I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this, but oh well... I have a 1980 Hunter and two questions: 1. Does the battery charge when I'm hooked up to shore power? I left the instruments and glow plug (or whatever you call those two switches next to the button you push to start the engine)on, and the battery was dead. 2. And by the way, what are those two switches, and where should they be (up or down) when you're doing whatever? I've guessed that one's a flow plug...sort of warms the engine before starting, and the other has to do with charging the battery. I'm grateful for this website, and all of your answers. Thanks. Linda
Battery and ? about switches in cockpit
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It depends....
..glow plugs... it depends on what engine you have. Most likely it is 2 or 3 cylinder yanmar, therefore you do not have glow plugs, these engines did not come with them and do not require them. One of those switches on the engine starting panel is for a temporary light to iluminate the gauges, and the other - I am not sure since yanmar had different panels. When you are hooked up to the shore, the battery will only charge if you have a battery charger in your boat and it is connected and ON... Hope this helps...
..glow plugs... it depends on what engine you have. Most likely it is 2 or 3 cylinder yanmar, therefore you do not have glow plugs, these engines did not come with them and do not require them. One of those switches on the engine starting panel is for a temporary light to iluminate the gauges, and the other - I am not sure since yanmar had different panels. When you are hooked up to the shore, the battery will only charge if you have a battery charger in your boat and it is connected and ON... Hope this helps...
Battery Charger
If you do have a battery charger: Make sure that the battery selection switch is NOT in the OFF position when the charger is turned ON. There should be a selection of 1,2,BOTH made prior to turning the charger on. The switches on the engine console: One is an illumination switch for the guages. I don't know about the other. Glow plugs: Yanmar doesn't use them because the engine is a high compression engine. Therefore, the compression of the fuel cause heat and fuel ignition. A glow plug is used on other types of diesels to heat up the fuel and combustion chamber in order to start.
If you do have a battery charger: Make sure that the battery selection switch is NOT in the OFF position when the charger is turned ON. There should be a selection of 1,2,BOTH made prior to turning the charger on. The switches on the engine console: One is an illumination switch for the guages. I don't know about the other. Glow plugs: Yanmar doesn't use them because the engine is a high compression engine. Therefore, the compression of the fuel cause heat and fuel ignition. A glow plug is used on other types of diesels to heat up the fuel and combustion chamber in order to start.
Selector should NOT control battery charger.
Linda: The battery charger is usually hooked to the AC main or a seperate AC breaker. Your charger should not be effected by the selector switch. Your charger should charge the batteries regardless of it's position when using the AC charger. The selector should only come into play when you are running the engine (without shore power).
Linda: The battery charger is usually hooked to the AC main or a seperate AC breaker. Your charger should not be effected by the selector switch. Your charger should charge the batteries regardless of it's position when using the AC charger. The selector should only come into play when you are running the engine (without shore power).
Interesting Observation re: Selector Switch
Steve, interesting observation. How do I check it out?
Steve, interesting observation. How do I check it out?
toggle switch
On the standard Yanmar panel the toggle switch illuminates the dial gauges and also tests the overheat alarm buzzer. Battery selctor switch should direct charging to whichever battery is selected (1,2,or ALL) if multiple batteries are connected. Switch should NEVER be turned OFF when engine (alternator)is running.
On the standard Yanmar panel the toggle switch illuminates the dial gauges and also tests the overheat alarm buzzer. Battery selctor switch should direct charging to whichever battery is selected (1,2,or ALL) if multiple batteries are connected. Switch should NEVER be turned OFF when engine (alternator)is running.
Use your Volt meter
Hi sailorgirl. First of all there is no such thing as a dumb question. To check if the batteries are charging do the following: 1 note the battery voltage. Some models have a volt select switch to pick the starter batt or the house batteries. Note the voltage on both. 2 connect to shore power 3 turn on the circut breaker for AC Main 4 turn on the curcut breaker for the battery charger 5 check to see if there is some kind of indicator on the battery charger that tells it is operating. Some chargers don't give you a clue some have meters. 6 note the battery voltage again. It should be a higher voltage. The actual correct charging voltage depends on which type of battery you have but something around 14 volts is right. If the voltage went up (for both settings of the volt select switch) then the charger is charging the battery. Bill
Hi sailorgirl. First of all there is no such thing as a dumb question. To check if the batteries are charging do the following: 1 note the battery voltage. Some models have a volt select switch to pick the starter batt or the house batteries. Note the voltage on both. 2 connect to shore power 3 turn on the circut breaker for AC Main 4 turn on the curcut breaker for the battery charger 5 check to see if there is some kind of indicator on the battery charger that tells it is operating. Some chargers don't give you a clue some have meters. 6 note the battery voltage again. It should be a higher voltage. The actual correct charging voltage depends on which type of battery you have but something around 14 volts is right. If the voltage went up (for both settings of the volt select switch) then the charger is charging the battery. Bill
What type of endgine do you have??
The two toggle switshes on the panel for the 1980 rcd are for the starter and alternator... in the up position the starter gets juice (hence your dead battery) and the alternator will charge. Down on those switches, you cut the juice to the starter and your alternator will not charge the battery.. Avec charge, Sans charge were the stickers on the panel that are now gone...
The two toggle switshes on the panel for the 1980 rcd are for the starter and alternator... in the up position the starter gets juice (hence your dead battery) and the alternator will charge. Down on those switches, you cut the juice to the starter and your alternator will not charge the battery.. Avec charge, Sans charge were the stickers on the panel that are now gone...
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