starting problem

[cutloose442]

I seem to be having a battery problem. I bought 2 new batteries yesterday.

For my cranking battery ('99 Johnson 50hp):
EverStart Marine Starting
625 cranking amps
500 cold cranking amps

For my trolling battery:
EverStart Trolling, Deep Cycle, RV
75 amp hrs.
Reserve capacity 100

Put the boat in the river last night with the engine connected to the starting battery. Trimmed the engine down but when I turned the key to start, just a click. Checked connections. Nothing. Unhooked from the starting battery, connected engine to the trolling battery and fired the engine up.

This morning I checked the voltage of both batteries and the starting read 12.53v and the trolling 12.83v. I can't figure it out. I've tried 2 other regular car batteries that were charged and they did the same thing as the new starting battery. Just a click like they were dead. But, as soon as I hook the engine to the trolling battery it starts right up.

Should I just buy another trolling battery to use as a starting battery or is there something else wrong?

The one thing I haven't tried is reading the volts from the starting battery while trying to start the engine.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: starting problem

The most obvious answer is that the starting battery needs a good charge, but the test with 2 automotive batteries causes that to be in question unless they were not very high cranking amp batteries or were not well charged either.

Measure the voltage at the battery terminals while cranking, and if it drops below 10 volts or so (compare to the trolling battery during crank) it is either defective or needs a charge.

Are you using the same set of cables to test each battery, or are you making the change in connection somewhere else, like with a battery switch? If somewhere else, one of the cables or the switch may be suspect.

Good Luck!

 

[cutloose442]

Re: starting problem

I used the same connection for all 4 batteries, straight from the engine. All batteries are fully charged. Will it hurt to use a trolling battery for the starting battery? I will test the volts while cranking tomorrow morning. Thanks for the advice.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: starting problem

It won't hurt your boat, but it will reduce the life expectancy of the trolling battery.

 

[cutloose442]

Re: starting problem

I charged the new starting battery overnight. Earlier this afternoon, I hooked it up to the engine and had my wife turn the key while I read the volts. 11.5 was as low as it went. Hopefully, this battery just needed charged. I find it odd that the 2 other batteries that I knew were fully charged didn't work though.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: starting problem

Your earlier statement: "All batteries are fully charged" leaves me with the impression that the two auto batteries may be in the same state as the new battery, before you most recently charged it. I'd charge them again before assuming that they were completely fresh.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: starting problem

have the batteries load tested at the auto parts store.