Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[DWABoat]

The posting 6967 has some pictures of the connection of the mystery wire. Hard to tell, but it looks like it is connected to a common lug on the back of the engine. I am thinking like you, it is the Garboard bond since 1) they just resealed his Garboard drain plug and it will surely fall off when removing the Garboard, 2) the eyelet is too small to connect to any common bonding lug, and 3) the small eyelet is covered in oily water like it would be if laying in the bilge. I could be completely wrong, but getting upside down in the bilge with a flashlight surely is a great place to start.

 

[trdehmer]

The posting 6967 has some pictures of the connection of the mystery wire. Hard to tell, but it looks like it is connected to a common lug on the back of the engine. I am thinking like you, it is the Garboard bond since 1) they just resealed his Garboard drain plug and it will surely fall off when removing the Garboard, 2) the eyelet is too small to connect to any common bonding lug, and 3) the small eyelet is covered in oily water like it would be if laying in the bilge. I could be completely wrong, but getting upside down in the bilge with a flashlight surely is a great place to start.

I got down there as best as I could see and reach. I’m perfectly fine extending the wire and attach it to something I can reach. Guess I’m just curious what that suggestion is based on my situation.

 

[bajturner]

I got down there as best as I could see and reach. I’m perfectly fine extending the wire and attach it to something I can reach. Guess I’m just curious what that suggestion is based on my situation.

I think the drawing I posted gives your the answer. Use a process of elimination if you want, but your post with the purple lines seems to indicate the two aft bond wires (engine and drain). If you don't have one on the drain, that is it.

What has you doubting this...does it not reach the drain as is?

 

[trdehmer]

I think the drawing I posted gives your the answer. Use a process of elimination if you want, but your post with the purple lines seems to indicate the two aft bond wires (engine and drain). If you don't have one on the drain, that is it.

What has you doubting this...does it not reach the drain as is?

There just is no way I can physically get my hands down by the bilge drain plug. And, there isn’t anything there to attach it to.

 

[techmitch]

There just is no way I can physically get my hands down by the bilge drain plug. And, there isn’t anything there to attach it to.

There should be. One of the bolts that holds the drain plug fitting to the transom should be a through bolt with enough stud comming through the hull on the inside to attach a bonding wire to.

 

[Lazy Daze]

There just is no way I can physically get my hands down by the bilge drain plug. And, there isn’t anything there to attach it to.

I think that's the point that was trying to made, above. There SHOULD be a stud there, but likely whoever removed and reinstalled the garboard drain fitting didn't re-use a bolt and only used screws. This is the most logical explanation, anyways.

You might be surprised what you can get to - especially with a single engine. Removing some things on either the port of stbd shelf can allow you lay down and reach in there. It might by "feel" only, but that's pretty normal when working on boats. It will be easier with someone on the outside helping.

 

[Henry Boyd]

There should be. One of the bolts that holds the drain plug fitting to the transom should be a through bolt with enough stud comming through the hull on the inside to attach a bonding wire to.

It does. I know as I redid the same thing (resealing/reinstalling garboard plug) while the engine was out of the 280 for the transom assembly replacement. I’ve been looking through my photos of the engineless engine bay for one that shows it but no luck. I’ve got pictures of everything else...

There seems to be a few important questions. First, what are the consequences of the garboard not being tied to the bonding system? Does it indicate that an improper mechanical reinstallation of the garboard - screws instead of bolts? Is this significant enough to justify having marina/tech properly install bond wire?

 

[DWABoat]

It does. I know as I redid the same thing (resealing/reinstalling garboard plug) while the engine was out of the 280 for the transom assembly replacement. I’ve been looking through my photos of the engineless engine bay for one that shows it but no luck. I’ve got pictures of everything else...

There seems to be a few important questions. First, what are the consequences of the garboard not being tied to the bonding system? Does it indicate that an improper mechanical reinstallation of the garboard - screws instead of bolts? Is this significant enough to justify having marina/tech properly install bond wire?

If we agree that wire is from the Garboard, since he can not confirm visually, then he has an issue.
I think the technicians will face the same issue as anyone else...reaching down there to start the nut and then holding backup during tightening. Unless there is some special Sea Ray tool to insert in the hole that will hold a small nut, I don’t know how to get that on there.

So...his boat is kept in the water. The Garboard is bronze. The plug is bronze. Will this corrode and dissolve or will the plug corrode in the drain? What would be the consequences of just not replacing the bonding wire?

 

[wind954]

What size GPS/Chart Plotter screen can be installed on a 2016 or newer 280 Sundancer?

 

[Seldom Right]

I need help. Batteries went dead last night, which are new. I checked the converter/charger and the red power light is not lit, nor is there any value on the dc amperes gauge. What do I check or do? Yes, hooked to shore power, and all ac works fine.

