mattkab
Senior Member
Hi all.
I have an odd situation happening on our new-to-us boat.
When we leave the boat, we leave on the 3-stage charger on and plugged in, and charging both battery banks (starting and house). I don't have the model handy, but we will be on the boat this weekend and I can get it if it matters.
When we get to the boat the next time (a few days to a week or two later), the battery status indicator shows both banks at full capacity. The analog volt meter on the electrical panel will also show the same when I check. At this point, everything is as it should be.
Then, if we start to use battery power at the dock, running lights, radio, etc, the house bank begins to drain with the charger still plugged in and on. After a few hours, the status indicator will still show only a trickle-charge on both banks, but the volt-meter will show a substantial drop on the output of the house bank (not empty, but definitely showing the results of usage).
The battery charger never appears to notice that the house bank has been discharged and kick in to compensate.
If I shut off the charger for 30 seconds or so, and then turn it back on, it will go through it's normal cycle, see that the house bank has been discharged, and will recharge the battery before switching to its float stage.
Is this normal? I've never noticed it on my previous boats, but then again, I didn't have the status indicator showing the current charge state before.
Can/should I fix it? How? Please advise.
Thanks in advance.
I have an odd situation happening on our new-to-us boat.
When we leave the boat, we leave on the 3-stage charger on and plugged in, and charging both battery banks (starting and house). I don't have the model handy, but we will be on the boat this weekend and I can get it if it matters.
When we get to the boat the next time (a few days to a week or two later), the battery status indicator shows both banks at full capacity. The analog volt meter on the electrical panel will also show the same when I check. At this point, everything is as it should be.
Then, if we start to use battery power at the dock, running lights, radio, etc, the house bank begins to drain with the charger still plugged in and on. After a few hours, the status indicator will still show only a trickle-charge on both banks, but the volt-meter will show a substantial drop on the output of the house bank (not empty, but definitely showing the results of usage).
The battery charger never appears to notice that the house bank has been discharged and kick in to compensate.
If I shut off the charger for 30 seconds or so, and then turn it back on, it will go through it's normal cycle, see that the house bank has been discharged, and will recharge the battery before switching to its float stage.
Is this normal? I've never noticed it on my previous boats, but then again, I didn't have the status indicator showing the current charge state before.
Can/should I fix it? How? Please advise.
Thanks in advance.