Batteries not charging from shore power / battery charger

8

87we410877

New Member
Jun 17, 2015
30
Port Jefferson
Boat Info
2007 Sundancer 260
Engines
5.7 MERC MAG MPI
Hey I'm on the boat now and on my mobile so sorry if this has been covered.

I I have a 2007 sun dancer 260 no generator single engine 5.7. When running, batteries charge. When hooked up to shore power I flip battery charger switch on and the amp meter barely drops as it usually should. The batteries are now both dead.

Also, in the bilge the inverter with all the lights on it (charge, ready, full) or whatever they say, are not illuminated. None of them. I checked the breaker panel under the sink and everything is on. Is there another fuse or breaker somewhere that could be tripped preventing my batteries from getting charged? Thanks in advance
 
Ok, the inverter sounds like your battery charger. If there are no lights on when connected to shore power, then it is either not getting ac power, or it is dead. You need a voltmeter to check if it is getting 120vac to determine if there is a bad breaker/faulty wiring, or a dead charger.

do you have items that run on AC only - microwave, ac unit? Do they work while on shore power?
 
paulswagelock said:
Ok, the inverter sounds like your battery charger. If there are no lights on when connected to shore power, then it is either not getting ac power, or it is dead. You need a voltmeter to check if it is getting 120vac to determine if there is a bad breaker/faulty wiring, or a dead charger.

do you have items that run on AC only - microwave, ac unit? Do they work while on shore power?
Click to expand...

Yes everything A/C Works off of shore power. I will check power to the inverter.
 
Last edited:
Bay B's said:
If you haven't already, I would flip the battery charger breakers (you have 2 I believe) off and on a few times.
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJALBJ9K.pdf
Page 6.8 shows your battery charger in the bilge to the right of your bilge light.
Click to expand...

Yup thats it. I don't have breakers that toggle. Looks like it pops out when it trips and the green light under "OFF" comes on. I think the unit itself is shot. Talked to a sea ray guru here at work he says his went same symptoms and its not uncommon. Now, to find a new one.
 
Ok really dumb question and im almost Sure I know the answer. Does the battery switch have to be on to charge the batteries? Lmao!!! If so that means I've been running on batteries without charging except for when I'm running since May 1st
 
No. The charger should be direct wired to the batteries not through the the switch. If the charge is on and working it will charge the batteries no matter if the battery switch is on. If it's wired properly that is.
 
^^ Correct. Other thing is there are inline fueses (or should be) on the wires that go from the charger to the batteries. Make sure they exist and are good.
 
I'll have to do some more investigating today. The charger "ready" light is on for both batteries. When I switch to one, the "charging" light comes on for one as does it when switched to two, the "charging" light comes on for two. In the off position, no lights just ready. I left it on one which was dead and it said "charging" so if I go there tonight and it's charged, there's my answer. I'll check the wiring direct to the batteries from the charger and also for inline fuses and such
 
87we410877 said:
I'll have to do some more investigating today. The charger "ready" light is on for both batteries. When I switch to one, the "charging" light comes on for one as does it when switched to two, the "charging" light comes on for two. In the off position, no lights just ready. I left it on one which was dead and it said "charging" so if I go there tonight and it's charged, there's my answer. I'll check the wiring direct to the batteries from the charger and also for inline fuses and such
Click to expand...

Sounds like someone wired the charger through the switch. If so, I recommend rewiring it directly to the batteries so you can leave them off and still charge.
 
Nothing has been wired or rewired since the boat was new. It is as it was from the factory. The lights on the charger are on as i said previously but only when the battery switch is in the on position. Still, batteries are not charging at all. One is still dead. Before i start spending money on batteries and what not, any ideas?
 
Is it maybe an inverter and charger combo unit? That might make sense with the wiring maybe? Still seems like it's not working though.

If you have a multimeter check the output voltage at the charger out. It should be over 13 or 14v when it's on and charging If it's not and if the voltage there is the same as what you get right on the batteries themselves then it's not working.

A marine mechanic could tell you very quickly too.
 
Creekwood said:
Is it maybe an inverter and charger combo unit? That might make sense with the wiring maybe? Still seems like it's not working though.

If you have a multimeter check the output voltage at the charger out. It should be over 13 or 14v when it's on and charging If it's not and if the voltage there is the same as what you get right on the batteries themselves then it's not working.

A marine mechanic could tell you very quickly too.
Click to expand...

I'll run down there with a multimeter sometime this week.
 
I have a 2007 44 Sedan Bridge and had an issue with batteries not being charged while underway and NOT running the genset in that case. Have the Cummins QSC 500's. Does anyone know if there is any "inline fuse" between the output of the alternators and the batteries? Or is it a direct and accurate conclusion that if batt's aren't being charged by engines, then the alternators have failed? I now have to rely on a mechanic as I'm 14 hrs away from my boat right now so can't do anything myself. Thanks. BTW, batt's charge fine if on shorepower or genset, so isolated to only when underway solely with main engines running and that's it.
 
87we410877 said:
Hey I'm on the boat now and on my mobile so sorry if this has been covered.

I I have a 2007 sun dancer 260 no generator single engine 5.7. When running, batteries charge. When hooked up to shore power I flip battery charger switch on and the amp meter barely drops as it usually should. The batteries are now both dead.

Also, in the bilge the inverter with all the lights on it (charge, ready, full) or whatever they say, are not illuminated. None of them. I checked the breaker panel under the sink and everything is on. Is there another fuse or breaker somewhere that could be tripped preventing my batteries from getting charged? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hey I jus told my 2006 Sun Ray Sun dancer and I plug the Sure power in and I’m getting buffing can any one help me is there a breaker I need to turn on
 
You revived a really old thread.

After you plug in the shore power cable, you need to turn on the breaker in the transom locker near where you plugged the cable in. Then you need to turn on the battery charger breaker on the panel in the cabin. That's it.
 
skibum said:
You revived a really old thread.

After you plug in the shore power cable, you need to turn on the breaker in the transom locker near where you plugged the cable in. Then you need to turn on the battery charger breaker on the panel in the cabin. That's it.
Click to expand...
Ok where is the transom located its my first boat I’m sorry I have no idea where that is
 
Phil Crump said:
Ok where is the transom located its my first boat I’m sorry I have no idea where that is
Click to expand...
Phil Crump said:
Ok where is the transom located its my first boat I’m sorry I have no idea where that is
Click to expand...
Thank you so much the boat seller is very unhelpful the boat has been sitting still for over 30 days so he just charge the batteries with a regular battery charger but once we plug it in sure power and turn on radio and tested a few things it drained the battery and now the engine is turning over and it seems like the sure power doesn’t seem to be charging the boat at all
 
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