unEqualized Batteries=No Safety Electrics.

[LADY JANE]

2014 21EC D1-30: Our new boats' battery power is very unpredictable during trips. The starter battery stays fully charged but the accessories battery drops off and all power goes out when under way. The batterIes and connections are all clean & tight. Any suggestions on how to keep a pair of maint free batteries equalized would be very helpful. Regards, Lady Jane

 

[Andrew Custis]

Hello Bill,

Please contact Long Beach Yacht sales so we can work through what is going on with our dealer. Well need to know more before we can determine what is happening with the boat. Doesn't sound like anything I've run into before so sounds to me that maybe it's the way you are using it and we will have to dial that in.

Thanks Bill,

 

[SGIDAVE]

2014 21EC D1-30: The boats' battery pair become unEqualized unpredictably. The batterIes and connections are clean & tight. Any suggestions to help keep a pair of maint free batteries equalized? Regards, Lady Jane

Hello LJ,

What do you mean by "unequalized"? Does that mean one battery dead and the other not?

Agree with Andrew.

Let us on the forum know how it turns out.

Fair winds and charged batteries,

/david

 

[LADY JANE]

As one of the two "equalized" batteries gets weaker than the other, the weak battery just becomes drained to death by the other. It seems like that's what's going on. The starters' battery is remaining fully charged while the other battery is fully dead now. I'll go over to Long Beach Yacht Sales to get it all checked out. It just might be operator error. Will update.

 

[LADY JANE]

2014 21EC D1-30: Our new boats' battery power is very unpredictable during trips. The starter battery stays fully charged but the accessories battery drops off and all power goes out when under way. The batterIes and connections are all clean & tight. Any suggestions on how to keep a pair of maint free batteries equalized would be very helpful. Regards, Lady Jane [Safety is not expensive, it's priceless.]

 

[LADY JANE]

LBYS elect dept has completely checked over the condition of my R-21EC house battery system. They reiterated "operator instructions" and with no further ado, she's "Charged" up and good to go.

 

[LADY JANE]

We tried taking some friends out on an ocean cruise this Labor Day Weekend, but the House Battery on our 2014 R-21EC couldn't handle it again. Both batteries (Starter & House) have been on shore power all week long and have been showing good voltage readings. The Starters' Battery Switch has been left in the "On" position while the House Battery Switch has been in the "Off" position. Everything had been left in the "Off" position while on shore power, except for the Starter Battery Switch. And ya know, the Starter Battery has been the only reliable battery on the boat. The boats' charging system seems to be working OK. So, now it looks like I'd better go downtown to purchase a New House Marine Battery that will be strong enough to hold a charge. This boat actually cuts through some pretty wild waves right along with the best of 'em. For all I know, that roller coaster ride, slicing through waves, has been "A Batteries Nightmare" for the last six months.

 

[knotflying]

Something does not sound right. Even if the house battery is in poor condition while the engine is running there should be enough power from the alternator to operate things. I am not familiar with the R-21 systems, but if there is a relay you should make sure that the relays and charger wiring is correct. After a full charge did you let the battery rest and check the cells with a hydrometer? Have you done a load test on the battery? For the hell of it, did you try switching the batteries around and see if the symptoms you are experiencing develop in the other bank?

 

[SGIDAVE]

Something does not sound right. Even if the house battery is in poor condition while the engine is running there should be enough power from the alternator to operate things. I am not familiar with the R-21 systems, but if there is a relay you should make sure that the relays and charger wiring is correct. After a full charge did you let the battery rest and check the cells with a hydrometer? Have you done a load test on the battery? For the hell of it, did you try switching the batteries around and see if the symptoms you are experiencing develop in the other bank?

I agree Mike.

Either the Blue Sea ACR is not "combining" the start + house battery shortly after starting OR the house battery is to weak to accept much charge. Or BOTH.

Perhaps the on board 120VAC battery charger IS charging both start and house batteries but the engine is NOT. I read somewhere the Volvo D1 has a HUGE alternator...like 120 Amps or something. I thought the 80A alt on my Yanmar was hefty.

Within 1-2 minutes of starting my Yanmar I can hear the batteries "combine" when the engine RPM drop slightly as the house bank accepts all that the alternator can supply. My house bank is (2) 6V golf cart batteries. My point is that the ACR should "combine" within 2 minutes of starting based on my experience. There is a tiny GREEN LED on the face of the ACR which lights when it is "combining."

A few minutes testing with a VOM would show where the problem lies.

Fair Winds and Charged Batteries,

.dave

 

[LADY JANE]

You are right Andrew, Mike & Dave. The House battery has been too weak and was not reliably holding it's own, let alone combining with anything else. The bad battery was covered under warranty through the great folks at Long Beach Yacht Sales and is purring like a kitten now. Like we've heard before, Ranger Tugs, they really do have an excellent no-hastle warranty program. Thanks Again, Bill And Lady Jane

 

[knotflying]

Glad to hear you got to the heart of the problem and all is corrected!