Starter issues

[Ski in NC]

That does not pass the smell test. If charger tried to take 12v batts to 24v, the batts would be boiling and would fail soon. And there should be no effect on the starter hanging.

[Goldenstar38]

I was always under the impression 12 volt starters are safer at higher voltages than at too low a voltage. At least an old starter rebuilder told me this years ago. Of course, excessive voltage to a starter "solenoid"may be an issue.

[mattkab]

Originally Posted by Ski in NC

That does not pass the smell test. If charger tried to take 12v batts to 24v, the batts would be boiling and would fail soon. And there should be no effect on the starter hanging.

Could you expand on this a bit?

I was with the mechanic while we were tracing wires to try to find a short or a problem when it was discovered. There was definitely 24 volts coming out of the battery charger --> battery bank wires, as well as other parts of the system. Occasionally (2 or 3 times over the course of about 4 hours) the starter solenoid energized while the motor was running. It was thought it was the bow thruster at one point, and disconnected that, but still saw the problem.

We completely unhooked the battery charger, though, and all systems were normal and have been so for the past 3 trips down to the boat.

This electrical problem has been plaguing me for over a year. Besides the starter rebuild I've had to replace the alternator, and the house bank did boil dry last summer.

So that's the what. Maybe there's more to the why?

[78puget-trawler]

Originally Posted by RT Firefly

Lucas Replacement Smoke Kit

Lucas, The Prince of Darkness!

[Ski in NC]

So was the charger connected to the batteries when the 24v was detected? What was the voltage on the battery terminals? If the charger was making 24v when disconnected, that does not mean much. What matters is what the battery terminal voltage was as that is where the engine and starter power comes from.

If the starter was randomly energizing with the engine running, there is an issue with the start switch wiring between engine and helm, or the switch itself.

Batteries by their nature will resist mightily going much over about 16v and will be damaged in the process. But the starter should be unaffected at 16v.

[mattkab]

Originally Posted by Ski in NC

So was the charger connected to the batteries when the 24v was detected? What was the voltage on the battery terminals? If the charger was making 24v when disconnected, that does not mean much. What matters is what the battery terminal voltage was as that is where the engine and starter power comes from.

If the starter was randomly energizing with the engine running, there is an issue with the start switch wiring between engine and helm, or the switch itself.

Batteries by their nature will resist mightily going much over about 16v and will be damaged in the process. But the starter should be unaffected at 16v.

Yes, the charger was connected to the batteries as well as shore power when the 24 was detected. It was 24v from the charger to the starting battery (bank) as well as from the starting battery to the starter solenoid.

A correlation was seen between 24v to the starter and the starter energizing.

[Ski in NC]

So the battery was at 24v? At the terminals?

Even if that was the case, nothing should cause starter to energize by itself. There must be a fault in the start switch, wiring, etc.

[mattkab]

Originally Posted by Ski in NC

So the battery was at 24v? At the terminals?

Even if that was the case, nothing should cause starter to energize by itself. There must be a fault in the start switch, wiring, etc.

24 volts at the starter, at the charger, and at the 1/2/both switch.

Edit: And at the starer battery terminals.

[WesK]

Originally Posted by mattkab

Update: My wife just got off the phone with the shop that did the rebuild last year. Technically the warranty for materials and workmanship is 6 for months, and the work was done 10 months ago. They did replace the solenoid during the rebuild.

However, he stated that because many of those months were winter months and because the starter has seen very little use, they offered to honor the full warranty -- without us asking in fact. They will send their mobile mechanic out next week.

There are some good people in this industry.

That's good news and perhaps you should name the company.

As far as someone else's comment about getting starters cheap on eBay, that's correct but they are most likely cheap starters, not OEM quality. The same goes for alternators.

[dhays]

Glad they found the problem and got you setup. Nice to hear about a positive experience with a local shop.