Perko Inverter Draw Selector Passage 42

[Scallywagger]

Hello
I am having trouble charging my two domestic batteries on my Hunter Passage 42. The alternator is only charging the starter battery. I have the Perko engine switch on and the Perko Inverter Draw Selector swiched to all but, at the nav station the charge is showing 14-15 volt charging to the starter battery when the engine is running but, nothing on the domestic batteries. Of course I wish all batteries to be charging when the engine is running.
Any thoughts or remedies would be much appreciated.

Regards to all from the UK

 

[Stu Jackson]

While someone with your boat may answer, in any event it would be difficult to answer this question without know how your boat is wired.

For example, does your alternator output go to the Perko switch or to one of the battery banks? Do you have a combiner, echo charger or ACR? Is the Perko switch what most of us call a simple 1-2-B switch?

 

[Scallywagger]

Hello Stu and thank you for your reply. I have owned the yacht nearly two years now but,work away in Gulf 6-7 months a year and sail my Hunter when I can. I am also not terribly electrically minded. Thank you for your reply. It would b good if a passage owner with the 62hp Yanmar 1995 passage model like mine might be able to help me. I am not sure where the alternator wires go. I will investigate when I am next home. Thank you.

 

[eianm]

I have a 1991 H42 and mine always charges all batteries- as is confirmed by the analog switch for voltage on main switchboard control panel. I have both switches on all.
I don't think this helps you, but it may mean you either have a problem or someone has messed with the factory wiring?

 

[Scallywagger]

Hello Eianm. Thank you for the information. I am trying to include pictures. I have the Perko engine battery switch to all and the battery inverter select to all but,no charging of the domestic batteries is taking place with the engine alternator. The engine battery and two domestics are only charging when the yacht I'd plugged into the Marian electrics.

 

[Scallywagger]

Sorry about the poor spelling,silly little phone I am using. All the batteries charge when plugged into the marina electricity.

 

[Scallywagger]

Sorry about the poor spelling,silly little phone I am using. All the batteries charge when plugged into the marina electricity.

 

[KD3PC]

On my 1991, there is another perko switch above and between the start battery and the passageway wall, it is turned away from your view, as you would look at it from the aft cabin battery access hatch. Mine was for "alternator" destination....start battery or house bank or all.

You might look for another Perko in the engine bay, else start making a wiring diagram to sort things out. As far as I know my boat was still "factory" but can not say for sure.

best of luck.

 

[Scallywagger]

Hello and thank you for your reply. That is very interesting. I will take a look there when I get home in 5 weeks time. I did change the starter battery a year ago with a 75 Amp leisure battery which has always started the engine well but, I have never noticed another PERKO in where you have suggested. Thank you for the tip.

 

[Terry Cox]

A Puzzle

As with the other poster's comments our alternator charges the starter and house bank when the main engine is running. It might take some time to sort it out as to why, but that is why working on boats is so much fun.

 

[ice breaker]

On our 41 and many newer boats there is a solenoid operated combiner switch that connects the starter battery and house batteries for charging, when the man engine is running. When the engine is shut off, the solenoid disconnects so that the house and start batteries stay separate. Solenoid switches are a failure point on many systems. If you have a solenoid switch, you could jumper a bypass wire on it and then check to see if you are charging the house bank.

Good Luck

 

[Scallywagger]

Hello to the new replies,I have not had a phone signal in Saudi to reply to people. Thank you for the replies. In my absence from Scotland I have had a friend look for the Perko switch over mentioned on the forum next to the starter battery. There is no Perko switch over but, he has found a sLenoir switch with a rusty corroded lead to it. He is going to clean all this up and check the solenoid out. I really hope this is the cause of the problem.

Regards to everyone. Bill