Alternator - Zero output...more battery questions.

Carpedmman

Member
Feb 24, 2007
659
Tampa, Florida
Boat Info
Boatless presently.
Engines
Boatless
Ok here is an odd one. Last week I was on a cruise and my GPS blinked off, I looked down at the gauges and notice my Starboard amp reading was zero'ed out. I put the Starboard engine in Neutral and reved it up for a few seconds. Once I did this the needle popped up to 13.5-14A. Thoughts as to why this occurred?

Incidently, I've been experiencing problems with my starboard battery bank. I have one Deep Cycle and one Starting battery that are in series. I'm pretty sure my house battery is shot as it is not holding a charge and wears down very quickly. I'm very close to putting 2 Optima Blue tops D34M's on this bank and giving this a try. In reading the info from the Optima Website it looks like you can use the Deep Cycle as a starting battery, as well, if these two batteries are tied in a series; like mine are. Additional thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks for your help!
 
Carpedmman said:
Ok here is an odd one. Last week I was on a cruise and my GPS blinked off, I looked down at the gauges and notice my Starboard amp reading was zero'ed out. I put the Starboard engine in Neutral and reved it up for a few seconds. Once I did this the needle popped up to 13.5-14A. Thoughts as to why this occurred?

Incidently, I've been experiencing problems with my starboard battery bank. I have one Deep Cycle and one Starting battery that are in series. I'm pretty sure my house battery is shot as it is not holding a charge and wears down very quickly. I'm very close to putting 2 Optima Blue tops D34M's on this bank and giving this a try. In reading the info from the Optima Website it looks like you can use the Deep Cycle as a starting battery, as well, if these two batteries are tied in a series; like mine are. Additional thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks for your help!

I think you talking volts not amps
You shouldn't mix different type of batteries (one of them will be under or overcharged) and I hope they are connected parallel not in series (24V?)
Check for loose wires on batteries, alternator and ground wire on motor
Load test batteries with load tester and if no good replace them
if they are OK, it is possible that voltage regulator on your alternator is start failing
 
Boatmailster-
You're very right...Duh, Volts NOT amps. My bad.

I'm aware that different types of batteries charge at different rates but I thought that if it was in the same bank that I would be OK. Maybe I need to replace all three batteries - 1 port and 2 starboard.

I stand corrected on my terminology- the batteries would not be changed in their connections, ie: 12 vs 24V. So I guess this is connecting them in Parallel.

I have turned off the converter and did a check of the batteries and the needles stayed in the same position when I switch port and starboard banks. Additionally, I have the boat at a yard presently and they plan on loadtesting the bats.

I have checked the connections on the batteies, alternator but not the ground- I have to find where the ground is connected to the block....
Thanks for the help.
 
Carpedmman said:
Boatmailster-
You're very right...Duh, Volts NOT amps. My bad.


I have turned off the converter and did a check of the batteries and the needles stayed in the same position when I switch port and starboard banks. Additionally, I have the boat at a yard presently and they plan on loadtesting the bats.

I have checked the connections on the batteries, alternator but not the ground- I have to find where the ground is connected to the block....
Thanks for the help.

checking with meter built into boat will not help
you need to test with load tester - that will test if battery holds charge under load
2 different types on same bank: voltage regulator will sense voltage on battery output and stop or continue charging batteries and prevent one battery being charge correctly because another battery will give "confusing" results
 
boatmailster said:
Carpedmman said:
Boatmailster-

2 different types on same bank: voltage regulator will sense voltage on battery output and stop or continue charging batteries and prevent one battery being charge correctly because another battery will give "confusing" results

So you agree that replacing all the batteries on the same bank is fine...I wonder about the converter charger and if that will be affected by the "old" battery if I don't replace it on the Port side?

Thanks for your help!

I'll be interested to hear what the yard has to say about the load test....
 
Carpedmman said:
boatmailster said:
Carpedmman said:
Boatmailster-

2 different types on same bank: voltage regulator will sense voltage on battery output and stop or continue charging batteries and prevent one battery being charge correctly because another battery will give "confusing" results

So you agree that replacing all the batteries on the same bank is fine...I wonder about the converter charger and if that will be affected by the "old" battery if I don't replace it on the Port side?

Thanks for your help!

I'll be interested to hear what the yard has to say about the load test....

Converter: it depends on type converter you have.
it may be 1,2 or 3 banks
majority of time sea ray used to install 3 bank battery chargers but only 2 banks were used
most likely this is setup you have
if this is the case - older battery should not affect charger (assuming that the battery load tested ok and is the same type like rest of your batteries (never mix gel and acid batteries on same charger or they won't last)
and very important: if you have 3 banks battery charger but only 2 banks are being used - there has to be jumper between empty bank and the bank connected to batteries in parallel connection.
if there is no jumper - batteries will be constantly overcharged because charger will "think" that one of batteries is completely dead and continue charging
 

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