I spent the better part of a weekend fixing a fuel leak and changing filters, etc. on my Beneteau 281. Not a difficult job except for having to work blind in tight spaces. After getting this complete and bleeding the fuel line I got the engine started and let it warm up to change the oil. The problem is that I did this while connected to shore power with the battery charger on. Now the battery charger doesn't put out any juice. It's a Westmarine 20A multistage charger. I re-read the documentation on the charger and it says "don't do what you did", ie don't run the engine when the charger is on or else. I expect that I have blown a diode in the output curcuit which shouldn't be a big deal except I haven't the foggiest how to troubleshoot or fix it. Does anyone know where I could get the charger repaired or am I out 300 bucks (.3 boat bucks) for a new one? BobF s/v Bofferding
I think I blew it
- Thread starter BobFuller
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Community college
Go to the night electronics class at your Local community college and I bet someone there would be glad to try and fix it for little or nothing
Go to the night electronics class at your Local community college and I bet someone there would be glad to try and fix it for little or nothing
Are you sure it's not putting out juice?
If batteries are charged it won't show anything on the gauge but it should at least hum. Not familiar with that particular charger but if it don't even hum look for some type of fuse or circuit breaker device. There were some places I used in the past that rebuilt the big garage chargers used in diesel truck repair shops, try checking with local truck mechanic see if he knows of a place. Also, auto alternator rebuilders used to do diode checks and replacements, see if there is someone in your area that just rebuilds starters and generators.
If batteries are charged it won't show anything on the gauge but it should at least hum. Not familiar with that particular charger but if it don't even hum look for some type of fuse or circuit breaker device. There were some places I used in the past that rebuilt the big garage chargers used in diesel truck repair shops, try checking with local truck mechanic see if he knows of a place. Also, auto alternator rebuilders used to do diode checks and replacements, see if there is someone in your area that just rebuilds starters and generators.
Bob, chances are, you're OK
I've done the same thing since the 60's, more times than I can remember. It's never hurt anything. Keep a load on you bank and check it again. The charger should kick in when some amps begin to flow.
I've done the same thing since the 60's, more times than I can remember. It's never hurt anything. Keep a load on you bank and check it again. The charger should kick in when some amps begin to flow.
check the wires
besides the other post suggestion check for a fuse between the charger and the battery. I did the same thing and it blew the in line protective fuse. The fuse was hidden from sight and only after tracing the wires did I find it. Two batteries, two fuses. one dollar and everthing was O.K.
besides the other post suggestion check for a fuse between the charger and the battery. I did the same thing and it blew the in line protective fuse. The fuse was hidden from sight and only after tracing the wires did I find it. Two batteries, two fuses. one dollar and everthing was O.K.
If all else fails...
West Marine has a "send it in to us" type repair shop that fixes lots of electrical/electronic stuff. I've had good luck using them in the past, even with stuff they don't sell. It's usually pretty reasonably priced, certainly less than buying a new one! Just take it to your local WMP store and tell them what happened, and they'll do the rest. It will take some time though... Good luck!
West Marine has a "send it in to us" type repair shop that fixes lots of electrical/electronic stuff. I've had good luck using them in the past, even with stuff they don't sell. It's usually pretty reasonably priced, certainly less than buying a new one! Just take it to your local WMP store and tell them what happened, and they'll do the rest. It will take some time though... Good luck!
What do you mean?
"Now the battery charger doesn't put out any juice" If you do not think it is charging, turn on a few lights and see if it indicates anything then. Otherwise, my guess is that you bumped or pulled some wire. Check for the dreaded and usually hidden inline fuse.
"Now the battery charger doesn't put out any juice" If you do not think it is charging, turn on a few lights and see if it indicates anything then. Otherwise, my guess is that you bumped or pulled some wire. Check for the dreaded and usually hidden inline fuse.
