Batteries

[Carolyn B]

I recently purchased a new 2008 Ranger TUG 21 AND i HAVE SERIOUS concerns about the wiring 0f the start and house batteries. The on-board guest charger (six amp version) Model 2008A which the instruction book shows this charger is to be used on a single battery installation. This charger is connected to the start battery only. The start battery is connected to the starter and a Blue Sea Systems Automatic Charging Relay. The Relay is connectrd to 12 volt bus bar which the house battery is also connected. The problem I am Having is when the charger is connected to ac and it begins the charging of both start and house batteries and when the start batery is charged the light on the charger goes green temporaryly and the back to red. Both batteries have been tested and are good.(the house battery is brand new since the factory one was dead when I bought the boat) During the red light on the charger the batteries are getting 14.61 vdc even though they are fully charged. The factory (John Livingston) said the charger shoul have two (2) output lead 1 for the house battery and one for the start BATTERY NOT SO IN MY CASE. Any sugestions and help would be appreciated.
l

 

[dr. o]

Two thoughts..
First, is that the charger may be getting hot trying to top off two big batteries and the electronic control erroneously going to green (trickle voltage) then cooling enough to go back into a full voltage charge...
Second is, that one of the batteries has a problem...
Best thing is to unhook the + lead for one battery at a time and charge it while it is NOT connected to the boat wiring... Then do the other battery the same way...
The idea is to eliminate any variables... See how each battery acts...
Also get a Specific Gravity tester and check each cell once the battery shows full charge (green on the charger)... Then put a load on the battery, such as an automobile head light bulb for an hour and again retest the SG of each cell... Any cell that drops much lower than the others is a suspect battery...
Let us know what you find...
Ain't owning a boat grand? Or is that, it costs you a grand every time you turn around?

denny-o

 

[captain's cat]

Since it's a new boat, and if you aren't too far from your dealer, let them fool with your problem. That's what warranties are for...

Good advice from Denny-0 if you want to DIY!

Charlie

 

[Carolyn B]

Thanks for good advice, will do.
doug

 

[Carolyn B]

denny-o:
Again thanks for the info, one thing you said about the charger over-heating rang a bell, During the charging the charger got very hot and with the new house battery got very warm while the start battery was cool. I will follow the steps .
you reccomended.

Doug

 

[rt11002003]

The electrical systems on the 2008 and 2009 are NOT exactly the same. I examined both, carefully. My 2009 battery charger has two output wires, one to starter and one to house. Perhaps JL misspoke; I'm not sure all the 2008s were exactly the same.

Charlie offers very sound advice.

Gene