Battery Switch Question

340Sundancer

Member
Aug 11, 2015
33
Great Lakes
Boat Info
2005 - 340 Sundancer
Blue Hull
V-Drives
Generator
Engines
Twin 8.1 MerCruisers
Hello everyone, The beginning of the summer I purchased my first boat a 2005 - 340 Sundancer!! I have grown up around boats all my life, however this is my first! I've had a great time all summer with it and all is well! Except for the last 2 weekends, which leads me to my question.......regarding the battery and the cabin switches.

I always keep the shore power plugged in while at the marina, and the last two weekends while out on anchor, the port battery seems to loose charge. I first noticed it when I went to start the port engine up and nothing happened. I had to use the emergency switch to draw from the starboard battery to start the port. Not thinking too much of it, I came back to the marina and plugged her in and left for the week. The second weekend the same thing happened. So this is my question. While out on anchor, what should I be shutting off on the breakers......should I be shutting down the port batteries and just run on the starboard for the stereo, head, accessory, fridge, ect... I believe the starboard batteries are the "house" batteries correct?

Any help would be great! Thanks!!!!
 
The port side starts your port motor, generator and house. The port are usually the first 2 to go due to the constant drain and recharge. Prob time to replace. I do not shut off any breakers/batt switches while on anchor. Are you getting a second beep when starting your port motor even when it's charged, if so its time for new batteries.
 
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Is your battery charger working? How long were you at anchor with the accessories running? How old are the batteries? If your battery charger is working and you have not had this problem until recently you probably have a bad battery.
 
I agree... maybe time to get new port batteries.

Welcome to CSR!
 
Yes the battery charger is working. We were on anchor for about 4-5 hours.
 
The port side starts your port motor, generator and house. The port are usually the first 2 to go due to the constant drain and recharge. Prob time to replace. I do not shut off any breakers/batt switches while on anchor. Are you getting a second beep when starting your port motor even when it's charged, if so its time for new batteries.

Thanks! In the manual Doesn't it show that the starboard batteries start the generator? Maybe I'm wrong. Thoughts?
 
You would think so as I did. Try to start your generator when your port side are dead to charge them, it will not start.
 
The time you are anchoring doesn't sound like a problem. Since you know the charger is work - I would tend to think batteries are going. When were they last replaced?

Mark
 
Best thing to do is remove the motor battery from the circuit and add a second or third house battery
 
Ok so I checked all the water levels in all 4 batteries and they are all full and topped off and look good and very clean. I also found out that the batteries were last replaced in 2010 or 2011. So again another question.
Since there is only about 1.5 months left of the boating season here in Michigan, should I buy 1 new battery and put it on the port side for the rest of the season to "help" my problem? Or secondly, should I replace all the batteries now but then my concern is that 4 new batteries will sit all winter OR......should I just wait it out and chance it for the rest of the season and of coarse replace all 4 batteries in the spring?

Thanks guys....let me know!
 
One month= four weekends. I'd risk it and get a jump pack. Have a rewire done to isolate the port engine and use the house batteries for house alone.

Same piss poor design on SR part is in Saint Max
 
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Replace all four batteries now. They will do fine over the winter if they are stored properly.
 

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