Battery draw

[cjs]

Can the factory please tell me what the draws on the batteries are when the engine is off, all accessories are turned off (including the inverter switch), and all the battery switches are turned off. The engine battery goes dead after about ten days (it is new, and has been tested), so there must be some draw I don't know about.

This is 2018 C-242 with all options except the generator.

Thank you for your help. The marina is stumped--says that the bilge pumps and stereo memory should not drain a battery this quickly.

 

[Wee Venture]

Check your propane solenoid. It is often connected to the engine battery. (Ours has been changed over to the house bank.) When the solenoid is on, the draw approaches an amp, which can completely drain a battery in a matter of days.

John

 

[Submariner]

CO Monitor (2 watts)
Bilge pumps (small, unless they're pumping water).
Stereo Memory (2 watts).
Stove switch (propane) if you have this.

Look at your 24x7 fuse panel. Those are always on even with the battery switch off.

 

[Ralf H]

Hi cjs,

I cannot tell you exactly what the draws are, but the marina is correct. You should not lose your starter battery in ten days if it is in good condition. You will need to do some diagnostic work and first on the list should be checking to make sure the battery does not have any issues. In the meantime, as Submariner has mentioned, you can disconnect the fuses from the 24/7 panel until you have a chance to do the diagnostics. However, do not disconnect the bilge pump fuses (for obvious reasons) and the CO monitor, if you will be staying on the boat (yes, common sense but it needs to be mentioned). Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Ralf

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Get a clamp meter and test each red line at the batteries. You will see what the current draw is on each when everything is off! Then move forward and test each branch line to trace the current load. You will then have a good map of what is going on with your power consumption!

 

[BB marine]

If the boat is wired as per factory design the engine battery is isolated from all draws except the generator. If you have one. If the engine battery switch is off there should be no draw "if wired as per factory" The house battery has all 7/24 draws.
Auto pilot pump
Bilge pump 1
bilge pump 2
stereo memory
CO detectors
bilge alarm
down riggers port and starboard

The battery draws come form the house which should deplete the house bank only. What is the condition of the house bank when the engine bank is dead? If the house bank is ok and the engine bank is dead. Two things (1) there is a component that is wired to the engine battery that is drawing the battery down that is not supposed to be wired to it. There should be no battery draws from the engine battery. Easy test: if you leave the boat for a week. Disconnect the engine battery cables from the battery. When you come back to the boat if the battery is fully charged you know you have a Kremlin. If you come back and the battery is dead you know you have a weak cell in the new battery (2) You have a bad battery. You stated it has a new battery and it has been tested. When is this battery tested? After a full charge? Or after a full charge a week later? You can test a battery after fully charging it and it will test good. If you fully charge a battery with a compromised cell it could test good for a day or so but 5 days later it will not.

This is not a hard one to find the answer. A inductive amp meter may not tell the story. I believe the draw is not significant.I believe testing the draw in line with a VOA meter would be the proper test. If I was a betting man I would bet on the battery is bad if the boat is wired as per the factory.