This is our first year with our new beneteau we are on a mooring and are having trouble with keeping the battery charged. The first few weekends we had plenty of power with only charging the battery for 15 minutes a day but now we are needing to run the battery for over an hour and we are still very low on power by the end of the day. This morning the water pump wouldn’t run until we charge the battery. Any one have any idea what’s going on. The boat is a 2016 beneteau oceanis 38
Don’t know where to begin...
What batteries? What size batteries? What charger and rating? What is battery voltage? What are the loads on the batteries? Are the batteries 4+ years old?
Absent that info, it’s hard to guess if or what problem you might have
What batteries? What size batteries? What charger and rating? What is battery voltage? What are the loads on the batteries? Are the batteries 4+ years old?
Absent that info, it’s hard to guess if or what problem you might have
If you were only charging 15 minutes a day and the first few weekends were fine, you were probably just using up the initial charge the batteries had when you got the boat.
Fifteen minutes if charging is not going to put any significant amount of charge into the batteries.
First, what kind of loads are you running? Does it include a fridge?
Second, how many and what type batteries do you have?
Finally, can you determine what kind of alternator and regulator you have?
FWIW, when I run my fridge I have to charge for about 3.5 hours per day.
You should never leave your battereis partially charged, assuming they are some kind of lead-acid chemistry.
Fifteen minutes if charging is not going to put any significant amount of charge into the batteries.
First, what kind of loads are you running? Does it include a fridge?
Second, how many and what type batteries do you have?
Finally, can you determine what kind of alternator and regulator you have?
FWIW, when I run my fridge I have to charge for about 3.5 hours per day.
You should never leave your battereis partially charged, assuming they are some kind of lead-acid chemistry.
15 minutes of run time wouldn't replace the power that I use during a day sail, and I don't use that much power.
As others have stated, you need to give us more info.
You should read the battery charging articles at marinehowto.com
As others have stated, you need to give us more info.
You should read the battery charging articles at marinehowto.com
Hi @Petunia and welcome to the site. Just from your brief write up it's obvious you have real battery problems and those problems stem from your lack of knowledge about batteries. Please don't be offended but you don't even know what questions to ask.
But that's not a problem because you are every bit as capable as the rest of us to learn what you need to know to keep your batteries healthy.
Here are a few primers you may want to start out with:
www.boatsafe.com
www.trojanbattery.com
See videos #1, 4, and 9 in the Trojan web page.
I know they are a little heavy on theory but just look at the basics such as amp-hours, depth of discharge, and required charging.
It's just part of boating, much the same as "safety on the water".
But that's not a problem because you are every bit as capable as the rest of us to learn what you need to know to keep your batteries healthy.
Here are a few primers you may want to start out with:
What is a Deep Cycle Battery? - Marine How To
Light Cycle vs. Deeper Cycle NOTE: This article deals with FLOODED marine batteries, not AGM or GEL batteries. The Problem: The problem, as I see it, is one of dishonest marketing where multiple battery types wear the same clothes (sticker) and will perform differently when
marinehowto.com
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www.boatsafe.com
Trojan Battery | Videos
Watch Trojan videos on innovations, installations, maintenance, technical tips, and more. To always see the latest, follow our YouTube channel!
www.trojanbattery.com
See videos #1, 4, and 9 in the Trojan web page.
I know they are a little heavy on theory but just look at the basics such as amp-hours, depth of discharge, and required charging.
It's just part of boating, much the same as "safety on the water".
It takes approximately 6 hours to recharge a deep cycle house battery depending on the state of discharge. There is no way that you can recharge a battery in 15 minutes or just one hour unless you are just topping off a dedicated "starting battery". The charge acceptance rate of a battery gradually diminishes as it approaches 100% charge. It is those last few amps that may take up to 2 hours to recharge. Batteries should not be discharged to more than 50% of its rated capacity and they should be recharged back to 100% after every use to help insure their optimum useful life. Undercharged batteries will sulfate thus reducing their capacity to hold charge and prematurely ending their useful life.. It would help to know how many batteries and what type you got, the size of your alternator or any alternative charge source that you may use. You refer to a single battery and if that is the case I would suggest you take that battery home and charge it fully. After that take it to your local auto parts and let them bench test it. The load part of the test will indicate whether the battery is healthy or weak. Recharging batteries on a mooring poses some challenges. Some install solar panels or wind generators.