Battery problem

K

kjoverbeck

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2020
Messages
117
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2704E415
Vessel Name
Cheers
We had an enjoyable 2 day trip in our new to us 2015 R-27 bringing it to it's new home in Chattanooga TN. We returned to the boat today to find the Chart Plotter had a low voltage message. In checking, I found house batteries at 8 Volts. Other 2 batteries OK. I started the motor, increased rpm to 1200 and checked the voltage. House the same 8 volts, others at 14,5. In the battery compartment, I noticed one of the ACR switches had a light that was blinking. What does the blinking light mean? The other ACR's light was constant. All batteries are 5 years old. Do you think I had 2 house batteries die overnight?

Thanks for your thoughts, Kent
 
The house batteries will not be at all happy about being drained so far down but they may not be dead. The light on your ACR is blinking because it is in lockout condition. If it does not see a high enough voltage on one side or the other, it goes into lockout because it thinks there may be a short. So running the engine will not charge the house batteries until you bring the voltage up in that bank. You should be able to do this by using shore power if your shore power charger is connected to the house bank. Otherwise you can run your engine with the combine switch “on,” turning it back off again after your house bank has enough charge to keep the ACR connected.

John
 
Those relay combiners are problematic. They drop out in either side drops below 10.5 volts. I’ve killed my thruster a couple of times before figuring that out. It’s a safety feature, but what are you gonna do?

I paralleled two yandinas, which don’t have that restriction.

As a dry storer, we get no sun and have had regular battery issues. I suspect some parasitic connections perhaps including tv antenna. Not everything including radar is switched.
 
Thanks Guys, that explains a lot. Now I have to figure out why my house batteries were drained down so much.
 
Do yourself a favor. Save yourself some time in troubleshooting. Replace all your batteries in your new to you boat. The capacity of a 5 year old batteries is going to be marginal. They still may be usable but with reduced capacity. Start with fresh batteries. Monitor the use of them so you know what you have. Then if you still have issues you have removed one variable.( 5 year old Batteries) My guess is your issues will be gone!
 
I think starting with new batteries would be a good start. Not knowing why the batteries died this go around, 5 years is a typical life cycle. Now going forward you'll know the entire maintenance history.
 
Hold on. I would concur that the batteries may be marginal, however, are they original? I would first do a load test to confirm the batteries are exhausted before I started replacing things. If the batteries are newer than five yeas and check out good I would want to know what you were using while anchored out. Being a new owner of the boat are you new to boating and anchoring out? Power conservation when anchored out is paramount. Even with good batteries if you depleted the charge then your ACR's would not allow charging. Answer the above questions to yourself and then buy the batteries if necessary.
 
Turns out I had a shore power problem and charger not working while refrigerator was on. I have decided to replace all batteries but will wait till spring to do so. I have read post to replace starting battery with a "cranking" battery. That makes sense. It also seems to me that the thruster battery should also be the same because of it's high amp short term draw. What are your thoughts ?
 
you want to keep the chemistry's / types across the batteries as similar as possible. your shore power and solar charger cannot be configured for multiple chemistry's

while the current on the thrusters is high (like 25amps) I dont believe its as high as the cranking amps required for a very short period on the engine start. id go with dual purpose battery if going something different. Ive had no issues with the universal AGM's on the thruster though.

I would keep the batteries the same and maybe consider a different option to the univeral for the engine start. my research this morning suggests that the optima yellow top - may still work as an engine start because the charge profile is in the same range as the universal. I need to do some more research though before I choose to mix battery types and make this change. This was a seperat thread where we were discussing this http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16203
 
Battery type would mean AGM, flooded or no maintenance. As long as all your batteries are the same you are good. If you have a dual purpose verses cranking it should not matter as long as they are the same type. And the real reason for this requirement is how your charger charges each type. With our relay system and chargers there is no way you can mix and match.
 
Stay with the factory setup and battery type. If one or more require replacement, replace ALL of them at that time - as others have pointed out. Getting creative with mix and match will end up costing you more down the road and will not give you better performance.
 
I fully understand the type needs to be the same. I also believe the suggestion to use the cranking battery for starting was approved and even suggested by the factory guy.
Thanks for all the comments. As of now I will be going with the cranking batt. and 3 deep cycle AGM this Spring.
 
I actually spoke to optima today and they recommended the blue top d31m. Is got the same 900 CA and 1125 CCA but you gain the extra battery connections. Otherwise it’s the same as the yellow top 31t.

Stuart
It was mentioned before to me that the Volvo d4 really wants a battery of at least 850 CCA and preferably higher if possible And that 50 CCA really makes a big difference.
 
Cutwater28GG":301329kv said:
you want to keep the chemistry's / types across the batteries as similar as possible. your shore power and solar charger cannot be configured for multiple chemistry's
http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16203
Click to expand...

I'm anxiously awaiting for my R27… I’m told that my batteries will be Lithium Ion for the house batteries, and AGMs for the thruster and engine start. I questioned the ability to have dissimilar batteries and charging profiles and was told this would not be a problem. I’m sure this only due to the newer charge controller…
 
I look forward to understanding how the new boats have been wired and the parts used.
 
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