I have a 2008 Beneteau 43. Someone told me that the bow thruster battery only charges when either the engine is on, or on shore power...I do not remember which. Obviously one would want it to charge on either. Can anyone confirm this rumor or tell me how to make sure it charges under both circumstances?
Bow thruster battery
- Thread starter jeremyotto
- Start date
Hi Jeremy and welcome to the site. Whether this is a rumor will depend on how your boat is wired.
Check the voltage of the thruster battery while it is on shore charge and then on engine charge (while away from shore power). In both cases, it should be above 13 V. I would bet money on charging by both.
Thanks. I decided to have an SOC meter installed this week which can monitor soc on one bank and voltage on three banks. Factory gives no way of seeing voltage of bow thruster battery....plus the factory panel is shot now and needs to be replaced....it gives readings on nothing and just sounds alarms. Royal pain
The thruster is probably the same as a windlass- won't run unless the engine is running. Seems logical if the thruster runs, that the battery is charging. But, just maybe not. Depends on your wiring setup. Trace it out and make a diagram. ALSO, running the engine at increased idle would lessen the discharge of the battery.
Last edited:
I agree with the others who have said you need to check your boat's setup. Our 37 was originally wired so that the thruster battery would only charge from the engine. There was a bulletin on how to add an extra wire to connect it to the shore power charger. The 43 could have a similar history, and tracing the wires would be the only way to know what was done.