Crazy electrical loss - bad alternator??

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Michael

I had batteries drain and loose all power on a cruise where we motored enough to typically fully charge the batterys. With no power to start the engine (a universal 25) we sailed in and the batteries fully recharged under shore power at the dock. While running the engine we now observe a positive amp input on one bank but continue to observe a negative amperage on our inverter Heart 2000 interface. Thus we conclude even with engine running and presumably chargine we are leaking amps or not charging at all. If the alternator was failed it seem we would have no power coming into the batteries at all, ie negative on both banks 1 and 2. Is this an alternator problem. If so is there a way to check its operation without removing it. Not sure how to proceed. Thanks to all for input. Michael
 
Jun 8, 2004
100
Oday 35 Toronto, Ontario
How many..

amps are you charging into the one that is charging and how many are going out on the other. Also what kind of setup do you have for the banks. Are you using split-charge diodes or something else. And were you running with the battery switch on BOTH when they went dead?
 
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
What are you running off the Heart?

If the immersion heater is on then the load could be 150 amps. If there is no need for mains power whilst sailing it is best to switch the Heart off.
 
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