Battery Drain by ACR?

[TDudley]

Is there any reason the suspect that my Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) would discharge my starting battery if my house battery is not hooked up to the ACR yet.

I just put the boat in the water and after having the starting battery side installed, I did a few other things and when I tried to start the engine, the starter started slow and then ran out of juice. I manged to get it jumped off and thought, oh well, its been a hard day. I will hook up the automatic charger and leave it over night. Well, two days went by and when I came back, it would not start. I jumped it again and went to scatching my head

My belief was that the battery (provided by the PO) was new, two years ago, and I kept it on a maintainer all winter. This is the first timme I hav had this problem.

Before I buy a new battery, I was wondering whether a ACR that is not hooked up completly could drain a battery. It does not seel likely, but I thought I would ask.

Thanks,

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If it is not shorted, it will not drain the battery. Easiest way to verify is to disconnect and test the relay with a multimeter to check for continuity where it should not be.

 

[Stroh]

.. or disconnect one terminal of the battery and check with a 12 volt test light between the battery terminal and the disconnected terminal. If it lights you have a battery drain situation, if not you don't

 

[TDudley]

OK, I think I got it. This may tie into a very recent post where my switch was somehow being bypassed aand even if it was in the off position, I could turn the engine. I thought I had it hooked up correctly but have heard differently. I will check this out.

Don, just to get it strait, if I disconnect the negative battery terminal and use my voltage meter between the loosened connector and the battery termanal and get a reading, I have a drain. Correct?

 

[Warren Milberg]

Batteries are odd. Trying to figure their lifespans, is also a challenge. So, in addition to the above advice, I'd charge up your batteries, disconnect them from everything for about 24 hours, and then have them load-tested. Who really knows how old your batteries are? While 2 years is a short lifespan, it is possible one or the other is dead or dying from any number of causes. Best to find out their general health while at the dock rather than at Holland Point after a long sail....

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

OK, I think I got it. This may tie into a very recent post where my switch was somehow being bypassed aand even if it was in the off position, I could turn the engine. I thought I had it hooked up correctly but have heard differently. I will check this out.

Don, just to get it strait, if I disconnect the negative battery terminal and use my voltage meter between the loosened connector and the battery termanal and get a reading, I have a drain. Correct?

(If I understand correctly, no.)
Doing as you describe will only complete a circuit. There is alot in play here among which may be multiple grounds found often on boats that might mislead you. The only sure way to id if the relay is leaking is to isolate it.