 

[bajturner]

I need help. Batteries went dead last night, which are new. I checked the converter/charger and the red power light is not lit, nor is there any value on the dc amperes gauge. What do I check or do? Yes, hooked to shore power, and all ac works fine.

Simple one to start...have you tried toggling the breaker to make sure it hasn't tripped or failed to make proper contact?

 

[Seldom Right]

if your referring to the one in the cabinet, yes.

 

[bajturner]

if your referring to the one in the cabinet, yes.

Yes, I was. You mention new batteries. How recently were they replaced? Have you gone through a few charge cycles with them yet (on the charger/converter)?

Do you have a multimeter, by chance, to confirm AC power at the charger/converter?

 

[Seldom Right]

Put the batteries in about a month ago. I had been plugging the boat in to 110 shore power using a pigtail adapter while in the yard. Been hooked to the dock power for 8 days. I did notice when I turned the lights on last night that they did not seem that bright, couple hours later all went dark. I'm wondering if its been charging at all.

 

[Seldom Right]

Sorry, no meter with me. But I'm sure I can get my hands on one.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Seldom,

Double check with your marina. Have they had power problems during the night?

Let’s start with some basics:
What is the AC voltage showing on the voltmeter on the panel?

Is the reversed polarity light lit?

Have you tried shutting off other AC loads, outlets, water heater, lights, microwave, stovetop, etc. and trying the converter all by itself?

Now to the charging system.

Check all battery connections. Everything tight? Everything clean? When the batteries were replaced, was grease put on terminals?

With the charger on, are there any lights, or meter on charger itself showing signs of power?

What kind of batteries (starting, deep discharge, dual purpose, AGM, Lead/acids, gel) did you install?
Is the charger set for battery type installed? Did you replace all? Are the batteries all the same type, and capacity

At this point if nothing has surfaced we are down to a bad battery(s), bad charger, or bad breaker switch.

 

[bajturner]

Put the batteries in about a month ago. I had been plugging the boat in to 110 shore power using a pigtail adapter while in the yard. Been hooked to the dock power for 8 days. I did notice when I turned the lights on last night that they did not seem that bright, couple hours later all went dark. I'm wondering if its been charging at all.

That's what I am wondering.

I was trying to remember where the charge feed went exactly, thinking maybe it went directly to the battery and accidentally got disconnected when you replaced the batteries (assuming there is power to the converter and it works). That was wrong thinking though, if your boat is wired the same as mine was, which it likely is. The charger output goes to the line side of the battery switches (charger charges the batteries regardless of the switch positions):

I'm not sure what documentation you have, but for what it's worth, here is the PD2030 trouble-shooter:

Here are the fuse locations:

I can't find any detail on the power light so if a DC fuse is blown, maybe the power light should still come on with AC power, or maybe not. I would think that it would...

 

[bajturner]

Seldom,

Double check with your marina. Have they had power problems during the night?

Let’s start with some basics:
What is the AC voltage showing on the voltmeter on the panel?

Is the reversed polarity light lit?

Have you tried shutting off other AC loads, outlets, water heater, lights, microwave, stovetop, etc. and trying the converter all by itself?

Now to the charging system.

Check all battery connections. Everything tight? Everything clean? When the batteries were replaced, was grease put on terminals?

With the charger on, are there any lights, or meter on charger itself showing signs of power?

What kind of batteries (starting, deep discharge, dual purpose, AGM, Lead/acids, gel) did you install?
Is the charger set for battery type installed? Did you replace all? Are the batteries all the same type, and capacity

At this point if nothing has surfaced we are down to a bad battery(s), bad charger, or bad breaker switch.

Hey Henry,
He mentioned all other AC working, breaker good, and no power light on the converter. Do you know if the power light still comes on with good power if the internal DC fuses are blown?

 

[Henry Boyd]

Hey Henry,
He mentioned all other AC working, breaker good, and no power light on the converter. Do you know if the power light still comes on with good power if the internal DC fuses are blown?

Our wiring diagram for our 02 was different from what you showed. I thought we had a voltmeter and you show an ammeter. I may be wrong on the voltmeter.

I went to my old PDFs and went to my 280 owners supplement. In the battery/ignition switch compartment there are additional breakers, including two marked Battery charger 1 and battery charger 2. In twelve years I could never figure out how these worked. Maybe one tripped there?

 

[bajturner]

Our wiring diagram for our 02 was different from what you showed. I thought we had a voltmeter and you show an ammeter. I may be wrong on the voltmeter.

I went to my old PDFs and went to my 280 owners supplement. In the battery/ignition switch compartment there are additional breakers, including two marked Battery charger 1 and battery charger 2. In twelve years I could never figure out how these worked. Maybe one tripped there?

Here is a pic from my old '04. Is this what you mean?