|
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | So the past 2 trips I've taken, my boat has started okay, ran to the first area, fished for an hour or so, go to start up the engine, and nothing?? I looked at the voltage on Saturday when I first started it and it was showing 14 volts. After it wouldn't start, I looked at the voltage and it dropped to 9.5 amps or volts or whatever they're called. lol
It was a brand new battery in April and I never had this issue with it until last week. Any ideas on why this might be happening? I didn't hear anything running that shouldn't have been, and I can't imagine that a locator and GPS are going to drain a battery that fast. |
|
| |
|
| get a new one, with a lot more cranking amps. Get the BIGGEST one you can fit in your boat. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I may have to do that. The old battery lasted 3 or 4 years and I can't remember what size it was. When I looked at the battery again this weekend, the one they replaced it with seemed smaller. I'll have to check on my original paperwork to see what size they put in. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | You might take it to an auto parts store and have them check the battery. They can tell you if it's shot or not, otherwise, have them put it on an industrial charger and that might help also. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Are the water levels good? Have you verified that you don't have a voltage leak? Do you keep the battery on a charger when the boat is sitting? It sounds like a bad battery. The "why" needs to be figured out. cold temps will accelerate the problem. Mine has acted up the last two times out. I've got enough to run the electronics but not enough to get the opti started. So, I run the kicker and it puts enough thru the batt to get the main motor running. My starter batt is from 2005, so time for a new one come spring.
Good luck,
Jono
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I haven't checked the water levels yet, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a voltage leak as I can't hear anything running while the boat is off. Even if there were, only fishing an area for say an hour to hour and a half seems like a short time for it to kill the battery. It was a new battery in April, so that seems like a short life, but it's the same thing you're relating, in that it's enough to run the electronics but not enough to crank the engine.
I usually don't charge it before outings but I did this last time and it had a full charge when I pulled up to my first spot. By the end of that spot it was drained. I'm going to take it to Batteries Plus tonight to have them check it and if needed get a new one I suppose. I'm heading to GB on Thursday so I didn't want to have issues out there especially in the cold weather.
Thanks for the input so far guys! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | Make sure you have jumper cables in the boat. If the problem persists you can jump off one of your deep cycles. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Anecdotal story.....Had a guy in our camp a few years back on LOTW. Shows up with "brand new" batts. First day out back in early because the troller died. puts it on the charger, says full, comes home early again the next day. The saint of an owner (*cough* Frank Walsh *cough*) goes to get new batts to help his customer. They crack the caps on the customer's batteries afterward only to find the levels way low. top off w/ water and back in business.
Most of the time, its the easy answer. Good luck Joel.
Jono
Edited by Jono 11/18/2008 4:27 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 366
| Like Jono has said, low water levels are the first thing the battery shop will check when you take it in, and also will be the first way they'll void your warranty. Keeping them full will maximize battery life, and keep you from getting scr3wed on the warranty. Normally not an issue with newer batteries, but you should always check it out. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 385
| I would also check to be sure nothing is drawing from your battery while the boat is not running. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Joel- If you've been running a lot in rough water, you may have a cracked inner cell weld. Typical cause is vibration or shock. The inner cell welds connect the cells in series, if one cracks the battery can't supply the needed current. One of the main advantages of the Optima battery is better immunity to vibration and shock. Also check all the battery post connections and/or the engine starter connections- A bad connection in either place may cause the same symptoms.
Al |
|
| |
|
Posts: 130
Location: Chicago | This might help, saw this a while a go and thought it was pretty informative. http://www.batteryfaq.org/ |
|
| |
|
| Your voltage regulator on your motor may also be shot. It is happening on mine right now on my tiller boat. Same thing you are experiencing. Go to first spot, fish for awhile, and then dead. I will be taking my boat in soon to get the motor fixed because it is happening to brand new starting batteries. I even tried a couple new batteries and same problem. I called my mechanic and he seems to think it is the voltage regulator on the motor that is sucking it down even when the motor is off. Hope that helps!
Chad
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1086
| IF/when topping off a battery with low fluid levels...make sure you use distilled water to fill them with...not tap water.... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Safety glasses I was filling my batteries with a small squirt bottle and looking into on the last slot,I had a splash go right into my eye. I am now blind in one eye. I thought I was- it was only the distilled water that got into my eye.I was lucky. |
|
| |
