Understanding the Battery charger, please help.

[BenjaminC]

I unintentionally left my battery switch in the both position on my 01 260 DA at the slip for 5 days. When I showed up today I found the Firebouy carbon monoxide detector beeping, and batteries unable to start the boat. Shore power was connected and the breaker switch was on in the transom locker. In the cabin the green power light was on, the main power switch was on and the meter read 120V. The AC Converter switch was the only switch I left on, which I thought would keep the batteries charged regardless of the position of the battery switch. I honestly don't understand the charging system (first boat only had it a few months) but I thought; by leaving the AC Converter switch on in the slip the batteries would charge. But now that I think about it, the meter on the charger itself usually never reads anything above zero while plugged in at the dock (which has always worried me), I have seen it give a reading above zero at some point but it could have been while the engine was running. Am I missing some key element to make it work, or do I have a bad charger or bad connection from the Shore to the converter???? Never had a problem before but I had never left the battery switch on for that long either. Thanks for advice!
Ben

 

[BlewByYou88]

I think there are too many parasitic loads to leave a battery switch on. Mine has done the same thing, granted mines a lot older, but If I leave the switch on, the batts are dead in about a week. If I leave the batt switch off, and charger on, they always seem to have a full charge.

 

[Alex F]

If your pannel gives you green light on AC side and gauge shows 110v. and the AC Converter is on, my first thought is that a charger might be bad. What does the charger show (light, gauge reading)?

It's unlikelly to have a scenario when the marina lost power for 5 days and it was back on before you arrived at the boat, but who knows, it's possible.

BTW, what were the batteries condition prior this, were they old, holding charge well?

 

[jason78]

I unintentionally left my battery switch in the both position on my 01 260 DA at the slip for 5 days. When I showed up today I found the Firebouy carbon monoxide detector beeping, and batteries unable to start the boat. Shore power was connected and the breaker switch was on in the transom locker. In the cabin the green power light was on, the main power switch was on and the meter read 120V. The AC Converter switch was the only switch I left on, which I thought would keep the batteries charged regardless of the position of the battery switch. I honestly don't understand the charging system (first boat only had it a few months) but I thought; by leaving the AC Converter switch on in the slip the batteries would charge. But now that I think about it, the meter on the charger itself usually never reads anything above zero while plugged in at the dock (which has always worried me), I have seen it give a reading above zero at some point but it could have been while the engine was running. Am I missing some key element to make it work, or do I have a bad charger or bad connection from the Shore to the converter???? Never had a problem before but I had never left the battery switch on for that long either. Thanks for advice!
Ben

Welcome to CSR and the world of Battery Issues. Could be either the batteries or charger or both. The position of the Battery switch should not matter for charging as long as the AC Converter was ON. I would start by disconnecting the batteries and testing them.

You stated in another thread the boat has only 120 hours which is very low for an 01. Are these batteries the original batteries? Sounds like the boat was not used much and did alot of sitting which could very likely point to bad batteries.

Depending on how old they are I would personally recommend replacing them with new AGM batteries. If the issue is still not solved you may need to look at the charger. Sorry for the vague response but bad batteries seem to cause the most frustration for people and it is really an easy fix.

Jason

 

[BenjaminC]

I bought new deep cycle batteries in July. Never had a problem with them, but up until now I was taking the boat out regularly. So I guess they could have been keeping a charge only due to the alternator charging them; and I had been keeping the switch off when I was not there. The meter on the charger was sitting on zero when I arrived, but there was a red light on the face of the charger that is on too.... I don't know what that light indicates. I don't have a manual for the charger and I unfortunately don't understand much about it yet. Thank you for the input!
Ben

 

[jason78]

I bought new deep cycle batteries in July. Never had a problem with them, but up until now I was taking the boat out regularly. So I guess they could have been keeping a charge only due to the alternator charging them; and I had been keeping the switch off when I was not there. The meter on the charger was sitting on zero when I arrived, but there was a red light on the face of the charger that is on too.... I don't know what that light indicates. I don't have a manual for the charger and I unfortunately don't understand much about it yet. Thank you for the input!
Ben

In that case it very well could be your charger. Do you have the name and model number of the charger? Someone here may have a manual.

If you want to test your alternator, take look at this thread and check out Post#11 http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37522

fc3 has a great explaination on how to check the alternator.

Jason

 

[Alex F]

Also, in addition to all good suggestions above, if you're still not clear about something and need to verify if the charger actually needs to be replaced call or email the vender and most likelly they'll help troubleshooting or will just give you a good direction. Some vendors provide very good assistance over the phone.

 

[BenjaminC]

Thanks for all the help, I think I better check for the fuses, I think I have the Promariner Flyback charger. Anyone know how to access the fuses on those?

 

[Jack F]

Thanks for all the help, I think I better check for the fuses, I think I have the Promariner Flyback charger. Anyone know how to access the fuses on those?

Jim Mitchell from ProMariner is a member here, he may be able to help you.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18086&highlight=Promariner