Dead Batteries

[Tyke]

so went out to the boat in the backyard the other day only to find dead batteries all the switches on the control panel were off so we charged em up and headed out went out today on the boat again (in the backyard), again dead batteries again all switches off.....what would cause this? and how do i fix the problem?? i do have an automatic bildge that runs on its own sometimes but only intermitently....don't think that would kill it cuz a lot of other boats have those. and when i was on the boat the other day it wasn't running constantly so its not stuck on.

[jazzrockskier]

Some questions for you:
1. How old are the batteries?
2. Do you keep them on a smart float charger?
3. Did it freeze this winter?
4. Can you measure the voltage of the batteries when discharged?
5. Have you left any other equipment on while the boat is in your yard?

[backman]

If you don't have and know how to use a multi-meter go buy one. I recommend a Nigel Calder's Boat mechanical and Electrical systems as a good reference book for what you are going to need to do.


You either have a leak or something is "on" between your panel and the batteries. Your going to have to work backwards from the battery and find it. it can be a short, sometime wired in front of your console switch, you bilge pump on forever or even a faulty switch itself. Presumably you have a battery switch in the circuit. I'd recharge; shut that off and see what happens then work forward to the console one connection at a time.

[bigcat1]

Go buy a hydrometer about 10 bucks and check gravity, all it takes is one bad cell for a no start.
Also you can do a load test if you can get your hand on a load tester.

[On The Edge]

May sound stupid but dont forget to check that the motors are actually charging the batteries while they are running. Even if you charge the batteries completely on land, running the motors without the engine charging system working will discharge the batteries quickly. Your volt meter should be reading between 13 and 14 volts while the motors are running and above 12 volts with the key switched on without the motors running. All of the above info is good. Electrical stuff can be a pain to track down.

[ember]

If batteries are good,and system is charging, disconnect one side of the battery and connect a test light between the battery terminal and its respective cable.(between neg cable to neg post)with the other(positive) side still connected.If there is a draw the test lamp will light. Pull fuses, cycle circuit breakers or disconnect one at a time until light goes out to find the shorted circuit.

[Tyke]

thanks for the info....heres what i have found this am....i charged the batteries over night then i turned on all of the orange switches in the hatch that the batteries are in and pulled down the center console...with all the control panel switches in the off position i grounded the volt meter and then proceded to check all of the hot wire connections for each of the switches....all read nothing until i got to the DC Main.....with the DC main switch in the off position it is still drawing 12 volts.....so i'm guessing that that is the problem...it seems to be drawing juice when it is suppossed to be off. does that sound like that would be the problem? and if so is it hard to change out a bad switch?

[ember]

I would guess the DC Main switch should have battery voltage on one connection as long as the battery switch is on and the other connection should have or not have battery voltage depending on switch position.

[Tyke]

yeah it should, if you can't tell i'm not an electrician....we've determined that the automatic bildge is the problem had a buddy over who is electicly enclined to check it out and the bildge just doesn't run right gonna have to take it off and clean it out and see if it is ok or needs replacing.