fused 2o amp
My 2o amp charger quit working rather suddenly last year in ocracoke. Upon investigation I discovered the internal fuse had blown. hmm thats strange I'll just replace it. Ha what an idiot i am. upon locating an acceptable replacement candidate (not an easy feat on ocracoke) I put the whole unit back together and tried it out... Well my wife has still not forgiven me for that one. Apparently there was a reason that the fuse blew the first time and it had not fixed itself in the interim. The 20 amp charger proceeded to quite literally explode in the salon. All i can say is stinky to be sure. not to mention a fire hazard. I am quite sure that the units cause for failure was that it was mounted too low in the boat and somehow some water must have ruined the charger.(new charger since relocated) So the morale of this one is, if replacing the internal fuse also make a visual check of the other components. just my 2 cents good luck
My 2o amp charger quit working rather suddenly last year in ocracoke. Upon investigation I discovered the internal fuse had blown. hmm thats strange I'll just replace it. Ha what an idiot i am. upon locating an acceptable replacement candidate (not an easy feat on ocracoke) I put the whole unit back together and tried it out... Well my wife has still not forgiven me for that one. Apparently there was a reason that the fuse blew the first time and it had not fixed itself in the interim. The 20 amp charger proceeded to quite literally explode in the salon. All i can say is stinky to be sure. not to mention a fire hazard. I am quite sure that the units cause for failure was that it was mounted too low in the boat and somehow some water must have ruined the charger.(new charger since relocated) So the morale of this one is, if replacing the internal fuse also make a visual check of the other components. just my 2 cents good luck
That reminds me of my 'charger story'
On my web site, I talk about the boat being flooded by hurricane Louise while stored on the hard on Antigua. Well, the charger was mounted down low and was flooded too. It was a Master Mariner, I believe. Remember those? Anyway, I removed it and spent several hours washing the crud out of it. I recall the fuse system being ruined so I eliminated it. (no parts available in the wilds of Antigua) It was on the AC side and power was run from a breaker for protection so it wasn't needed. When I bench tested it, only one set of diodes was working for one bank of batteries. (3 bank unit) We were good to go. We only had one bank anyway. That thing was so rusted out that the case wouldn't stay bolted together. (made of sheet metal) But the charger worked until the day it went to the dump during our rebuild. Weird.
On my web site, I talk about the boat being flooded by hurricane Louise while stored on the hard on Antigua. Well, the charger was mounted down low and was flooded too. It was a Master Mariner, I believe. Remember those? Anyway, I removed it and spent several hours washing the crud out of it. I recall the fuse system being ruined so I eliminated it. (no parts available in the wilds of Antigua) It was on the AC side and power was run from a breaker for protection so it wasn't needed. When I bench tested it, only one set of diodes was working for one bank of batteries. (3 bank unit) We were good to go. We only had one bank anyway. That thing was so rusted out that the case wouldn't stay bolted together. (made of sheet metal) But the charger worked until the day it went to the dump during our rebuild. Weird.
Thanks
Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to take Peter's advice and see if West Marine can fix it for less than a new one. The reason I suspected that the charger wasn't putting out any juice is that the battery went dead, the lights dimmed and the radio would no longer play while I was connected to shore power with the charger on. I later tested the voltage across the batteries one at a time and there was no difference in the voltage with or without the charger engergized. The charger had 110 volt power as its idiot lights were on. At Pete's suggestion, I checked the resistance of the wires from the charger to the battery switches and found that there were no open fuses. There are a couple of internal 30A fuses in the "no user servicable parts inside" portion of the charger but these appear to be OK both visually and resistance wise. It is possible that a current spike from the alternator got to the charger when I was starting the engine or maybe it just failed for unrelated reasons. I know a lot of people have started their engines with the charger energized without problem.
Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to take Peter's advice and see if West Marine can fix it for less than a new one. The reason I suspected that the charger wasn't putting out any juice is that the battery went dead, the lights dimmed and the radio would no longer play while I was connected to shore power with the charger on. I later tested the voltage across the batteries one at a time and there was no difference in the voltage with or without the charger engergized. The charger had 110 volt power as its idiot lights were on. At Pete's suggestion, I checked the resistance of the wires from the charger to the battery switches and found that there were no open fuses. There are a couple of internal 30A fuses in the "no user servicable parts inside" portion of the charger but these appear to be OK both visually and resistance wise. It is possible that a current spike from the alternator got to the charger when I was starting the engine or maybe it just failed for unrelated reasons. I know a lot of people have started their engines with the charger energized without problem.
Good idea to try to fix
Yesterday I installed a new chandelier in our dining room at home. After getting it all up, except for the final plate, I tried the dimmer light switch to see if the bulbs would light. Nothing! I measured the voltage at the ceiling - 30 volts. I measured the voltage after the dimmer switch - 30 volts. I measured the voltage before the dimmer switch - 120 volts. Analysis: dimmer switch died. Conclusion: it's weird how sometimes things happen at the most inopportune moments. And I got to install a new dimmer switch in addition to the chandelier. Stuff happens... Good luck with your charger repair. Stu
Yesterday I installed a new chandelier in our dining room at home. After getting it all up, except for the final plate, I tried the dimmer light switch to see if the bulbs would light. Nothing! I measured the voltage at the ceiling - 30 volts. I measured the voltage after the dimmer switch - 30 volts. I measured the voltage before the dimmer switch - 120 volts. Analysis: dimmer switch died. Conclusion: it's weird how sometimes things happen at the most inopportune moments. And I got to install a new dimmer switch in addition to the chandelier. Stuff happens... Good luck with your charger repair. Stu
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