Engine Hatch?

B

BillinPA

Member
Oct 14, 2020
105
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2005
Engines
8.1
Have problems with my charger end of last year after installing 4 new batteries. I installed 4 new ones, but they quickly died by the end of season.
My questions are
1. How do I get the hatch open on a 1999 340 dancer. Can jump it from the helm locker?
2. Are my batteries done?
 
You can back feed from the cigarette liter outlet. You'll have to check the batteries out, but sounds like you definitely need a new charger.
 
Golfman25 said:
You can back feed from the cigarette liter outlet. You'll have to check the batteries out, but sounds like you definitely need a new charger.
Click to expand...
How do I back feed? Just plug a charger in it?
 
Golfman25 said:
You can back feed from the cigarette liter outlet. You'll have to check the batteries out, but sounds like you definitely need a new charger.
Click to expand...

Using the cigarette lighter to back feed the batteries and expecting that to operate the ram isn't going to work and will Possibly burn out something along the way.

It can be a way to emergency charge the battery it is connected to, but low amps for a charger, maybe 12A at best.
 
Skybolt said:
Using your


Using the cigarette lighter to back feed the batteries and expecting that to operate the ram isn't going to work and will Possibly burn out something along the way.

It can be a way to emergency chare the battery it is connected to, but low amps for a charger, maybe 12A at best.
Click to expand...
Well I have seen it done, so there's that.
 
I have heard back feeding off a charger also and did it once on my 260 (when I stored the boat with marine max in CT they would disconnect the batteries for the winter and drop / raise the hatch this way). If the batteries are dead not sure how it will work out as it will most likely drain the charger. Not saying it can't damage your system either.
The other alternative is to disconnect the actuator at the top of the ram. There should be a small hatch to reach in and pull the connecting pin. Once disconnected you would need something to lift the hatch with. I had the yard do this to my boat. I think they used a forklift to raise it.

Regarding your batteries, they are a year old and dead? Sounds like the battery charger, do they charge when you start the motor, is the alternators ok?

dave
 

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Skybolt said:
Open the engine hatch?
Click to expand...
Yeah. Middle of winter -- boat winterized. Looking at a boat. Guy plugged into the cig. liter and the hatch opened to look at the engines. Went down the same way.
 
dmorris800 said:
I have heard back feeding off a charger also and did it once on my 260 (when I stored the boat with marine max in CT they would disconnect the batteries for the winter and drop / raise the hatch this way). If the batteries are dead not sure how it will work out as it will most likely drain the charger. Not saying it can't damage your system either.
The other alternative is to disconnect the actuator at the top of the ram. There should be a small hatch to reach in and pull the connecting pin. Once disconnected you would need something to lift the hatch with. I had the yard do this to my boat. I think they used a forklift to raise it.

Regarding your batteries, they are a year old and dead? Sounds like the battery charger, do they charge when you start the motor, is the alternators ok?

dave
Click to expand...
Not sure, boat is still sleeping
 
On this boat, yes, plugging a jump pack into the 12V accessory plug is the way it was designed to be done from Sea Ray.
 
Skybolt said:
Using the cigarette lighter to back feed the batteries and expecting that to operate the ram isn't going to work and will Possibly burn out something along the way.

It can be a way to emergency charge the battery it is connected to, but low amps for a charger, maybe 12A at best.
Click to expand...
My 1998 40 DA came with a cigarette lighter adapter to open the hatch in the event of a 12 v power loss. Made by M and G electric, MFG tag is still on it.

As I understand it, they also made some of the breaker panels for Sea Ray.

I've used it a few times, no issues.
 
