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Ddec randomly activating

Discussion in 'Hatteras Yacht' started by Soulmate, Mar 8, 2018.

  1. Soulmate

    Soulmate New Member

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    1994 Hatteras. 12v92’s. The station screen (active,troll,low idle) sometimes responds to active then kicks back out) at one point boat went active and in gear by itself even though throttles are in neutral. First thought it was voltage. Had 3 out of 4 batteries bad and constavolt was bad. Replaced all but still not working. Any suggestions? Florida Detroit coming out today but said they had never seen this before.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I would think voltage. I would think the constavolt might have fried the shifter computer.
  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    There is still a battery strap or battery supply to the DDEC box poor or bad.
    I'm in no hurry to blame the DDEC box yet but it's voltage environment.
    Did you replace the 4th battery?
  4. Soulmate

    Soulmate New Member

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    No. 4th tested out okay. Florida DETROIT came out and checked. They pulled the “common “ ddec box and are sending it of to get tested. Apparently only 1 company that can test and rebuild. If it’s not that box I’m considering updating controls for everything. Anyone know about Glendinning??
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Fill me in on where Pcb is please.
  6. Soulmate

    Soulmate New Member

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    There are 5 boxes total. The main one is starboard side forward of engines. Station 1 main helm and station 2 tuna tower both wire into this one. Out of it goes to 2 boxes on port and 2 on starboard engines. Detroit tech was basically guessing it was the main one since neither station is working. My only concern is if the results are it’s not bad where do I go from here??
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    There is a tech up here who specializes in removing old DDEC stuff and converting the motors back to mechanical systems. Old fish and old work boats sometimes dump the DDEC stuff when they have extra problems.
    I doubt a recreational owner would go to this expense.
    It's still a heck of a expensive mess. Injectors, cable controls, new dash and some loss of performance. But back to a bomb proof and mechanical system.

    Scheduled down time co$t these boats a lot of money not working. UN-scheduled down time from a failure cost lots more.
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You ALWAYS replace all batteries on the same bank at the same time. Change the 4th battery too.

    Ddec stuff is generally reliable, sounds to me like your battery charger fried something. Sturdy made the ddec controls, that is who I send ddec control stuff to. They are the company that produced it and sell rebuilt parts.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Agreed.
    Fresh and similar batteries mostly give up and accept current the same. An old battery will deform this discharge / recharge balancing pattern.
    Replace that last battery to at least help the life of the other batteries. Maybe the charger also.

    I remember in my truck many years ago I had a voltage problem I never could figure out. Hit just the rite size bump in the road and the lights would go out. Some times the engine would stumble a nano-second.
    At the end of my wits, I violently shook the battery to let some anger out.
    Well, I found my problems then; Something loose INSIDE the battery.

    That is why in my past post also, new batteries don't mean much either. I install new batteries and have injected problems.

    Batteries on an electric ship are not like your TV controller.
  10. Soulmate

    Soulmate New Member

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    Batteries were all less than 2 years old. The new gel type. Factory would only warranty the 3 that tested bad. Apparently if they lose their charge all the way it’s difficult to get them to hold it back.

    Constavolt has been replaced.

    Final problem was 2 bad relays and transformer in the main ddec. It would power up but then cut off as if a thermal limit was taking it out. Detroit came back yesterday and installed the repaired ddec and all stations are working perfectly.

    Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    We knew there was a voltage problem. It was an internal issue.
    Wow, that's good feedback. Glad your fixed. Fast service noted also.
    Now for the dig, Can you comment on how big of a hit your check book took??
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Warranty or not I would replace the 4th battery. Put the old one In the tender or something
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Still agreed.
  14. Soulmate

    Soulmate New Member

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    Invoice actually calls the device an “ERIM”. Only $3,000 which I was happy with.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Have a story;
    Last July one of my favorite boats took a lightning hit. QSCs with smart crap displays and controls.
    Last week they are finally mobile. Waited months for Cummins to get on site, once here, they kicked butt and had a plan.
    Everything was replaced; ECMs, senders, one alternator, control boxes & power supplies. The controls are new from Mercury. The displays are Simrad Ess7s with special Merc software added.
    $45k later, they can move out of their own way.

    Let me re-type that slower for the reading impaired in Rio Linda, U S Dollars, 45,000.00.

    If they can get insurance at renewal, it's going to hurt.

    They got some nice new displays but it will be 5 life times before that QSC fancy stuff pays off over the original 8.3 mechanical operation that would still be running.

    Our boat (2 boats away) lost some 20 year old junk and a big TV that I did not like anyway, during the next weeks run to StAug and Marine Land. Non mission critical.
    This is where SOBs (sweet ole boaters) like myself like to rub it in to the high tech computerized engine fans.

    71s run and rule.
    40 year old Bertram still dry.
    We leave others on the dock.
    In our smoke...


    Warnings to all, NO more Smart Crap (no relation) gen 1 or 2 spares out there.
  16. Fioni

    Fioni Guest

    I would think voltage.