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07-06-2020, 07:58 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Alternator, Combiner, Wiring, Help!
I have a battery issue. Stumped. Last year I was having generator fuel issues. While on the phone with the Generator Rep He mentioned that during cranking it sounded like i had weak batteries. (ain't the live video chat great!) So i replaced the batteries (4 6V golfcart) with new Interstate batteries. One 800 cranking battery and one 700 extended hour battery.
The cranking (start) battery is fine. The combiner always brings it back to 13.8V. The extended (house battery) is always weak. It never gets above 12 V. It dies during use from head use, water pump, or chart plotter use (even while underway, with engine running full speed.)
Today I went down to the boat, installed a identical crank battery in place of the extended hour battery. (thinking dissimilar batteries were an issue) no difference. Then I swapped the combiner leads from one battery to the other. No difference. I'm amazed that the combiner wasn't the problem. The changed leads still charge the start battery to full quickly and the house battery barely gets charged.
So my quandry is: what to look for before I throw in the towel and call a marine electrician and blow a boatbuck or two to fix it?
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07-06-2020, 08:49 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Puget Sound
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 631
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make sure that the ground connection between the two batteries is good, Might connect the two negative terminals together with a jumper cable to test...
__________________
When crap happens, turn it into fertilizer for your tree of knowledge..... Scott Brodie
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07-07-2020, 05:06 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,093
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What make/model combiner? There are lots of different kinds.
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MVTanglewood.com
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07-07-2020, 05:43 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Narragansett Bay
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36 Classic #715
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,857
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ka_sea_ta
make sure that the ground connection between the two batteries is good, Might connect the two negative terminals together with a jumper cable to test...
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I agree with checking the grounds. Sounds like the positive side / combiner is working as it should. At least on the start battery. A poor ground connection on the other battery will limit its charging and / or output. Combining grounds with a jumper while charging is a quick and easy way of testing. You could also test the resistance between battery grounds with a simple volt meter.
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Carl
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07-07-2020, 08:06 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cigatoo
I agree with checking the grounds. Sounds like the positive side / combiner is working as it should. At least on the start battery. A poor ground connection on the other battery will limit its charging and / or output. Combining grounds with a jumper while charging is a quick and easy way of testing. You could also test the resistance between battery grounds with a simple volt meter.
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I ohmed the common neg cable. It was good. I removed all the cables and cleaned the connections (nothing stood out). It is a west marine ‘battery combiner ll’. Labeled 130-2.
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07-07-2020, 08:07 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ka_sea_ta
make sure that the ground connection between the two batteries is good, Might connect the two negative terminals together with a jumper cable to test...
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Going to try that today. Nothing else seems to be changing any ability to charge.
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07-07-2020, 09:28 AM
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#8
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Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,786
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That West Marine labeled combiner was probably supplied by Yandina. Call them and ask for help. They are extremely helpful and offer a lifetime warranty for their products, but don't know if that applies to WM branded stuff.
http://yandina.com/
David
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07-07-2020, 09:58 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Southport, FL near Panama City
Vessel Name: FROLIC
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cappy208
So i replaced the batteries (4 6V golfcart) with new Interstate batteries. One 800 cranking battery and one 700 extended hour battery.
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I couldn't get beyond the ambiguity of this description of your battery arrangement. Is it four 6V batts and two others, like GP 27s, or two banks of differing sized 6Vs?
__________________
Rich Gano
FROLIC (2005 MainShip 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
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07-08-2020, 05:16 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Narragansett Bay
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36 Classic #715
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,857
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If your combiner is properly installed it should be fused at the positive terminal of each battery. Usually a buss fuse. Might want to check those. If it’s a Blueseas ACR you will have flashing green light indicating a poor connection / blown fuse at the battery.
__________________
Carl
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07-09-2020, 07:34 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Ok. After further digging:
This is a fairly accurate representation of my current system.
Incorrect use of battery switches instead of cut off switches makes this installation not allow battery combiner to charge batteries.
Any suggestions how to rewire and make proper?
Of course with my limited knowledge of electronic blueprints.....
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07-09-2020, 07:53 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cappy208
Ok. After further digging:
This is a fairly accurate representation of my current system.
Attachment 104773
Incorrect use of battery switches instead of cut off switches makes this installation not allow battery combiner to charge batteries.
Any suggestions how to rewire and make proper?
Of course with my limited knowledge of electronic blueprints.....
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This is the original installation (as far as I can determine).
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