When I pulled the Shrink wrap off the boat this spring, I found that my engine starter batteries were dry. I had the boat plugged in all winter to keep the batteries charged so they wouldn't discharge and freeze. I also found that my house batteries had a surface charge, but when I put a bit of a test load on them ( 2- 6V golf cart batteries in series) that there was very little capacity. I also found my gen set battery a little low on charge. I have always wondered how the charging system works, as in what charges what and how. The wiring diagrams that came with the boat manuals are of no real help as it shows only one engine starter battery and I have two and it doesn't show the invertor at all. I decided that the regulator on the charger must has failed to sense the voltage of the batteries correctly resulting in over charging causing dry batteries.
The starter batteries were in the boat when I bought it 9 years ago, so I felt that they were due for replacement and the house batteries were 5 tears old and were not holding a good charge last season. The Gen set battery was replaced last year and was revived with a good charge.
I was concerned about the state of my batteries and the charging system. I didn't want to replace the batteries without figuring out what was going on with the charging system. I decided to replace the chargers so this didn't re-occur. Well before I started wholesale swapping of components, spent many hours on my belly in the engine room, at the battery boxes and behind the main battery switch panel inside the salon door on the left. My research involved physically tracing wires through harnesses as well as using my ohm meter to verify findings.
So this is what I learned
The two engine starter batteries are charged by the corresponding engine alternators as expected as well as the battery charger that sits on the shelf beside the port engine transmission. It is under the invertor that is hanging from the salon floor.
The invertor has a dual function in that it charges the house battery as well as doing the invertor function when there is no 120 volt supply. The charge function is automatic when there is a 120 Volt supply either by shore power or gen set.
There is a large gauge wire from the Starboard engine alternator going directly to the House battery. So when you are under engine power, your S. B. engine alternator is charging your house battery.
The Gen Set Battery has no charger other that it's own alternator.
I decided to buy a new multi charger that charges and maintains 3 Batteries. I connected it to charge the two engine batteries and the Gen set battery. I have checked out the invertor charging function of the house batteries and it seems to be functioning as it should.
I will rethink my recharging of the house batteries while 'on the hook'. If I run the Gen set, the house batteries will charge at an unknown amperage probably 10 to 30 amps at 14.2 volts. If I runs the S.B. engine at 1000 RPM the house batteries should receive a significantly higher charge via the S. B. alternator. I am going to see if I can borrow a clamp on Amp meter to get a better reading of both methods of charging. I feel running the S.B. Engine would give a faster charge but at more fuel consumption as well as running the engine at low load is not advisable.
Any thoughts or discussion?
I might actually go boating soon rather than working on the boat. The Admiral is giving me direction that boats are to be used not just worked on!
Cheers
Carlo
The starter batteries were in the boat when I bought it 9 years ago, so I felt that they were due for replacement and the house batteries were 5 tears old and were not holding a good charge last season. The Gen set battery was replaced last year and was revived with a good charge.
I was concerned about the state of my batteries and the charging system. I didn't want to replace the batteries without figuring out what was going on with the charging system. I decided to replace the chargers so this didn't re-occur. Well before I started wholesale swapping of components, spent many hours on my belly in the engine room, at the battery boxes and behind the main battery switch panel inside the salon door on the left. My research involved physically tracing wires through harnesses as well as using my ohm meter to verify findings.
So this is what I learned
The two engine starter batteries are charged by the corresponding engine alternators as expected as well as the battery charger that sits on the shelf beside the port engine transmission. It is under the invertor that is hanging from the salon floor.
The invertor has a dual function in that it charges the house battery as well as doing the invertor function when there is no 120 volt supply. The charge function is automatic when there is a 120 Volt supply either by shore power or gen set.
There is a large gauge wire from the Starboard engine alternator going directly to the House battery. So when you are under engine power, your S. B. engine alternator is charging your house battery.
The Gen Set Battery has no charger other that it's own alternator.
I decided to buy a new multi charger that charges and maintains 3 Batteries. I connected it to charge the two engine batteries and the Gen set battery. I have checked out the invertor charging function of the house batteries and it seems to be functioning as it should.
I will rethink my recharging of the house batteries while 'on the hook'. If I run the Gen set, the house batteries will charge at an unknown amperage probably 10 to 30 amps at 14.2 volts. If I runs the S.B. engine at 1000 RPM the house batteries should receive a significantly higher charge via the S. B. alternator. I am going to see if I can borrow a clamp on Amp meter to get a better reading of both methods of charging. I feel running the S.B. Engine would give a faster charge but at more fuel consumption as well as running the engine at low load is not advisable.
Any thoughts or discussion?
I might actually go boating soon rather than working on the boat. The Admiral is giving me direction that boats are to be used not just worked on!
Cheers
Carlo
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