Generator battery charging on 1997 400 DB

R

ridley

New Member
Jul 9, 2009
34
Virginia
Boat Info
1997 400 Sedan Bridge
Engines
454 Mercruiser inboards
Does the generator battery charge when the generator is running? I believe that it does. The generator battery is not connected to the built in automatic battery charger system as the starting and house batteries are. Since I rarely run my generator, I'm wondering about connecting a permanent jumper from the positive on the house battery to the positive on the gen battery so that the gen battery remains charged by the auto charging system. Will this create any problems to the auto charging system or the batteries or to the generator battery when the gen is running?
 
ridley said:
....The generator battery is not connected to the built in automatic battery charger system as the starting and house batteries are. ...
Click to expand...

This sounds like you have unique setup there, b/c as far as I know generator battery (if you have dedicated one) should be hooked up to the charger. I also never saw an alternator on any generator. It would be cool to see what one looks like.

I only visited 400DBs with diesels, so I can't say for sure what you got, but something doesn't sound right, at least to me.

Hopefully, other 400DB owners will chime in with more info.
 
On my 96' 400 DB the generator battery is connected to the built in automatic battery charger system,... Are you sure about yours???

If not I would hook it up to the on board charger!

Because if it is not hooked up I would bet some disconnected at some point for what ever reason!!....Todd
 
roosevelt12, thanks for your response. Yes, I'm positive it's not connected to auto charger and I don't see any spare cables that I could use coming from the charger. My auto charger has 2 cables coming from it: 1 connects to house batt and 2nd cable connects to 2 starting batts. Does your gen batt charge cable also connect to the house batt?
 
I will double check for you this Week-end and get back to you on Monday.....But I'm sure it is not connected to my house battery....Every boat I have see the gen battery is Isolated from the rest of your batteries...

Look in your owners Manual section 12-page 23 in the wiring shows the battery for the gen wired to the house charger...

Like I said I will check this week-end...Todd
 
Hi ,the generator has a battery charger built in, it produce up to 17 amps check the Westerbeke.com page (very user friendly),verify that it has a 30amp fuse to protect the battery charger.the generator use a lot of 12 v when in use and the house battery charger won't keep up.
 
P.S. I have the same problem only that I haven't found the inline 30 amp fuse . mine is a 1999 4.5 westerbeke bgctc
 
juma said:
Hi ,the generator has a battery charger built in, it produce up to 17 amps check the Westerbeke.com page (very user friendly),verify that it has a 30amp fuse to protect the battery charger...
Click to expand...

Very interersting info. Every day we learn something new. I guess, this applies to the models with dedicated generator batteries as all models are setup differently.
 
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My gen. battery is isolated from the mains and is not hooked up to the boat battery charger. The gen. does charge the battery when running. I have a an extra open port on my boat charger that I may hook up to the gen battery. I was told the reason for the isolated system is in case the gen. should draw amps when it is not suppose to draw amps(I have a digital display) that it would not run down the main battery bank leaving you stranded. But this still does not explain why the gen. battery was not hooked up to the boat battery charger.
 
My gen works with the house batteries,('99 westerbeke bcgtc 4.5)the boat charger works at low amps so the gen has it's own batterycharger it's a small solidstate box (like the ones on atv's etc)they have a 30 amp fuse that protects the batterycharger.I have been reading a lot because mine is having the same problem.Tomorrow I be heading to my boat to check the location and condition of the 30 amp fuse. And yes like Alex F said ,every day you learn something new or pay ramsom cash to your mechanic... LOL!!!!!
 
Well I was at the boat yesterday...and my on board charger is connected to my generator battery, and is NOT connected to my house battery banks...

In my opinion you do not want your generator battery connected to your house battery, if your house batteries were to go dead it would also drain your generator battery and you would have no way to start your generator!

You should connect your on board charger to your generator battery, very easy to do!! Todd
 
Roosevelt14, makes sense to me as well.
 
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