darn good. Heck many times with big freezer loads in the summer, my batteries will be down to 50% after 8 hours during the heat of the day. Time to start the gen set then.
Pat says: DO-IT-RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!
Bayliner 3870 "ALASKA33)
Twin 350 GM power
Located in Seward, AK
Retired marine surveyorComment
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the only way to go is agm glass mat batteries , it hard to over charge them with a smart charger and they will not spill leak or give off any gases .........totally sealed units ...check out a lifeline batteries suplier .........a bit pricey but if you look after them well you will get 8 to 10 years out of them .... i bought 3 8ds for the house system they cost about 675.00 each and weight of 162 lbs each .....good luck in fact the navy and military all use them here in canada .
NEIL SComment
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seaclusion wrote:
the only way to go is agm glass mat batteries , it hard to over charge them with a smart charger and they will not spill leak or give off any gases .........totally sealed units ...check out a lifeline batteries suplier .........a bit pricey but if you look after them well you will get 8 to 10 years out of them .... i bought 3 8ds for the house system they cost about 675.00 each and weight of 162 lbs each .....good luck in fact the navy and military all use them here in canada .
Are you going to keep your boat ten years?
Started boating 1965
Bayliners owned: 26 Victoria, 28 Bounty, 32, 38, and 47 since 1996Comment
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