340DA battery bank starting issues

[Redlined]

Our 2008 340DA has failed to start the port engine twice in the last 2 outings 3 days apart after a few hours at anchor. The boat has a thruster, all 4 batts were replaced this spring with interstate 1100 amp charging batts. The batt charger is always on while docked. The 1st non start was rescued by the gen which is tied into the port batt config as is the thruster. Last night after 3 hours on the hook neither the port engine or gen would start. We limped back in on the stbd engine. (thruster was dead as we docked). The parallel e start switch did not work. Our marina tech replaced the 2 port batts which were dead w/o juice. The emerg parrallel start switch was not connected properly at the panel. Long story...is it likely that short runs with 2-4 hours on the hook w/o gen has depleted the port batt duo (mostly house use batts?
Any advice/thoughts greatly appreciated as we hope to travel this weekend.

 

[mainstream]

Hello I have had similar issues when on the hook for 2 to three hours when my port engine is dead after that long with no geni i have talked to a few mechanics they all say with refrigerators running and stereo going 3 hours is max i have been lucky that my emergency start button works so now at 2.5 hours i start geni and run her for about an hour and a half if im out for the day with charger on my mechanic daid charger is better then the alternator at .75 gallons an hour at full load geni is more cost effective i also turn refrigerator up to warmer temp to stop compressor frtom running to much they darw to much current i limit opening it ill use a cooler and ice lkeepi ng justy food in the refrig this keeps the bbatteries in good shape hope this helps

 

[Redlined]

Interesting mainstream, thanks. We have typically had both fridges on, stereo, nav eqpt.head system. water pump on. sometimes cabin lights. I had assumed we had plenty of batt power. Then again assume= ass/outta me etc....grin

 

[Jack380AC]

3 hours and 2 fridges will surely run down the batteries. I run the gennie every 2 or 3 hours but my charger is awsome. Tops those batts up in 15 minutes. Love that device!

 

[tbirdvet]

You may want to have your gen. battery separated from the other batteries. That way a draw on the mains will not kill your gen. battery and let you start it to charge the mains. That is the way my boat is set up.

 

[Redlined]

John, that sounds ideal. Was that a retrofit action or was our boat delivered that way? (I understand that Sea Ray's wiring scheme often varies from boat to boat.)

Is that a 5th batt on your boat? If so was that difficult to have that wired into your shore power batt charger?

 

[Robski97]

Dealers are notorious for installing the wrong batteries in the 34. Dealer installed group 27's. Searay calls for 31's . also ur bow thruster batteries should be isolated from the starting and house batteries. I think i had 5 or 6 batteries on my 2003 34.

Rob

 

[tbirdvet]

The dealer installed my gen. with a dedicated battery. So now I have 5 batteries. The gen battery is only charged when the gen. is running. I installed a wireless battery disconnect so when I leave the boat I disconnect the battery from the gen. to ensure no drain (I have a remote LCD gen starting/stopping display that draws some current). This way I always have a good battery to start the gen. I do have an open bank available on the charger so it could be wired on that bank but the dealer (or Sea Ray) has my open charger bank 2 strapped with bank 3 to supply the house/thruster batteries more available current.