Cranking Battery Problem
I recently bought an used boat and motor, '94 Stratos and '99 Johnson
130, from an established dealer. My wife and I were on the boat all day Saturday. Just as we were
starting back to the dock the engine would not start. I switched the
cranking battery with one of the two trolling batteries. The boat
started, and we successfully rode the boat twenty miles up river to our
home marina.We were using two depth/fish finders, the live wells, the trim (once),
and there maybe some lights on the dash. We were stationary for about
three hours (fishing and what not). Should the cranking battery have died from that useage? Doesn't the
motor charge that battery? Is there an equivalent to an alternator on
out board motor? Can I check the charge coming from a running engine
with a voltage meter as one does with an automobile? Once the motor
started, it continued to run without the cables connected to the
battery. All three batteries are new. I have a thirty day warranty on the
engine (and maybe the boat), but I do not want to take the boat back to
the dealer unless completely necessary. It would take me most part of a
day to go get the boat and take it to the dealer. Then the same upon
return.
--
drwhittaker |
drwhittaker
May 9
2005
|
| What size battery? Take the battery to a auto parts store that loads tests
batteries and have them test it. And outboards do charge the battery, but
are not real big at doing the job, expecally depending on the year of the
motor. |
Bill
May 9
|
| That Johnson should have no trouble charging a crank battery. If you
are going to have it load tested, be sure to charge it fully first.
They cannot load test a dead battery. The only other thing is, it's
possible that the battery never got a good charge when installed. They
have a dry charge, but that's not fully charged. Getting a full charge
in it might make a big difference. In tournaments I run all the electronics, both live wells (hopefully)
all day and lights early. I have never had trouble from a crank battery
doing so in my Ranger. I have a group 24 for the crank battery. Carlos |
Carlos
May 9
|
| Sounds like a bad battery. |
RichZ
May 9
|
| Bill and Rich are both dead on. Also, it is possible as has been suggested
that the battery may not have had a full charge when installed. Charge it fully and have it load tested. My sounders have a setting to display supply voltage. I always turn that
data on. Then I have a pretty good indication of what is going on with my
cranking battery. Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com |
Bob
May 9
|
| around 14 volts is pretty typical regulation voltage for a fully
charged battery. If the battery is very low or there is a high
electrical load on the system the charging voltage will not be at this
level due to the battery consuming all of the charging system output.
This is especially noticable at idle or low speed. Start out at idle
and check that the voltage is rising as the engine revs up. If the
charging system is dead, the voltage may actually fall as the engine
speed rises. Shane |
irbfishin
May 9
|
| The problem with depending on the outboard alternator to charge the starting
battery is that the outboard has to be running in order for that to happen.
Think about it, how much time does your outboard run in relation to time
spent fishing? If you're like most people, you zoom to the spot, then down comes the
trolling motor and you fish. The outboard actually runs very little in the
course of a normal day of fishing. Now, if you're adding the draw of
accessories, and still not running the outboard, the drain becomes more than
the outboard alternator can supply. That's why I have all of my accessories running off the trolling motor
batteries. |
Steve
May 9
|
| Some older motors only put out a few amps of charge and there was not a
regulator. Just not enough generator power to cook the battery.
Bill |
Bill
May 9
|
| If you run a 2 bank charger and it's only hitting your trolling motor
batteries, that's probably it. I have a 24 volt troller and I use a three
bank charger and I run all my accessories off the cranking battery and it
lasts all day no problem (1990 Ranger with 1989 Yamaha 115). Try another
charger on your cranking battery and go out again. This time bring jumper
cables. Rich P |
Rich
May 9
|
| My bet is that motor has a 6 amp alternator. You'd have to run it for a
couple hours to put back what you use every time you start it. |
RichZ
May 9
|
| Another option would be to sell the 2bank on Ebay and put the money
towards a 3bank. probably would net out close to the same money as
buying an aditional single bank. Just a thought Shane |
irbfishin
May 10
|