I have mentioned this on several posts but with a bad charger I’m not sure of the results here. Anyway, I can plug in my shore power to the marina 110 vac and run everything in my boat once the converter is switched on. The hatch opens just fine, radio plays, lights work, etc. My battery cables are completely disconnected. I just flip the dc power on in the panel once the shore power is connected. I climb into the bilge every weekend with no adapter or spare battery.
Im just not sure what boat we are talking about as the signature says 2005 but first post says 1999. The 2005 will be set up the same as my boat basically.
 
boatrboy said:
I have mentioned this on several posts but with a bad charger I’m not sure of the results here. Anyway, I can plug in my shore power to the marina 110 vac and run everything in my boat once the converter is switched on. The hatch opens just fine, radio plays, lights work, etc. My battery cables are completely disconnected. I just flip the dc power on in the panel once the shore power is connected. I climb into the bilge every weekend with no adapter or spare battery.
Im just not sure what boat we are talking about as the signature says 2005 but first post says 1999. The 2005 will be set up the same as my boat basically.
Click to expand...
I was at the boat today working on electronics and made this short you tube video opening the hatch with no battery's. I should mention I have an a/c power cord hooked up to the marina 110 outlets in the parking lot.

 
I dont understand how this works. The charger (ac/dc converter) is fed directly from AC Shore power, then feeds DC to the batteries. the batteries then feed the main DC board and DC circuits.

If the DC feed circuit is opened when the batteries are completely disconnected, how is DC power getting to the hatch lift circuit?
 
I do the exact thing Boatrboy does to open and close my hatch with disconnected batteries. All you need is shore power in the boat yard
 
stelios hondrcolos said:
I dont understand how this works. The charger (ac/dc converter) is fed directly from AC Shore power, then feeds DC to the batteries. the batteries then feed the main DC board and DC circuits.

If the DC feed circuit is opened when the batteries are completely disconnected, how is DC power getting to the hatch lift circuit?
Click to expand...
Even some of the electrical experts here challenged me on this which is why I shot the video to prove I am not nuts (well maybe a little).

I believe the charger/inverter actually supplies dc voltage to all systems so batteries are not needed with shore power. Don't get me wrong, I doubt this will start the boat, but for radio, hatch lift, lights, it works just fine.

If you still don't believe, try it for your self..... :)
 
stelios hondrcolos said:
I dont understand how this works. The charger (ac/dc converter) is fed directly from AC Shore power, then feeds DC to the batteries. the batteries then feed the main DC board and DC circuits.

If the DC feed circuit is opened when the batteries are completely disconnected, how is DC power getting to the hatch lift circuit?
Click to expand...
The positive leads of the battery charger connect to the positive leads of the batteries. If you remove the batteries, the charger's leads are still physically connected to the leads that used to be connected to the batteries.

When you connect shore power and turn the battery charger on, it starts generating 12v. When you turn on the battery switch(es), the power comes from the charger to the battery leads, through the battery switch and to the main panel which allows the lift to work. If you stick a meter between the disconnected positive and negative battery cables, you will read 12v (or 13.xv) with the charger turned on and no batteries connected.
 
BillinPA said:
Have problems with my charger end of last year after installing 4 new batteries. I installed 4 new ones, but they quickly died by the end of season.
My questions are
1. How do I get the hatch open on a 1999 340 dancer. Can jump it from the helm locker?
2. Are my batteries done?
Click to expand...
If the batteries are "dead" and the battery charger/converter is not functioning then you must use the alternant method by putting 12VDC into the helm DC port or better yet get a battery and "jump" it to the fuse holder main wire and ground buss under the helm. One important thing though is to turn the battery switches off and all unrelated circuits off before or all of the energy from your 12VDC source will go to the battery bank or operating something unrelated and not to opening the hatch. The hatch actuator takes quite a bit of current so everything needs to go to that function.
 
skibum said:
The positive leads of the battery charger connect to the positive leads of the batteries. If you remove the batteries, the charger's leads are still physically connected to the leads that used to be connected to the batteries.

When you connect shore power and turn the battery charger on, it starts generating 12v. When you turn on the battery switch(es), the power comes from the charger to the battery leads, through the battery switch and to the main panel which allows the lift to work. If you stick a meter between the disconnected positive and negative battery cables, you will read 12v (or 13.xv) with the charger turned on and no batteries connected.
Click to expand...
And... on some boats, the charger is connected to the batteries via the battery switch on the line side.
 
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