Batteries are dead after boat sat for 2 days...what gives?

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

so I just bought this boat, used of course. Used it about 3 times so far, within a couple days of each other. I took it out Sunday afternoon, it started up fine. Didn't use it monday or tues, then today went out, and it would hardly turn over. the motor would not turn over, it just cranked real slow. Would not fire. I got a battery jumper, and it fired right up. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so, then turned it off. Started it again 5 minutes later, and it was fine.

So, obviously, the batteries are draining quickly. Or they could just be bad batteries. The boat is wired up with dual batteries, in series. We didn't leave any accessories on when were left the boat on sunday, to my knowledge. We got a bunch of rain the last couple days, I thought maybe the automatic bilge pump had something to do with it. It has an aftermarket stereo system install as well.

Do you guys have any suggestions on what to look at or test to figure out what the problem is?

Chad

Gwakesetter · Criminal Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 87 City: Knoxville

what did the temp get down two, during the days you did not use it.
Cold weather has an effect on them sometimes.

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

lowest was maybe 35*

Gwakesetter · Criminal Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 87 City: Knoxville

thats not bad, it sounds like you might have left something on.

Gwakesetter · Criminal Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 87 City: Knoxville

if it happens again let you battery trickle charge for about 5 hours. And if it happens again get a new battery.

Swass · Guest

The head unit will draw a bit of current even when turned off, but not enough to drain the battery in a few days, assuming the battery had a full charge to begin with. The auto bilge is a definite possibility.

Bambamski · Posted: Apr 05, 2006 12:15 pm Post subject:

Bad altanator or you have some bad batteries?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Part of your problem might be that you're running your batteries in series. I don't think boats like 24 volts too much. (j/k I assume you meant parallel)

Get a perco switch and turn off the batteries when you put the boat up. I don't know what could be draining them other than the bilge or other electronics left on. If it keeps happening you should be able to diagnose it. If, after running it for 5 minutes the batteries charged up and were able to start by themselves it's not your alternator.

So you either have a short somewhere that's draining the battery or your batteries are bad. My guess is that it was the bilge and that you shouldn't have this problem again. Turn off your automatic bilge and just pull your plugs. That should save this problem in the future. Just don't forget to put the plugs back in when you take the boat out! Very Happy

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 05, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

maybe you left on something

jpk · Outlaw Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 215 City: Redmond

My blower and heater are both really quiet and I forget to turn them off sometimes. Just be sure all the switches are off everytime you dock.

3205lpv · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 34 City: Kennesaw

How old are the batteries? I would pull them out and take them to auto zone or another auto parts store they will test them and do a full charge to test again and tell you if they are bad or not. If they tell you the batterys are good then you left something on.

lowdrag · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 188

You might also want to look into the stereo. If it has amps and the remote turn on was hooked up incorrectly to a constant voltage source instead of being switched, your amps could be staying on all the time. Not very likely, but possible I suppose.

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 06, 2006 3:59 am Post subject:

Hey scheister,

I've seen bad batteries OFF THE SHELF, consequently, age has NOTHING to do with it - a bad cell happens...

So, you can have them tested UNDER LOAD, we have a place called Battery Warehouse that does it free, just putting a volt meter on them doesn't tell much

All your wiring is good - check it anyway, the pos. wire from the key switch to the solenoid needs t obe in PERFECT shape or you'll have start problems. Bad solenoids, staters, etc... can play into this

First thing, I'd have them checked and then deal with the results, takes 5 minutes to do the test...

Wes

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

You can do the same test with a volt meter while the battery is in the boat. Put the volt meter on the battery and turn over the boat. The volts should drop but if the drop to zero or anywhere near, your battery has either a dead cell or has simply been drained and recharged too many times. You usually get about 5-6 complete discharges before a battery will no longer hold a charge. If it is your battery go purchase a blue top Optima, expensive but well worth it.

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

cool..thanks for the help guys. I'm gonna get the batteries tested at autozone. I leave the boat in the water, don't have a lift yet, so removing the plug is NOT really an option LOL

Yes, they're wires parallel. The secondary battery lleads just attach to posts on the original battery.

The batteries will stay charged fine once I let it run for 5 minutes or so, so yeah..the alternator is good Smile

I'm gonna do a cut-off switch soon. Any diagrams or tips on how to do this? Do I just run it inline with the main negative battery cable?

Thanks for the help...

Chad

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

one other thing to chew on...if I install a cut off switch, the automatic bilge pump will not have power. At least, thats my understanding.

Any leads on what a good cut-off switch is to use?

vette74 · Posted: Apr 07, 2006 6:08 am Post subject:

Use a Perko

Install the automatic bilge directly to the battery so it won't get cut off.

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

welp, just got back from West Marine. Looks like both the batteries have at least 1 bad cell. So the guy recommended these Dual Purpose batteries. Normally $79.99, on sale for $49.99. Comes with a 3 year warranty. What do you guys think?

oh yeah, and I picked up that Perko switch too.

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

Dual purpose is good if you are running accessories when the engine is turned off. If all you need is starting power, go with a starting battery

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 10, 2006 5:15 pm Post subject:

Hey scheister,

I assume your Perko switch has 1,2,on and off selections...wire it thus - there will be three posts on the rear of the switch labelled 1, 2 and common (or something close). 1 goes to the positive terminal of battery 1 (usually a red wire) 2 goes to the positive terminal on battery 2 (also a red wire). The wire coming from your starter goes on the common terminal (it too will be red)... For the negative side, buy an 18" cable to go from the neg terminal on battery 1 to the neg terminal on battery 2 (usually a black wire) . The wire coming from your engine block goes on either the neg terminal of battery 1 or battery 2 (usually a black wire)

Like vette74, says, wire your bilge pump DIRECTLY to the battery, NOT thru the Perko switch.

Make sense?

scheister · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 92 City: Indianapolis

cool...I wired up the swithc yesterday...everything is going well. I just need to wire in the bilge pump directly to the battery. Theres a few wires coming off the pump....do you guys know which one to tap into? and shoud I just use one of those tap connectors to tap into the wire?

thanks for the help guys

Chad

onomado · Newbie Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 45

acurtis_ttu · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 499 City: Houston

yes two 12v batteries in parallel = 12 volts; two 12v batteries in series = 24 volts

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas