B331 Battery Terminals

[Warren]

Got a question about batteries....I went down to my boat (B331) today to start getting ready for sailing season. Installed the 2 batteries (black cable for positive and red cable for negative) and turned the 3 switches (common, battery 1 and battery 2) on). I started hearing gurgling/fizzling in the engine battery and could smell fumes! I pressed the battery test on the electrical panel and there was no current at all. I turned all 3 switches off then disconnected the batteries. When I checked the fluid, some of the plates were already exposed!!! Did I do anything wrong besides not checking for fluid/acid level? I think I am correct that black is positive and red is negative, right? I'm going to buy 2 new batteries coz the old ones are already 3 years old anyway. Someone at the marina told me that I should replace my batteries every 3 years. What battery should I get?Thanks!

 

[Gord May]

RED IS POSITIVE

Black (or yellow)is negative.

 

[Warren]

Is my battery fried??

Really? I always thought red was negative! Is that true for all boats? So, did I fry my batteries by connecting them reverse?

 

[nick maggio]

blown circut breaker

You should have blown the circut breaker or fuse when you crossed the cables ,red is positive always.

 

[Russell]

Red is always positive.

Even your car red is positive. Some old fram equipment did have a positive ground if my fading memory serves me correct,but nothing in the last 50 years that I know of.I'm not an electrician but I bet your batteries are toast. Especially if you tried to charge them. You may have done more serious damage to your electrical sytem. Hope someone hear knows more than I do, don't put new batteries inyour boat untill you hear from them.Good LuckRussellS/V Allie Kat

 

[Wayne]

Yes Red is Pos

Hopefully you did not power up any electronics with the batteries wired reverse. This is a good way to damage VHF, instruments, and electronics.

 

[Warren]

Thanks!

Thanks for the responses! I really did a very dumb thing...but a lesson learned!Everything was turned off on the 12v and 110v panels. The only switches I had turned on was the common, battery 1 and battery 2.Is there a possibility that I blown a fuse on the charger? How can I tell?

 

[Tim]

Get it checked out

Have it inspected by a qualified marine electrical person before going any further!You may have fried some battery cables, or worse. The LAST thing you want on the boat is a fire caused by burned or comprimised wiring, not to mention frying everything else.Yes, circuit breakers should protect your boat and your system, but they are predicated on uncomprimised feeders.Please, please, please have your system checked by a qualified technician NOW! You have no idea what damage has been done where you may not see it.Good luck!TimPS: Buy a copy of one of the popular boating electrical books as well (Don Casey's Sailboat Electrics Simplified, or another). Well worth the investment.