Battery Issues

Chasta Postler

New Member
Apr 30, 2020
4
Boat Info
Sea Ray Sundancer 310
Engines
350 MAG MPI Mercruiser Vdrive
Hello, we purchased our 310 '99 end of last season and upgraded our stereo and added flat screens below and above. After install we found out that the A/C converter needed upgraded, which we did. Since then we still have electrical problems.

When plugged into shore power and radio on (not loud) and only radio on, it's draining the battery. Once we turn the radio off it only goes up to 10volts and not going all the way up. The very credible guy who installed is going to take a look at it next week but is scratching his head. The Marine that it was stored at this winter found a few fuses blown when they winterized it and repaired those and we hoped that was going to solve the issue but we put it back in yesterday and it's happening again.

As well after the radio install we have had problems with the generator. It will fire up and then shut off sometimes after 5 min sometimes 20 min. It always turns back on. They tried to replicate this out of the water before we put it back in running a hose through it and it ran for 45 min a few times with zero issues. It's when we are underway that this keeps happening. Not sure if these are 2 seperate issues or related as it all started after the radio upgrade. Any help or advice on what to check or whatever would be greatly helpful. They have a service ticket in with the Marine as well as the guy who put in the radio, but both parties are stumped at this point.

Additionally, all 3 batteries (deep cell) were replaced when they replaced the A/C converter.
Thanks!
 
Does the boat have an-board charger/AC to DC converter that would power up when the shore power is plugged in? Next step would be to put a volt meter across the house bank while the charger/converter is on. You should a level or voltage that above the normal static 12.5V of a battery, indicating the charger is working.
 
Does the boat have an-board charger/AC to DC converter that would power up when the shore power is plugged in? Next step would be to put a volt meter across the house bank while the charger/converter is on. You should a level or voltage that above the normal static 12.5V of a battery, indicating the charger is working.

Yes, we replaced that too when we replaced the batteries with the radio install. ProMariner 63150 ProNautic Battery Charger 1250P - 12V 50A, 3 Bank
 
Ok, time to verify with a meter, thats its charging the banks. Then fire up the engine(s) and test for alternator voltage at the battery banks. lastly, I would monitor the charger, with no loads drawing, to see if the batteries are reaching full charge. Id want to see what the charger indicates, but I would also want to verify this with the volt meter.
 
Is the charger turned on, breaker turned on, charger connected to the house battery going dead
 
Is the charger turned on, breaker turned on, charger connected to the house battery going dead

We will have them check. I'll talk to my husband when he is off work. We are both new boating this is our first boat ever, so I'm not even sure he knows how to check these things, but as far as I know everything is on as we normally have it before all this mess started happening. LOL. If you can give any other pointers t
 
Ok, time to verify with a meter, thats its charging the banks. Then fire up the engine(s) and test for alternator voltage at the battery banks. lastly, I would monitor the charger, with no loads drawing, to see if the batteries are reaching full charge. Id want to see what the charger indicates, but I would also want to verify this with the volt meter.
The marine electrician or radio installer guy will have one to test next week. Do you think that the generator problem is related to whatever the batter issue is, or does that sound like a separate problem.
 
I have a 99 sundancer 270 with twin 4.3. There are two isolator (I believe that is what they're called) switches wired to batteries. One switch is 1/2/both/off while the other is main on/off. There is an after market stereo installed professionally (before I took ownership) that bypasses the isolator switches and is wired directly to batteries. Even when all 3 batteries are off and no show power is connected, the stereo will still play. By process of elimination I've learned that #1 battery powers my starboard engine. #2 does not power either engine. Main powers port engine. When on the lake, I was under the impression that turning the #1 and #2 batteries off would ensure my engines works fire and to leave the Main on to power my stereo and fridge etc. My port engine always starts right up (knock on wood) but sometimes after only 3 hours my starboard will not crank. I can emergency start, which is what I do. 2 batteries are new last year and the third the year before. They have been tendered over the winter with solar panels and are still strong. Could it be that the wires are somehow crossed? Maybe the #2 battery (which doesn't give power to either engine so I can't imagine its paralleled to #1) and the Main are crossed? Is there a way to wire the stereo so that I can turn off at the isolator? I'm so confused.
 

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