Battery chargers

[speakrdude]

Hello again. I am new to this so bear with me again.....:grin:

On this 88 model, 300 Weekender, It has 3 batteries down below. (Onan 4kw genny, 2 GM 5.7's, inboards) I'm assuming all is dead as they have been sitting for who knows how long and I have 0- power anywhere. (yes with the battery switch even in BOTH) I will open them up as soon as I can. I have water in the forward bilge so I would like to turn on DC power somehow or another ASAP.

My question is, If I connect shore power, what else on the master panel do I turn on? Master switch from ship power to shore power (obviously) and someone said AC converter? Is that a built-in Charger/inverter? Master AC breaker, I suppose. And finaaly battery switch in bilge to 1/2 or both? or just leave off? My other boats have bilge pumps and battery charger connections wired around the Master battery switch.

Thanks again. You all are a HUGE help.

 

[electricaldoctor]

Hi Jim,

I would say, just plug in your shore power cord, flip your master switch on as well as the AC Converter breaker. On my boat the battery will charge regardless of the battery switch selection.

Good luck ~ Ken

 

[speakrdude]

Welll....I had an interesting day today. I followed your advise and just jumped right in there on the shore power and related.

As soon as I plugged in, Pop! Blows the GFI in my shop everytime. I checked the cable, All is good there. I turned all the breakers off on the main panel in the boat, applied power, so far, so good. No lamp indication, but that is normal for this vintage boat. As soon as I flipped the generator switch to shore power, pop. there it goes again.

So I figured, I have a short somewhere and I'll have to get around to it later. So, for now, no bilge pumps, no anything.

So out comes the big ole shop vac.

I proceed to remove the water from the bilge that has collected from who knows how far back. (obviously from having a trash bag, poorly duct taped where the main hatch is supposed to be).
Got that task completed so on to the engine room I go. (shop vac hose in hand.)

Not a whole lot of water there, but some oily crude and debris where the PO had removed the Port engine and tranny for rebuilding. Enough water, however that the float switch was in the "up" position, had there been battery power.

While I was down in there, I see a 120VAC romex cable, (oh yeah! Now I remember. The PO had removed the rusty ole water heater and left it in the cockpit), with the ends just past the butt-spices cutt off, just laying in the bilge in a puddle of water! I removed. Problem solved! I now have shore power! The battery charger is just a hummin. The bilge pump in the salon works when the float switch is up, however, the Engine bilge pump still does not. I will get too that one later.

While I was cleaning up the engine room, I went ahead and checked the batteries. 1 was from 2002, dry as a bone. Battery in the middle (2007) was good on the water level and taking a charge. Battery on the front (bow) side, was 2003 vintage, dry as a bone. Removed those, center battery charging. Bilge is drying. Life is good thus far. :smt038