Batteries ,."!?!',nEUR£¥#%!!}!?

[MLampner]

Due to a number of family issues had not been down to the boat in over three weeks. Got there and found the power cord unplugged. We'd had some very high water the last weekend before and some strong storms so my guess is motion of one sort or another worked it loose. The ring on the cord has a crack so while it threads on it could spring off if forece is applied right I would guess.

Didn't think it would be a problem as I thought I had turned off everything other than the bilge pump and the clock on the radio. Went about getting ready to head out set the lines up so I'd be able to launch single handed sail cover etc. Just before completing my prep went to start the engine and as you can guess she wouldn't crank.

I then found the gauges had been left on, the water pump etc. I can't blame gremlins and still having a hard time believing that the pump ran enough or the gauges used enough juice to have run the batteries that low.

Questions would that light load have been enough? Given the batteries are not completely dead but quite old will this have done them any permanent damage? And finally thoughts about how it could have come unplugged. It appears there was adequate slack in the power cord but hard to know for sure given the somewhat unusual flooding issues reported in the area.

 

[Squidd]

One light bulb (or couple gauge lights) ~ 5 watt..

/ 12 volt= .41 amp...ran 24 hrs /day
.41 x 24 = 9.84.....7 days a week
9.84 x 7 = 68.88...."over three weeks"
3.5 x 68.88 = 241 amp/hrs used up...

I'd say yeah, batterys are drained..

 

[Les]

Damn, Squidd, that was cool. Even I, one of the dumber ones on this list could follow that. I'll be more careful in the future to turn things off. Thanks

 

[MLampner]

Yup math sounds good to me too! Mind you made other mistakes beyond the failure in powering everything down so may be other contributing factors.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Power cord thoughts...

Leaving the power cord plugged in may not be the best thing to do either. If properly locked into the socket at either end, sharp tugging could pull the connection apart, exposing bare wires, risking shorting and a fire.

Many do so to keep fridges, dehumidifiers, and other accessories running while away, but there is a risk in doing so.

Another thought is that, plugged into shore power, you are providing a ground path that could contribute to electrolysis eating up zincs and then more "expensive" metals.

An alternative may be a solar panel to keep batteries charged.

 

[onecoolair]

Family issiues?? Hmmm??? Do you have teenagers?

 

[MLampner]

Actually the one thing that is worse aging parents. With my daughter we were fairly confident she would outgrow it. With parents there is no such hope. It also reminds you you are going to be aging parents soon enough yourself. All the more reason to sail when you can.

 

[onecoolair]

Family issiues?? Hmmm??? Do you have teenagers?[/quote
Let me be more clear....
Actually What I was getting at was this may be the reason you found your shore power unplugged, things in disarray and other mysterious happenings. Did you find any evidences of the boat leaving the slip? Beside being used as a party boat?? While you were at home asleep.

 

[MLampner]

All good points but no the youngest member of the household, not counting the cats is 25 and lives on the opposite coast. If she is partying on someone's boat it's not mine.

Along those lines of thinking I think more than anything else the issues with the parents just continue to distract me from thinking straight some of the times. Too much time spent worrying about them. In that way tey are likes kids that "borrow" the boat or car you are so glad they are ok after the experience you forget other things.

Of course one of our cats is a party animal will need to check for small paw prints next time aboard.

 

[onecoolair]

Yeah....Watch out for those stray CATS!