Boat electrical question.

[The Jester]

Any ideas why when i start the engine the GPS/Fishfinder goes off, could it be a voltage drop caused by a bad connection. The engine starts ok first turn of the key, so the batteries are ok, its just started doing this last time i was out it was fine....

 

[lingking]

electrical

electrical

as said before im no engineer:exclam: but the battery would be my first port of call as cold weather will require the battery to work harder,(even although your engine starts ok ,bad connections are well worth a look also i would suggest you run your aux. gear off a second battery then you also have a spare. the good news is once some of the lads get hold of your postpractical experience and good sound knowledge will come to the foreand you will have all the info/help any seagoing fisherman would want

 

[The Jester]

Thanks for the reply L.K. The system has 2 batteries and runs through a split charging system. Its a big dial with the choice of 1 or 2 batteries. Today i had it set to 2 batteries to give both a charge, maybe i should have had it set to 1 battery :question:

 

[lingking]

elec.

elec.

aye put onto two batts once engine running would seem alright to mei would still make the time to go thru all those connections as anything exposed to weather(or not, is at risk its a pain in the neck,but worth it.its a nice feeling going to sea knowing stuff is checked and ok

 

[Kev1n]

The electronics will switch off as soon as the voltage drops to a pre-defined minimum. Turning the engine draws a lot of power so as suggested you could either have a battery problem or some resistance in the wiring or connections. You could narrow this down by running voltage drop test across the wiring using a volt meter and could also check the batteries. If you’re running two and still together and still find the instruments switch off, I guess the problem is in the wiring. Check the battery voltage is healthy at about 12.6V before the engine is started. It will be higher than this if the battery has been charged in the last few hours.
If you have two batteries and only a 1, 2 –both switch then you need to set it to “Both” to charge both batteries from then engine. If you have a split charge system the batteries shouldn’t be switched to both. Use one to start the engine and the other for the electronics. That way you’ll not run the risk of flattening both batteries.
By running split charge system, you effectively isolate the two batteries as soon as the engine is switched off. This allows you to charge both but only draw power from one, leaving the other ready to start the boat.

 

[lingking]

electric

electric

:exclam:there you go jester:exclam: sorted:exclam: bonny lad, two things never cease to amaze me about this sitefirst, the knowledge people have about any topic under the sun.second,their willingness to share that knowledge

 

[The Jester]

You're right there LK, i've just read Kev1n's post and i think i'm sorted , I had the dial set to position 2 instead of BOTH, so yesterday everything must have been running off battery 2, and i would have been only charging battery 2 as well , I've had the boat 7 months and i'm still learning. Also going to make a cover for the battery which has the fuses on top. When washing the deck water somehow gets under the engine cover and past the seal, and lies where the fuses are . Cheers lads...

 

[kingcod deano]

could it not be a bad earth i had the same probs with mine everytime i turned the key the fishfinder shut off after a bit of searching found it was a bad earth hope you get it sorted mate

 

[The Jester]

I,m going to have a look today Deano, and take some measurements to make a cover, think it could also have something to do with the fuse holders being wet.

 

[lingking]

electrics

electrics

continual improvement :exclam: spotting potential problems and doing something about it,not just thinking "must have a look at that "sometime" will keep everything tickety boo