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Battery issue or something else?

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013.

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  1. Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013
    #1
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    I recently purchased a Carver Santego 380. I had to replace the battery charger. New charger is a ProMariner ProNautic P1215. Everything appears to be working fine with the charger.

    My issue is that I cannot start the engines on either of the two batteries. When I switch to either battery the volts drop to 6 volts. With both batteries set on, I can start the engines.

    Really don't know the age of the batteries. I also have to add that when the old charger was in place, the DC ground was connected to a positive battery terminal. That was corrected with the new charger.

    When I check the levels of the batteries they show 12+ volts.

    Do you think its just old batteries or something else? If its just the batteries, I'm considering AGM batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations on batteries? West Marine has a dual purpose AGM battery for about $200 each.

    Let me know. Thanks!
  2. Capt J, Jul 2, 2013
    #2
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    When you try to crank the engine the voltage drops to 6 volts but is at 12 volts prior to cranking? Turn the charger off, and see what the volts drop down to after 5-10 mins with nothing using electricity and not trying to crank the engine. What size are your batteries and what type of engine are you trying to turn over with 1 battery? If they're diesels, 1 battery will probably not turn the engine over, if gas inboard and the battery is fairly good sized then 1 good battery will turn it over.
  3. Pascal, Jul 2, 2013
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    6 volts? Did someone get creative at some point and install gold cart batteries and hooked the, up thru the battery switch in series? That would explain how you have 12 v with the batteries connected and only 6 volts when you flip the battery switch.

    Doesn't make any sense at all, but if voltage drop to 6 v when the battery switch is moved to either battery vs getting 12v in the both position that s the only thing I can think off,

    Indeed, we need to know what kind of engines and batteries you have. Batteries have labels on them with the type and usually a sale date.

    How many cells does each battery have? How many caps can you even to add water ?
  4. NYCAP123, Jul 2, 2013
    #4
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    You didn't say why you had to change the charger, but I'll assume it wasn't doing the job. Boat batteries will usually be good for 5 years if cared for, but we generally change them after 3 years to stay safe. If you don't know how old they are, the charger wasn't taking care of them and they're not handling the start-up load, I would change them.
  5. Phillip J, Jul 2, 2013
    #5
    Phillip J

    Phillip J Member

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    Not a lot of info to diagnose here but I had a similar problem, Did you check you voltage regulator? Mine was faulty, once changed I jumped up to 13-14 volts immediately.

    Just a thought
  6. Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013
    #6
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    The engines are Crusader 454 xl's. The batteries are Werker 31mdr's. Wet cell multi purpose batteries. The batteries are from Batteries Plus. They say there is a purchase code on them but I can't find it so I don't know how old they are.

    The charger is hooked up based on the manual. Not sure of any other issues.
  7. Pascal, Jul 2, 2013
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    You need to clarify this:

    "My issue is that I cannot start the engines on either of the two batteries. When I switch to either battery the volts drop to 6 volts. With both batteries set on, I can start the engines."

    Does the voltage drop to 6v when you you switch to either battery, without cranking?
    Or does it drop to 6 v while you attempt to crank?

    Also, do you check the voltage using a gauge on the dash or using a multimeter connected to the battery terminals
  8. Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013
    #8
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    I have had the battery charger off for about 4 hours with a 18 amp load on battery 1. The battery amps are now under 9 volts and the lights in the cabin are dimming. Not sure if this means anything but want to drain the battery a little.
  9. Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013
    #9
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    The battery does not drop when switched. It reads 12 volts. It drops to six when cranking.
  10. Tranquility, Jul 2, 2013
    #10
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    After the first day on the boat, with the battery charger on, we woke up to no power and the batteries were dead. The battery charger on the boat was original so we changed it out. Have not had any DC power problems, ie, no power and dead batteries since changing. The new charger charges and maintains the batteries at 12 volts.
  11. NYCAP123, Jul 2, 2013
    #11
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    It's a safe bet that's not the first time that happened. The batteries are probably toast. BTW, a fully charged 12V battery should be showing 13.4 I believe.
  12. Capt J, Jul 2, 2013
    #12
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If a fully charged Group 31 battery drops to 6 volts when cranking and will not crank a 454 over, it's time for new batteries.
  13. Fishtigua, Jul 3, 2013
    #13
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    This!

    When batteries are tired/old, they may well read 12v. When asked to do any work, they will drop down to a rubbish voltage and have no Oomph in them.

    Have them drop-loaded tested at the local shop and be prepared to take 2 new ones home.
  14. chesapeake46, Jul 3, 2013
    #14
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    You can buy a battery load tester at Harbor Freight for about $ 25.00.
  15. Pascal, Jul 3, 2013
    #15
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    then it's definitely the batteries... Replace them.

    If they are easy to reach and you don't mind topping them off every couple of month stick with the cheap lead acid otherwise AGMs are a good option. If you switch to AGMs make sure your charger can be setup for AGM, usually with a dip switch.
  16. Capt J, Jul 3, 2013
    #16
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    One thing to keep in mind if you switch to AGMs is they have about 20% less Cold Cranking Amps than their lead acid brothers.
  17. jhall767, Jul 3, 2013
    #17
    jhall767

    jhall767 Senior Member

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    Cold cranking amps is power for 30 seconds at ZERO degrees. In most marine applications marine cranking amps is a better indicator. All the literature I've seen says AGM's have higher CCA and MCA then conventional lead acid. You may be thinking of Gel which is not AGM.
  18. Tranquility, Jul 7, 2013
    #18
    Tranquility

    Tranquility New Member

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    I did research on batteries and purchased two Sears Diehard Platinum 31M AGM batteries. 1100 CCA and a three year full replacement warranty. These batteries have no problem cranking over the engines. Everything is good for now!