Battery Drains While Boat Sits

[jtexas]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Replaced the solenoid today and connected the battery. I checked it 2.5 hours later and the battery was down to 60%, I started with a fully charged battery.

So I'm guessing it's not the solenoid. Could it be the starter or is it the wiring?

when you did this:

Negative cable on the neg battery post,
Positive cable disconnected,
Test light = clip on the battery (+) post, probe on the battery cable terminal. You'll need to affix it there (use a short jumper wire or aligator clip, or just tape it on there securely) or get a helper.

... Now, disconnect the fuse holder. ...

You created this circuit:

You reported that the light stayed lit. The lamp in this circuit does not light up unless the solenoid is faulty. When you disconnected the starter motor from the solenoid the lamp went out, proving that current was flowing though the solenoid.

How do you know the battery is fully charged?

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

secondly, disconect the red wire at the bbattery and touch one side of the meter to the wire and the other to the battrey terminal.(your meter is between the wire and the battrey) .set the meter to amps (DC) and if your meter allows set it to 10 or so amps..if you dont get a reading then set the amps lower if your meter has a lower setting..if you get nothing then you are not drawing power...but if your meter doesnt go low enough you may not be able to see it without a digital one..

you might try this with the big red plug unplugged first...then test...then re attche plug and check again.. any changes will tell you where if anything is happening

big red plug unplugged gave me a reading of 8.0

big rd plug plugged in gave me a reading of 8.3

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Does the flywheel or rectifier feel warm to touch after being connected for a hour or so?

I'm testing it now, I'll repost in about an hour.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

How do you know the battery is fully charged?

The battery charger said it was. I checked the battery and it said 12.6 volts with the battery charger and 12.9 volts with the digital multimeter. This is from today after the charger indicated the battery was charged.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

The battery has been connected for about 1.5 hours and the fly wheel is hot.

The battery is measuring at 12.0-11.9 volts

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

And now the battery is down to 6 volts and back on the charger.

I don't think it's the battery -- replaced it and still have the same problem
I don't think it's the solenoid -- replaced it and still have the same problem
The Flywheel is hot when the battery is connected -- so does that mean I need to replace the rectifier?
The motor is drawing about 8 amps -- so is are there wires I need to check now?

I'm not sure what my next move is.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

And now the battery is down to 6 volts and back on the charger...

At 11.9 volts, a lead acid battery is considered fully discharged (0% state of charge).

At 10.5 volts, it has been discharged to the point that it has taken permanent damage.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

At 11.9 volts, a lead acid battery is considered fully discharged (0% state of charge).

At 10.5 volts, it has been discharged to the point that it has taken permanent damage.

So you're saying that now I need a new battery?

I still need to solve the draining problem.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

hopefully, you're just misinterpreting the info from your charger---"50%" doesn't mean 6 volts. To get a 12V battery down to 6 volts, something would have to go horribly, horribly wrong. I mean, it's practically impossible. Didn't mean to startle you.

Disconnect the rectifier and see if the drainage doesn't stop. I regret missing that one earlier.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

hopefully, you're just misinterpreting the info from your charger---"50%" doesn't mean 6 volts. To get a 12V battery down to 6 volts, something would have to go horribly, horribly wrong. I mean, it's practically impossible. Didn't mean to startle you.

Disconnect the rectifier and see if the drainage doesn't stop. I regret missing that one earlier.

I measured the battery with the multimeter and it said 6 volts and then I hooked it up to the charger and it said 9.x volts. Either way I'll get it tested tomorrow.

The rectifier was the next thing I was going to look at. Tomorrow I'll figure out how to remove it.

 

[Rscardina]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

seems like you have been sniffing around some.. I read you have 8 amps??..so you are definitely drawing amperagepretty heavily.

so now you need to isolate.. as tx mentioned disconnect the rectifier/regulator and see if the draw stops. if it does then you found it.

the reason the flywheel gets hot is becasue you are feeding power to the stator, which is a big coil, almost like the windings in the starter..if there was a free spinning fan blade on it instead of a flywheel you would probably see it spinning...this makes sense as well becasue i believe you changed your battery already?.. this issue may have killed your previous battery..

but strangely, you never mentioned tach issues?..do you have one?..was it acting up?

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

but strangely, you never mentioned tach issues?..do you have one?..was it acting up?

i don't have a tach.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

I pulled the rectifier and now I'm not seeing any drain with the meter and the test light is not lighting up when I connect the positive battery cable and touch the light from the negative terminal to the negative battery cable.

So I need to replace my rectifier, correct?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Yes, but inspect the stator, it may need replacing as well.

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Yes, but inspect the stator, it may need replacing as well.

How do I inspect/check the stator, do I have to remove the flywheel?

 

[brichbk]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Removed and tested the rectifier according the instructions here. Result was that it was bad. I picked up a new one today.

Retested the battery power cable with the test light, no light. I tested for a draw using the meter, no draw. I now have the battery hooked up and will check the flywheel for hot temp and will also retest the battery for decreased volts.

But I'm optimistically expecting to have my problem solved!!

Thanks for all the help and advice!!

I learned a lot, saved a lot from not having to go to a mechanic, and I am proud to have been able to fix the problem with my own hands. My 9 year old daughter said it best, "I'm glad Ranger is fixed." The motor is connected to a 1979 Ranger boat which we call "Ranger'.

 

[cityjack]

Re: Battery Drains While Boat Sits

Disconnect all the wires off of the negitave battery cable. Use a 12V test light, Attach the clip from the test light to the battery post and touch the probe of the light to each wire, when the light lights you have found your draw.

Sir,

Do I need to disconnect even the main negative cable as well as all of the other small ones? I am having this same draw on my battery and its killing my second battery. Its only the one. The other starter battery is fine.

I have two starter batteries. The negatives are jumped together. The one that is dying has my bilge pump and aerator going to the negative battery. The positive of the dying one has a main fused red going to the positive and that goes up to my dashboard fuseblock.

Thanks

Sid

 

[GA_Boater]

Sir,

Do I need to disconnect even the main negative cable as well as all of the other small ones? I am having this same draw on my battery and its killing my second battery. Its only the one. The other starter battery is fine.

I have two starter batteries. The negatives are jumped together. The one that is dying has my bilge pump and aerator going to the negative battery. The positive of the dying one has a main fused red going to the positive and that goes up to my dashboard fuseblock.

Thanks

Sid

No battery will last 8+ years when this thread was charged up.

Closed so you can start a new thread and ask active members your question.