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Post by sadira on Aug 13, 2020 15:11:12 GMT -5
I know this is usually a trial and error scavenger hunt but maybe someone has had the same issue. 2017 275DC. 3 battery set up, 2 engine one house. 2 smart battery switches as wired from the factory. When I turn on just the house battery switch within 5 min voltage drops below 9 volts. Nothing is on, hear nothing running. Thought possibly bilge pumps but they are wired before the switches. On a side note found my rule 2000 shot and not running while I was checking various electrical consumers. Any ideas are welcome? Hopefully not some partial short buried somewhere I cannot get to. Another day in the life of Break Out Another Thousand. Just sad its only my 3rd season on a new boat. thanks,Jim
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Post by hookedup on Aug 13, 2020 17:09:08 GMT -5
Just a guess, but 3 years on the factory installed battery is about normal from my experience. I usually end up replacing them in the 3rd year. Not sure if that's your problem, but if it was me one option is to swap it with one of the engine batteries to see if it's the battery or something draining it. Usually I'd just go ahead and replace it since it's probably near end-of-life and see if that fixes the problem before I do anything else.
Also, just curious, have you added water to top it off? It is possible it just needs some water (preferably distilled water)? I know I have to put a reminder on my calendar to keep from forgetting and I try to check them at a minimum quarterly. Usually needs some once or twice a year.
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 13, 2020 17:19:08 GMT -5
Dropping to 9 volts is not normal for a healthy battery. What is the voltage on the battery without any current applied/switch off?
Have you tried putting it on a charger to see if you can sufficently top it off? Then check to see if its holding its charge.
I'm with hooked up, probably a stale battery. Would be a good time to upgrade to a Deka Master Marine Group 27.
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Post by sadira on Aug 14, 2020 8:50:19 GMT -5
Appreciate the input. So all three batteries new last July. Two starting, one deep cycle house. Changed them last year because I think like you guys 3 years why take chances. And I think the boat was on a dealer lot for a while based on the date code of the batteries. House battery is hooked up to a solar charger as well as shore power 3 bank charger. The battery with nothing hooked up charges fully to 13.5 -13.7v. I have not checked the water level. The largest amp draw on this battery is the fridge. With that fuse pulled still have the large draw. Up until a week ago I could sit on the hook for 3-4 hrs with fridge running, radio with power amp running, plotter on. Yes I agree dropping to 9v that quick is odd and that is with everything connected but switched off. I unplugged both bilge pumps as well just in case since they are the type that test every 2.5 min. Thinking I will pull the battery and get it load tested in case it is really the problem. Thanks again for chiming in Jim
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 14, 2020 9:05:54 GMT -5
Hmmm, good battery voltage at rest should be between 13.7 and 14.7 volts and should never drop that low (9volts) even under load. A load test is a good idea.
Do you plug in your on board charger after you are back at the dock esp after a long day on the hook running all of that equipment?
Even if you are charging the batteries a sure fire way to kill a battery is to repeatedly run it down below capacity limits and I doubt a solar charger is keeping up with that kind of load, that's more of a trickle charge. Also depending on your motor the alternator likely does not put out enough amps to adequately recharge a very depleted battery during a short trip back to the dock.
What size house battery do you have?
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Post by sadira on Aug 17, 2020 13:11:12 GMT -5
Thank you gentlemen for helping me out. I had convinced myself of a complex problem and threw my 18 years of automotive experience out the window. Skipped checking the basics. Bottom line the battery was bone dry. Richard I need to get on your schedule. I pulled the battery, added distilled water, charged overnight (already new the answer) Loaded tested and no good. Purchased a new battery. Upgraded to a group 27 since the battery tray can fit it and it was about $15 more. The silver lining of the battery issue is I caught the bad bilge pump. Swapped out the Rule 2000 with the same unit for simplicity sake. I have read, however, since Rule is now made in Mexico the reliability has gone down hill. Mine appeared to have stayed running because the case had many cracks in it and smelled electrically burnt inside. Thanks again guys for mentioning the obvious. Jim 275DC 2017 Brielle, NJ
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 17, 2020 14:24:58 GMT -5
Good find, glad you got it figured out.
That Group 27 will buy you some extra minutes too.
Have heard the same about Rule. All of my pumps are original going on 11 yrs old. I dread the idea of having to replace them with an inferior product.
Enjoy!
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Post by hookedup on Aug 17, 2020 16:43:29 GMT -5
Hope Mexico follows Japan and Korea in moving from cheap, but worthless to a quality product at a reasonable price. After working on the manufacturing computers at a Ford plant many years ago, I started buying foreign cars and have stuck with Toyota for years. Mexico sure isn't there yet, but I'm hoping we either bring production back to US (best choice), or they start providing quality products at a good price.
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