Does the battery charger also charge the generator battery?

[scott1956]

I have a 2000 410 Sundancer with Cat 2126’s. Westerbeke generator. Pro Nautic battery charger with 4 new AGM starting/house batteries. The generator battery is a standard lead acid Interstate battery and a few years old. The Generator battery was stone dead yesterday but recharged slightly on the ride home. Does the main/house battery charger also charge the generator battery or is that battery separate from the charging system and charged by the generator itself? thanks

 

[ttmott]

I have a 2000 410 Sundancer with Cat 2126’s. Westerbeke generator. Pro Nautic battery charger with 4 new AGM starting/house batteries. The generator battery is a standard lead acid Interstate battery and a few years old. The Generator battery was stone dead yesterday but recharged slightly on the ride home. Does the main/house battery charger also charge the generator battery or is that battery separate from the charging system and charged by the generator itself? thanks

The charger/converter is or should be a 3 bank charger. The answer is yes. The generator also has an alternator that should also charge it's battery.

 

[superwa]

Yup, time for a new battery

 

[Lazy Daze]

"Should have" and "does have" are sometimes different things, though. Lot's of things can change in 24 years. Physically look at the genny battery for the wires. Or, check the V at the battery and then turn on the charger and check again to see if it's getting a charge.

 

[Skybolt]

You say Pro Nautic? Which model? If it the newer series then that was installed by the PO. But most chargers are only three banks and it sounds like you have four. Or the PO put in a four bank charger. B

I have a 2000 410 Sundancer with Cat 2126’s. Westerbeke generator. Pro Nautic battery charger with 4 new AGM starting/house batteries. The generator battery is a standard lead acid Interstate battery and a few years old. The Generator battery was stone dead yesterday but recharged slightly on the ride home. Does the main/house battery charger also charge the generator battery or is that battery separate from the charging system and charged by the generator itself? thanks

You say Pro Nautic, which model? That will take the guess work out of your question.

 

[jmauld]

The alternator might be forcing a bit more current into the battery which makes it appear that the alternator is working while the charger is not. You have a dead battery and you “might” have an issue with the charger. Replace the battery and then confirm the charge current while at the dock.

 

[ttmott]

First, on most all of our boats and the OP's for sure, the battery charger does not connect directly to the batteries. The charger connects through circuit breakers to the battery side of the battery disconnect switches. On a 2000 400DA the circuit breakers and connections are behind the main DC panel in the aft port gunnel of the cockpit. The 2000 410DA I suspect a similar configuration.
Second, years go by and replacements are performed; some correctly and some not.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The charger connects through circuit breakers to the battery side of the battery disconnect switches.

You're right about that - some (not all) of the smaller boats are like that, too. So that would negate my suggestion of checking for wires. However, checking for V would still solve the question.

 

[scott1956]

Thanks. I will check the voltage and start with a new battery.

 

[dtfeld]

Thanks. I will check the voltage and start with a new battery.

First, on most all of our boats and the OP's for sure, the battery charger does not connect directly to the batteries. The charger connects through circuit breakers to the battery side of the battery disconnect switches. On a 2000 400DA the circuit breakers and connections are behind the main DC panel in the aft port gunnel of the cockpit. The 2000 410DA I suspect a similar configuration.
Second, years go by and replacements are performed; some correctly and some not.

The charger leads on this boat are not fused (and neither are the main power feeds to the disconnect solenoid). The charger connects directly to the battery side of the disconnect solenoids, and strait to the battery as Tom mentioned. Schematic shows it this way, and this is the way my boat is wired. Alway wondered why no breaker/fuse...

But point is, it should be easy to track down the wiring and verify you have an output from the charger going to the generator battery.

 

[ttmott]

The charger leads on this boat are not fused (and neither are the main power feeds to the disconnect solenoid). The charger connects directly to the battery side of the disconnect solenoids, and strait to the battery as Tom mentioned. Schematic shows it this way, and this is the way my boat is wired. Alway wondered why no breaker/fuse...

But point is, it should be easy to track down the wiring and verify you have an output from the charger going to the generator battery.

View attachment 147249

That's what I thought also Dave but by golly even though not shown on the Owner's Manual there are circuit breakers for the charger behind the battery switch panel on the 2000 400DA; 3 50amp breakers.

 

[dtfeld]

That's what I thought also Dave but by golly even though not shown on the Owner's Manual there are circuit breakers for the charger behind the battery switch panel on the 2000 400DA; 3 50amp breakers.
View attachment 147257
View attachment 147258

I have looked hi and low for those on my boat... no joy.

It would make sense, and I thought required???

 

[Lazy Daze]

I have looked hi and low for those on my boat... no joy.

It would make sense, and I thought required???

Yeah, I would be HIGHLY surprised if you didn't have circuit protection. Possibly internal to the battery charger?

 

[scott1956]

Update: The battery was fine when I try to start or or engage the preheat the fuel solenoid clicks rapidly like the battery is low and voltage at the gen drops to 5v. I used a jumper cable from the neg battery to the generator frame and it turns over fine. So its definitely a bad ground. Can anyone confirm that the negative battery cable is a straight run to the generator. I will remove the sound shield and climb in tomorrow to check the connections at the generator. They are in the most inconvenient location. The battery end looks good.