All winter I have been thinking in the back of my mind "I need to check the water in my batteries." But never did. I would forget when I was down working on the boat. I had tools and parts piled up over the access to the batteries for the other projects I was working on. The excuses can go on. But I knew I needed to check them and never did.
Saturday we showed up at the boat and the wife went inside to clean and flush the water system while I worked on the exterior (installed the prop, zincs and line cutter, sanding the locations where the boat stands had originally been, start waxing). I didn't know until later that the battery monitor was reading below 11 volts.
On Sunday I hooked up the charger (again forgetting to check the water) and proceeded to charge the batteries all day. They were reading 12.85 at the end of the day after I turned off the charger. So I thought I was OK.
Yesterday morning I went down to the marina for the launch and the batteries read 10.76 volts. Checked the water (FINALLY!) and one was low the other was OK. [Side note: I put my two 4Ds in Series as my primary bank and added a Group 27 as my reserve bank last year; this discussion is just on the primary group of 4Ds. On of the 4Ds is two years old the other is about 5 years old.] I filled up both batteries with DI water. One only took a small amount but the other eat up almost 2/3 of a gallon.
After filling the water I hooked up the charger and they seemed to be taking the charge fine. My plan was to charge them to full yesterday, equalize them later this week and then equalize again checking the fluids with my refractometer every hour or so next week. It doesn't appear they are taking the initial charge. So I wonder if I fried one or both of the batteries. I have a portable charger with diagnostics built in that I will try next.
Not very happy with myself. I planned to get new batteries when we start cruising next year but I was hoping to do this in the winter of 2015-2016 when we will be in Florida preparing for a jump to the Bahamas. And with the home sale pending, it looks like this will be something I will need to address very soon since my Bride won't be pleased with the salon being ripped up right after we move aboard full time.
Any suggestions on something else I would try?
FYI: When I get new batteries I will be going with 4 6 volt golf cart batteries instead of these ridiculous 4Ds.
Saturday we showed up at the boat and the wife went inside to clean and flush the water system while I worked on the exterior (installed the prop, zincs and line cutter, sanding the locations where the boat stands had originally been, start waxing). I didn't know until later that the battery monitor was reading below 11 volts.
On Sunday I hooked up the charger (again forgetting to check the water) and proceeded to charge the batteries all day. They were reading 12.85 at the end of the day after I turned off the charger. So I thought I was OK.
Yesterday morning I went down to the marina for the launch and the batteries read 10.76 volts. Checked the water (FINALLY!) and one was low the other was OK. [Side note: I put my two 4Ds in Series as my primary bank and added a Group 27 as my reserve bank last year; this discussion is just on the primary group of 4Ds. On of the 4Ds is two years old the other is about 5 years old.] I filled up both batteries with DI water. One only took a small amount but the other eat up almost 2/3 of a gallon.
After filling the water I hooked up the charger and they seemed to be taking the charge fine. My plan was to charge them to full yesterday, equalize them later this week and then equalize again checking the fluids with my refractometer every hour or so next week. It doesn't appear they are taking the initial charge. So I wonder if I fried one or both of the batteries. I have a portable charger with diagnostics built in that I will try next.
Not very happy with myself. I planned to get new batteries when we start cruising next year but I was hoping to do this in the winter of 2015-2016 when we will be in Florida preparing for a jump to the Bahamas. And with the home sale pending, it looks like this will be something I will need to address very soon since my Bride won't be pleased with the salon being ripped up right after we move aboard full time.
Any suggestions on something else I would try?
FYI: When I get new batteries I will be going with 4 6 volt golf cart batteries instead of these ridiculous 4Ds.
