HELP!
I was out sailing awhile back and had a "low voltage alarm" 11.5V on my chartplotter. I immediately started the engine but got to thinking about why it went to 11.5 V during a few hour sail. So I got out my Volt-Ohm Meter and did some checking. Here are my readings. I have a Victron battery monitor, was using a Digital Volt/Ohmeter. The Starting Battery is connected to the system via a Blue Seas ACR. Starting Battery remained at 2.35V and never changed. All charging sources had been removed for about 1 hour before I started this test so the voltage had not settled down. Outside temperature was about 85 degrees. I did not measure battery temperature but will next time. Batteries are 2 6V Duracell Golf Cart Batteries about 5 years old. I forgot to check battery fill, but did so about 1 month ago and added a few tablespoons per cell then.
Solar charging fuse removed. No charging source on. Bilge pump disconnected. DC main breaker off. No shore power connected
Voltmeter at Battery 12.95V
Victron Voltage reading 12.89V Surprised my Victron reading was off by this much?
Voltmeter at main DC Bkr 12,94V
Voltmeter on panel meter 12.9V (analog meter)
Victron Amp reading +0.28 A With no charging source on - where did this come from
Solar charging fuse removed, No charging source on. Bilge pump disconnected. DC main breaker on with about 13 Amp load . No shore Power Connected.
Voltmeter at Battery 12.32V (The battery voltage dropped fairly quickly when under load and continued visably dropping)
Victron Voltage reading 12.31
Voltmeter at panel DC Bkr 11.76
Voltmeter on panel meter 11.6 (analog meter)
Victron Amp reading -13.3A
I immediately turned off the DC main bkr at the panel and the Victron again showed +.28A with no charging source present. What would cause this?
Here are my thoughts.
1. I might need new Batteries but will only know for sure once I get this straightened out and can do a battery load test per Mainesail's instructions
2. I likely have some voltage drop due to resistance in connections, either the positive or negative side and will have to start measuring resistance coupled with cleaning all connections.
3. Since this happens between the Battery terminals and the DC power lead at the panel, it is likely in the cables/connections between the Battery main terminals and the DC breaker at the panel or the negative side.
Any help on narrowing down the source of the reduced voltage would be appreciated.
Just as importantly though is why my Victron Battery Monitor is reading +0.28 Amps positive current flowing into the battery if there are no charging sources installed? If its true then I have discovered a perptual self charing battery
I was out sailing awhile back and had a "low voltage alarm" 11.5V on my chartplotter. I immediately started the engine but got to thinking about why it went to 11.5 V during a few hour sail. So I got out my Volt-Ohm Meter and did some checking. Here are my readings. I have a Victron battery monitor, was using a Digital Volt/Ohmeter. The Starting Battery is connected to the system via a Blue Seas ACR. Starting Battery remained at 2.35V and never changed. All charging sources had been removed for about 1 hour before I started this test so the voltage had not settled down. Outside temperature was about 85 degrees. I did not measure battery temperature but will next time. Batteries are 2 6V Duracell Golf Cart Batteries about 5 years old. I forgot to check battery fill, but did so about 1 month ago and added a few tablespoons per cell then.
Solar charging fuse removed. No charging source on. Bilge pump disconnected. DC main breaker off. No shore power connected
Voltmeter at Battery 12.95V
Victron Voltage reading 12.89V Surprised my Victron reading was off by this much?
Voltmeter at main DC Bkr 12,94V
Voltmeter on panel meter 12.9V (analog meter)
Victron Amp reading +0.28 A With no charging source on - where did this come from
Solar charging fuse removed, No charging source on. Bilge pump disconnected. DC main breaker on with about 13 Amp load . No shore Power Connected.
Voltmeter at Battery 12.32V (The battery voltage dropped fairly quickly when under load and continued visably dropping)
Victron Voltage reading 12.31
Voltmeter at panel DC Bkr 11.76
Voltmeter on panel meter 11.6 (analog meter)
Victron Amp reading -13.3A
I immediately turned off the DC main bkr at the panel and the Victron again showed +.28A with no charging source present. What would cause this?
Here are my thoughts.
1. I might need new Batteries but will only know for sure once I get this straightened out and can do a battery load test per Mainesail's instructions
2. I likely have some voltage drop due to resistance in connections, either the positive or negative side and will have to start measuring resistance coupled with cleaning all connections.
3. Since this happens between the Battery terminals and the DC power lead at the panel, it is likely in the cables/connections between the Battery main terminals and the DC breaker at the panel or the negative side.
Any help on narrowing down the source of the reduced voltage would be appreciated.
Just as importantly though is why my Victron Battery Monitor is reading +0.28 Amps positive current flowing into the battery if there are no charging sources installed? If its true then I have discovered a perptual self charing battery