All my accessories are on

rlamp4040 · Oct 2, 2011

I just got my boat back from castaic marine both my batteries were dead. I am new to the boat world. This morning after charging my batteries I noticed all my accessories work with no key in the key hole. Is this normal? Trim, horn, lights , all except the radio now it doesnt work at all. Any help would be appreciated. Wont this keep killing my batteries...

Bondo · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

rlamp4040 said:
I just got my boat back from castaic marine both my batteries were dead. I am new to the boat world. This morning after charging my batteries I noticed all my accessories work with no key in the key hole. Is this normal? Trim, horn, lights , all except the radio now it doesnt work at all. Any help would be appreciated. Wont this keep killing my batteries...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...

Depending on just what yer workin' on,...
The Trim is usually wired directly to the battery, so it should work without the key...
Ditto the lights, 'n horn, except they're usually wired through the hull's wiring...
If ya turn 'em off,... Nope, they won't drain yer battery...
The gauges are wired through the ignition circuit, are they workin' right,..??

rlamp4040 · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

The gauges only work when I turn on the key. Everything else works without a key.

Bondo · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

rlamp4040 said:
The gauges only work when I turn on the key. Everything else works without a key.

So what's the Problem,..??

Rocky_Road · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

Bond-o said:
So what's the Problem,..??

I think that he is wondering why his batteries were dead.

Since his post suggests that his boat has been at a dealer, then it is possible that they simply left the key 'On'.

He has charged his batteries, and he will only know if there is a problem if his batteries drain once again. While the boat was outside of his 'care', anything could have happened.

Hopefully, he will tell us all what happens!

Happy boating!

rlamp4040 · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

Correcto. Being new to this world I wasnt sure what was supposed to be on and not. I understand the safety thang. The key was not on when I picked up the boat but the battery 1 all 2 mechanism was in the all position. Now I understand a little more. Since I got it back now thew radio doesnt work lol. Akso looking through the manual I found were it says Caution do not start boat with deep cycle batteries but I have two of them so I am wondering what this means and do I have to replace one? Any guidance would be ghreatly appreciated. Thanks

Rocky_Road · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

rlamp4040 said:
Correcto. Being new to this world I wasnt sure what was supposed to be on and not. I understand the safety thang. The key was not on when I picked up the boat but the battery 1 all 2 mechanism was in the all position. Now I understand a little more. Since I got it back now thew radio doesnt work lol. Akso looking through the manual I found were it says Caution do not start boat with deep cycle batteries but I have two of them so I am wondering what this means and do I have to replace one? Any guidance would be ghreatly appreciated. Thanks

Deep cell (deep cycle is more correct) batteries can withstand more of a discharge than a start battery...you are probably in luck there. A normal battery cannot be discharged completely and be returned to serviceable life....

Many boaters have one of each: a normal starter battery for the engine operation, and a deep cycle for the accessories. I am not aware of any reason that both batteries cannot be of the deep cycle construction...maybe someone will chime in and make that clear.

Here is some info on the various types:

Starting, Marine, and Deep-Cycle Batteries

Starting (sometimes called SLI, for starting, lighting, ignition) batteries are commonly used to start and run engines. Engine starters need a very large starting current for a very short time. Starting batteries have a large number of thin plates for maximum surface area. The plates are composed of a Lead "sponge", similar in appearance to a very fine foam sponge. This gives a very large surface area, but if deep cycled, this sponge will quickly be consumed and fall to the bottom of the cells. Automotive batteries will generally fail after 30-150 deep cycles if deep cycled, while they may last for thousands of cycles in normal starting use (2-5% discharge).

Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged down as much as 80% time after time, and have much thicker plates. The major difference between a true deep cycle battery and others is that the plates are SOLID Lead plates - not sponge. This gives less surface area, thus less "instant" power like starting batteries need. Although these can be cycled down to 20% charge, the best lifespan vs cost method is to keep the average cycle at about 50% discharge.

Unfortunately, it is often impossible to tell what you are really buying in some of the discount stores or places that specialize in automotive batteries. The golf car battery is quite popular for small systems and RV's. The problem is that "golf car" refers to a size of battery (commonly called GC-2, or T-105), not the type or construction - so the quality and construction of a golf car battery can vary considerably - ranging from the cheap off brand with thin plates up the true deep cycle brands, such as Crown, Deka, Trojan, etc. In general, you get what you pay for.

Marine batteries are usually a "hybrid", and fall between the starting and deep-cycle batteries, though a few (Rolls-Surrette and Concorde, for example) are true deep cycle. In the hybrid, the plates may be composed of Lead sponge, but it is coarser and heavier than that used in starting batteries. It is often hard to tell what you are getting in a "marine" battery, but most are a hybrid. Starting batteries are usually rated at "CCA", or cold cranking amps, or "MCA", Marine cranking amps - the same as "CA". Any battery with the capacity shown in CA or MCA may or may not be a true deep-cycle battery. It is sometimes hard to tell, as the term deep cycle is often overused. CA and MCA ratings are at 32 degrees F, while CCA is at zero degree F. Unfortunately, the only positive way to tell with some batteries is to buy one and cut it open - not much of an option.

And here is some info as to using a deep cycle for starting:

Using a deep cycle battery as a starting battery

There is generally no problem with this, providing that allowance is made for the lower cranking amps compared to a similar size starting battery. As a general rule, if you are going to use a true deep cycle battery (such as the Concorde SunXtender) also as a starting battery, it should be oversized about 20% compared to the existing or recommended starting battery group size to get the same cranking amps. That is about the same as replacing a group 24 with a group 31. With modern engines with fuel injection and electronic ignition, it generally takes much less battery power to crank and start them, so raw cranking amps is less important than it used to be. On the other hand, many cars, boats, and RV's are more heavily loaded with power sucking "appliances", such as megawatt stereo systems etc. that are more suited for deep cycle batteries. We have used the Concorde SunXtender AGM batteries in some of our vehicles with no problems.

It will not hurt a deep cycle battery to be used as a starting battery, but for the same size battery they cannot supply as much cranking amps as a regular starting battery.

rlamp4040 · Oct 2, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

Well I guess it shouldnt hurt then. Thank you for the info.

fucawi · Oct 3, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

when you leave the boat you always turn to OFF and nothing should work and the batteries not discharge ..charge them individually and make sure they go up to 14.4v before you end he charging

rlamp4040 · Oct 3, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

Thank you all very much. It is great to find so many helping fins when I feel like a little fish in a big ocean lololol

QC · Oct 3, 2011

Re: All my accessories are on

Sometimes Trim/Tilt is wired directly to the battery so that you can trim on the trailer without having to turn on the batteries. Only clarification to above and will have to be confirmed . . .

All my accessories are on

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