Batteries

[Jacksonboat]

K so I have prowled all the battery posts and here is my issue.

4 batteries on board, battery charge reader or display read nothing, no charge, nada. If I use shore power to charge for an hour or two still nothing. However, I can run chartplotter, depth, lights, tv etc AND start the engine without pause.

So, what the heck is going on? I do have a solar panel so I'd imagine some charge is coming from that but still don't forget the "battery charge" meter still says zero.

 

[JoeWhite]

I suspect the battery charge indicator wires are broken or incorrectly installed. There is a 500AMP shunt that detect curent in or out of the battries and is notmally installed in the same compartement as the battres. Check that and installation instruction of the display. You can also use a volt meter with and without the charger on and see if the voltage increases to about 14.5VDC when the charger is on.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

whatever you are using for a battery monitor/display is not.... you get the rest of the story

 

[kloudie1]

Suspect the wire that feeds the charge meter is off or has a bad connection.. or the switch thingie that you use to take a reading or the wires that feed it..but do check as Joe says to be sure the bat volts measured at the battery goes up to over 14 when the charger is on.

 

[Jacksonboat]

Thanks yeah I will have to check the wiring - beginning of season actually seemed fine.

 

[onecoolair]

K so I have prowled all the battery posts and here is my issue.

4 batteries on board, battery charge reader or display read nothing, no charge, nada. If I use shore power to charge for an hour or two still nothing. However, I can run chartplotter, depth, lights, tv etc AND start the engine without pause.

So, what the heck is going on? I do have a solar panel so I'd imagine some charge is coming from that but still don't forget the "battery charge" meter still says zero.

Sounds simple enough being that its probally just a battery test metering issuie.
I am assuming that we are talking about a annolog battery test meter and test meter selector switch. On your main instrument nav breaker panel...Example..test meter selector switch...off...start is 0//House is /#1/#2/#3//and #4 is generator with accompany L.E.D. indicators
Check the connections on back of meter and meter selector switch. Check to see if meter selector switch has any problems making good contact. Also check any ground issuies. Then if that does not work follow the wires back to the main battery 1/2/both switch. This is were the test meter wiring should lead too. See if the connection is lost at the back of main battery switch plus sometimes there maybe a small fuse. Starter sensor wire will probally go back to starter battery or battery cut switch off at engine. If seperate starter battery for generator then that wire will lead back to that battery which is most likely next to generator.

 

[Jacksonboat]

Will do for sure thank you - but additionally today when checking the oil I noticed my alternator belt broken off!!!!! Of course that doesn't exactly explain the battery meter reading but certainly isn't helping the situation.