How to jump the engine?

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Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Kind of a dumb question and I haven't found the need to yet but I wondered after reading Scot T bird's post what is the best way to jump the boat? I have a small portable car battery jumper stowed aboard in case I kill my house and emergency batteries. What is the best way to attach the jumpers, at the battery or directly to the starter and ground to the engine?
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Bob, that's like belts, suspenders AND draw strings, it's simply too much. Just keep your system working, and the connections clean and you'll never need to even think about using something like this. We've had our boat for 11 years and it's never ever even been close to not starting. Trust in your design, use the reserve bank as a true reserve, never parallel your two banks and enjoy having a reliable system.

I had this discussion with another C34 friend, and may have linked to you it in our earlier offline conversations.

Maine Sail nailed Scott's problem with the case grounded starter on his Yanmar.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yes.. positive cable of the jumper to the hot connection on the solenoid which is attached to the starter.. usually a red wire from the Bat switch. Do that first then connect the black cable of the jump box to a good engine ground.. like a lifting lug or something with a good solid connection to the engine block.. She should spin over using normal start switch at that point. Take care not to hit the twirling parts when you remove the cables from the now-running engine.
 
Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Stu,

I know you're right. I spent two nights out this past weekend and I love the new set up, thank you. I didn't use 20ah's with my cabin and anchor lights (led's) and water pump. Next trip I plan on turning on the frig to see what happens. The portable jumper was a backup from last season when i had the old set up. It's abaord but I don't think I'll ever need it.

I saw your recent reference to Rich's gotcha factor inherent in the Xantrex battery monitors. I have to check mine for the right parameters. If you're running the engine long enough or charging from a shore power, regardless of the gotcha factor the batteries will eventually be fully charged regardless of what the monitor is saying. It just could bring on a false sence of security showing full when it's really not. I learn every day from this site.....
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Bob: If your engine has decompression levers, you can probably start it will almost no juice in your batteries. Open the levers and crank the engine, have someone close the levers one at a time and you will probably be good to go.

For some reason, the Yanmar has decided that these levers are no longer needed.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Steve Dion said:
: If your engine has decompression levers, you can probably start it will almost no juice in your batteries. Open the levers and crank the engine, have someone close the levers one at a time and you will probably be good to go.
Click to expand
Steve, for some reason the C30 guys historically have been "indebted" to the decompression lever. I think it's nuts.

The concept is to have a reliable electrical system, like Bob now has, and have the engine start every time, all the time, like ours do!:):):) Without using the DL.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Bob S said:
Stu,

Next trip I plan on turning on the frig to see what happens. ... I learn every day from this site.....
Click to expand
The fridge (note the spelling:evil:) will draw 60 ah a day. Period. That's what ti will do. 4.9 to 5.0 A running 50% of the time.

I learn too and Rich and Donalex have been great regarding the Link 2000 and other algorithms, and Maine Sail for the lead to Victron, which seems to use the same algorithm.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Stu...

the DL's are a god-send when bringing the 3GM30 back to life after it's long winter sleep back here in the east. A five second spin with levers engaged and fuel shut-off pulled allows the engine to pump oil back into all the galleries after draining down from sitting all winter.

Flicking down the first lever and pushing the cut-off back in gives sign as to whether a bleeding will be necessary. If the first cylinder catches, the second lever is immediately thrown, followed by the third. This can be done with a low battery if it's got juice enough to spin the engine over reasonably fast in decompression.

After that initial spring start-up I whole-heartedly agree with your statement about a healthy electrical system!
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Stu: Nothing beats a properly maintained electrical system, but when in doubt decompress the muther!
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Dan

Dan Johnson said:
the DL's are a god-send when bringing the 3GM30 back to life after it's long winter sleep back here in the east. ...
After that initial spring start-up I whole-heartedly agree with your statement about a healthy electrical system!
Click to expand

Dan, I almost added another sentence to that post mentioning the Universal engine in the C30s and their DLs. Most C30s have M25-series engines.

But they all have glow plugs, which is why I can't understand the DL stuff with these engines.

For Yanmars with no glow plugs, I fully understand.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
I never could get my Universal M25 started with the DL's - I think it doesn't have a heavy enough flywheel. I haven't yet had to try it with the Yanmar, but the old Volvo will not only start with DL's I can hand-crank it (but be VERY careful the crank doesn't come out and whack you in the jaw!). You might never need them, but they're sure good insurance.

As for "jumping" a boat: I had to do it once with Far Cove. You ask if the other boat can pull out the battery (if you're lucky, they use an electric motor for their dinghy and have a Group 24 available!). Hooking the jumper cables directly to the starter is the best electrically, but be SURE the cables don't touch anything that moves when the engine starts. Safer to hook the positive to the battery switch, or even the starting battery. And make sure when you connect the neg it's to something NOT painted and actually connected to ground.

druid
 
L

LooseDiamond

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Feb 9, 2008
292
Catalina 22 Long Beach Harbor, MS
Stu Jackson said:
The fridge (note the spelling:evil:) will draw 60 ah a day. Period. That's what ti will do. 4.9 to 5.0 A running 50% of the time.

I learn too and Rich and Donalex have been great regarding the Link 2000 and other algorithms, and Maine Sail for the lead to Victron, which seems to use the same algorithm.
Click to expand
IT. Note the spelling...
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Speeling

I have my spell check "trained" to accept it (ti), since I do a lot of work with "tenant improvements" so that's why it keeps getting by me.

Sorry about that.

Fridge it all!:):):)
 
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