Dang batteries

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Jun 7, 2004
263
- - Milwaukee
It should become quickly apparent that I don't like batteries much and they don't like me. But here's the situation. I have two batteries on my 356. No. 1 is a "cranker" designed for starting the engine. No. 2 is the deep-cycle marine kind designed to run electronics, etc., for a long time. Both are less than a year old, both check out (the yard tells me) on battery meter for both charge and depth (strength?) I'm in a slip and normally leave the charger on with the batt-switch on Both. Charging time exceeds usage time probably by a factor of 100 to 1. The built in meter in the panel shows each batt at 13 or so volts. And No. 1 does everything it is supposed to. But No. 2, argh. Flip to No. 2, the radio stays on. Flip on another small load, like a sump pump, and the volt meter drops to 3 or 4, panel goes dark, there is nothing nowhere. Reset everything, take off the load, and the meter again shows 12 or 13. What little devil is bedeviling me? Is this a poor connection somewhere? I checked the terminals and will do so again, but it is quite aggravating. Thanks in advance for any tips.
 
Mar 2, 2011
53
Hunter 30 Port Bay
Hey Paul,

I'd wager that the issue is the load against the battery, the house battery.

That second load is pulling more than it should be it appears.

Why not try another second load, see what that does?

Just a thought,

Rich.
 

lr172

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Mar 24, 2011
56
Hunter 34 Lake Michigan
I am assuming that they load tested the battery. If this is the case you have a significant wiring issue somewhere. Given the #1 batt works well, it is not likely on the ground side. Your looking for a loose connection or corrosion either on a connection or inside a wire or terminal. Your connection will allow small amperage, but not larger amperage. This is a classic symptom of a bad/loose/corroded connection. Given that it is occurring with your charger as well, you shouldn't need to stray too far from the batteries. If your charger is connected directly to the batteries or main switch, no need to go South of that point.

My first suspect would be the main battery cables with the Main switch second.

Be certain that the yard did a "load test" not just a voltage check. This is where they attach a carbon pile to load the battery and observe that the voltage doesn't drop significantly. If they didn't, the battery is also suspect. This can easily be tested by swapping the two batteries and seeing if the problem follows them or stays put.

Larry
 
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