Damned generator

Clay Smith

Clay Smith

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Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
I purchased a 2004 Hunter 466 last July. I’ve never tried to start the generator until this season and because the boat was surveyed on the hard neither did the surveyor. This season I have been trying to get the Northern lights generator started. I can’t get it to turn over, in fact I don’t think power is getting to the starter.
I’ve checked the breakers on the generator which weren’t tripped. Is there a hidden switch? I’ve opened the panel and looked at the push button starter switch all wires seem ok. To many to put a multi meter on at this point. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 

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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
How's the start battery? Does it have a separate start battery from the engine? If the battery has been sitting for more than a year without being charged, it is probably toast, especially if it is an AGM.
 
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Clay Smith

Clay Smith

.
Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
If it has a separate start battery I haven’t been able to find it. It would be nice if that were the issue though. The engine start battery is good.
 
Clay Smith

Clay Smith

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Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
The engine start battery does only have one set of cables on it though maybe your correct and there’s a second start battery some where on board. The engine start battery is fine as it starts the 65 horse Yanmar with no issue.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Clay Smith said:
Also boat docs say only one starter battery fo both engines.
Click to expand
Find the starter cable and follow it. If there is only one battery and only one connection on the battery then either the generator is not connected or there is a bus bar where the starters are connected to the battery. My guess is the prior owner disconnected the generator for some reason.
 
Clay Smith

Clay Smith

.
Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
So with the start battery switched on I show 13 VDC at boat engine and zero at gen engine. At the start battery switch I see 3 cables one says engine and the others are routed to the windlass and bow thruster. Either there’s another battery or the gen ties in somewhere unknown with the engine start battery.
dlochner said:
How's the start battery? Does it have a separate start battery from the engine? If the battery has been sitting for more than a year without being charged, it is probably toast, especially if it is an AGM.
Click to expand
 
Clay Smith

Clay Smith

.
Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
garymalmgren said:
Calm down. Take it easy. Relax and let's work this through methodically.
To start with Clay, we don't know the model of your gen set.
Here is link to the Northern Lights Generator manuals.
If you can tell us the model and download the manual yourself we can move to the next step.
gary
www.northern-lights.com

Manuals

Visit the post for more.
www.northern-lights.com www.northern-lights.com
Click to expand
I have M673L.3 but I don’t see that exact model in the manual list. Also with main battery switch on I have 13VDC to the main engine starter only 0 VDC at the gen motor starter.
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Ok Clay, check your private messages and Call me , please.
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Clay Smith said:
Also with main battery switch on I have 13VDC to the main engine starter only 0 VDC at the gen motor starter.
Click to expand
Find the dead battery or the disconnected starter cable, it has to be there somewhere.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,437
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Since this a “new” boat to you, I would not rely on ships system to troubleshoot. Who know how the ships metering is hooked up. Get a separate multi meter and measure the voltage on the big wire at the starter. If no voltage, then trace the wire. If there is voltage, then the issue is either the starter or the small wire circuitry associated with the starter.
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Clay Smith said:
I have M673L.3 but I don’t see that exact model in the manual list. Also with main battery switch on I have 13VDC to the main engine starter only 0 VDC at the gen motor starter.
Click to expand
That is your Answer.

You sent me a Private Message at 5:30 am this morning on this subject. Call me on that PM phone number, Please.

Your friend
Jim...

PS: I Helped him in May 2023 on finding a Hunter boat.
 
garymalmgren

garymalmgren

.
May 29, 2018
586
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
Here is your wiring diagram (From JamesG161) with the components to check indicated.
Print this out. Get a multimeter or a 12 volt testing light, find the start battery by tracing the cables and start testing.
I use a simple 12volt test light made from a Suzuki instrument light. Works great in the dark for tracing power supply.

gary
1717026793143.jpeg


1717024207841.png
 

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Terry Cox

Terry Cox

.
Dec 25, 2000
5,932
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Hi Clay. Sorry about your woes, but congrats on your new boat. Bet she's nice. Different model here, but similar. Ours has an Onan 8KW Genset with three safety systems, low oil pressure, high exhaust temp, high coolant temp. Any of these sensors trip and it will activate the main safety breaker and shut the engine down and will not restart until I reset that main safety breaker on the control panel. Our Genset is designed to run unattended 24/7, which is the reason for the three safety systems. Check your Genset manual to see whether yours has a similar safety feature.

In our case one starter battery starts either engine. I suspect yours is similar. If the Genset main safety breaker has been tripped, nothing happens when you press the start switch. The purpose there is to determine what caused the breaker to trip and solve the issue before attempting to restart. In my case it was the high exhaust temp due to a worn out sea water impeller, which prevented sea water inflow to the mixing elbow, thus a high exhaust temp.

There could be other reasons for your situation, but just wanted to let you know what might be a cause.
 
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Clay Smith

Clay Smith

.
Mar 29, 2023
40
Hunter 466 3 Saw mill bay Chamount NY
JamesG161 said:
That is your Answer.

You sent me a Private Message at 5:30 am this morning on this subject. Call me on that PM phone number, Please.

Your friend
Jim...

PS: I Helped him in May 2023 on finding a Hunter boat.
Click to expand
Where do I find your pm private ph. No.?
Terry Cox said:
Hi Clay. Sorry about your woes, but congrats on your new boat. Bet she's nice. Different model here, but similar. Ours has an Onan 8KW Genset with three safety systems, low oil pressure, high exhaust temp, high coolant temp. Any of these sensors trip and it will activate the main safety breaker and shut the engine down and will not restart until I reset that main safety breaker on the control panel. Our Genset is designed to run unattended 24/7, which is the reason for the three safety systems. Check your Genset manual to see whether yours has a similar safety feature.

In our case one starter battery starts either engine. I suspect yours is similar. If the Genset main safety breaker has been tripped, nothing happens when you press the start switch. The purpose there is to determine what caused the breaker to trip and solve the issue before attempting to restart. In my case it was the high exhaust temp due to a worn out sea water impeller, which prevented sea water inflow to the mixing elbow, thus a high exhaust temp.

There could be other reasons for your situation, but just wanted to let you know what might be a cause.
Click to expand
Hi Terry, yes I have already checked those three breakers on top of the control box. None are tripped. I could only wish my problem was that simple. I also had already as someone suggested checked my main 12 volt cables on both the gen set and the main engine. Main shows proper VDC gen set shows 0 VDC.
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
I have been on a phone call with Clay for 2 hours trying to find his problem of ..

Zero VDC

Clay has his tools aboard and knows what he is doing.

We think it is a Micro Switch that shuts down the Genset, when you open his Genset access panel.

So I will keep you updated.
Jim...
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
ok that was not it. :banghead:

Ok his boat is a H466 much longer runs for the 2/0 Gauge Red Cable.

1717092052179.jpeg


So somewhere he has a RED Buss Bar.

So he can run his bow thrusters, 2 Electric Wenches, Windlass, Genset etc.

He must pull up his cabin deck floor and find that RED Buss bar. :mad:

He had to go for other reasons.

More to come when I know.

Jim...
 
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