www.iFourWinns.com

I can't help you here as I always leave mine installed.
While the C-80 can interface with your engines to show data, it is not factory equipped to do so. I did the interface on mine (which requires some additional gear and know-how) and would be happy to share those details with you. If you're looking specifically for fuel-flow data, there are other, perhaps better approaches to take including the installation of an additional display and gear for that purpose as Bill K. has done and detailed in this thread - just do a search.
You may find that in your owner's manual (not sure off hand) and if you are missing the manual you'll find a downloadable version here.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Thanks for the mention. As I've posted before the "idea" of showing engine data on the chart plotter sounds a lot better in theory than in actuality. There's just not enough room on the screen (even with a C/E-80 unit) to show enough data to be useful. I added a Lowrance LMF-200 in the right binnacle of the helm (it just BARELY fits) to display fuel and engine data. And even with this gizmo it's, truthfully, not as useful as I thought it might be. Sure, it's nifty to know just how horrendously your fuel burn goes up at full throttle, but in regular use... not so much.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Let's talk about batteries some more. Yesterday's mystery malady was a low voltage reading on both voltmeters. Cruising back slowly from the gas dock, I noticed the gauges were reading 12v instead of the usual 13. Actually, the starboard engine meter was a tad below 12. I powered up to planing speed but still no change. Didn't notice this reading on the way to the gas dock but can't honestly say i looked at the voltmeters.

When I was at the gas dock, i left the stereo, chart plotter and marine radio on. (yeah, i know I shouldn't have.) I was only there for about 10 minutes. Did not have the fridges on during the trip.

Back at the dock with shore power on, I noticed the cabin lights were on so they may have been on during the trip. not certain.

With shore power, the main panel was reading 13.

Any thoughts/ideas etc.?

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

Just a guess, but if you are fine on shore power, but not while underway, it sounds like your alternator is not charging the batteries. Start the boat up and put a meter on it , and see what it''s output is. It might not be the problem, but at least it will be one thing eliminated as a source of your problem.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I don't trust the dash voltmeter; it never shows anything more than 12.5V or so; my fishfinder displays voltage ( if selected), it seems a lot more accurate ( agrees with my digital multimeter).

Graham

The dash voltmeters show the port/starboard engine battery voltages. The ship system battery can be read from the breaker panel down in the cabin.

Check your battery switches. Make sure they're set to 'On'. That controls whether the alternator will charge it. But I think that would also control whether it starts, so it might not be an issue. Check anyway.

Were the batteries removed for the winter? Re-check the cable connections to the batteries. Lay a hand to the batteries and make sure they're not hot. If they get overcharged they'll cook off the water in them and will usually feel warm to the touch. If that happens it's basically replacement time.

You're seeing 13v with shore power because of the charger. That's what it cranks into the batteries to charge them.

Re-check the voltage on each battery without the engines running and then again with them running. If there's no difference in voltage between off and running then I'd start to wonder about the alternator, or it's belt.

I can't recall which battery is used for the bilge pumps. If the pump is running (or stuck) it would drain the battery. With the engine batteries there's really nothing else draining from them besides the engine itself.

Be careful about leaving a dying battery on the shore power charger. Most chargers are smart enough not to set the battery on fire but it's always a risk. If the battery reads under 12v even after being on the shore power charger for a few hours then I'd consider replacing the battery. I would NOT leave the charger running on the boat until the source of the problem is found.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

thanx for replies. need to get meter.

i set the switches to off when i leave the boat. However, i just started doing this about 2 weeks ago based on the technician's advice. I had the boat in to fix the genny - problem left over from last fall and he advised to shut them off. previously, i left them set to on.

batteries were not removed since boat is stored in heated storage. all connections were ok at beginning of season. however, checking water level has been on my list. will check for hot batteries.

which engine is the alternator on? i'm sure i can find it but thought i'd ask. belts were ok at beginning of season.

not aware of bilge pump running constantly.

will update tomorrow.

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

sfive00, this is where the factory put my rod holders:



rjrose, I would be very surprised if it's an alternator. Both alternators charge all the batteries, both alternators would have to be bad. I'd bet on tired batteries. How old are they?

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Ditto

I also keep a digital multimeter in the tool bag as well.

jrcinnh - they are original batts - that means at least 3 years old. looks like i'll be shopping for a multimeter tomorrow.

explained situation to a friend who is mechanically inclined. he said the system is simply not calling for juice to be sent to the batteries. maybe this is tied into the fact that i am now setting the batt switches to off?

update tomorrow.

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

Three years old I wouldn't bother with all the meters and such. You need new batteries. They are just not holding a charge because they are older and need to be replaced. 2 seasons is great, 3 is pushing it.

Your boat should have the ship systems switch which cuts off all 12V systems with the exception of bilge pumps. This is the only switch we shut off. Am I doing something wrong?

What do the rest of you all do about battery switches and the ships system switch?

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

Put in my new speakers today. Will post pictures after our cruise. The cruise will determine whether or not the installation was a success or not. They do sound great though! New battery went in easily. I smelled sulfuric acid while in the bilge, I bet the old wet cell group 31 was fried since it had no way to add water.

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2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

Better Luck - it will be interesting to see responses re the switches.

also, i want everyone to disregard my brain dead question about the alternator.

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

A cheapie voltmeter from radioshaft is always a good thing to have in your boat toolbox. Useful for checking any number of things on the boat.

Yes, if you smell hydrogen sulfide in the bilge it usually means a cooked wet cell battery. Be aware that battery fumes are potentially explosive. A spark in the bilge is a bad thing. But worse is the potential for battery acid to be thrown around (like in your eyes). If you ever detect that rotten egg smell it's best to turn off EVERYTHING, remove shore power and let the cooked battery cool down completely before doing ANYTHING to it. You really, really, REALLY don't want to have a battery explode on you.

I don't know if turning off the battery switches disconnects the shore power charger from them or not. The ships system breaker only turns off 12v devices attached to that battery (this does not typically include the engine batteries).

I leave the battery switches in the on position and the charger running off shore power. I turn everything else off at the breaker panel. I only leave the salon fridge and the battery charger AC circuits turned on. I turn off all DC breakers in the panel. I do wish the salon fridge had a flippable breaker instead of the pop-up kind. I hate having to reach all the way into the fridge to turn it off (and having to remember which direction of the utterly uselessly labeled knob is actually Off).

This does mean that if I lose shore power to the boat that the 12v side of the fridge could run down the ships system battery. And a running bilge pump (either legitimately running or due to a stuck float) could potentially run those down. I look out for my slip neighbors by noticing if a bilge pump runs more often than it should. This has helped two of them discover a fresh water system leak. They now follow my advice and TURN OFF the shore water connection when not using it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Hey, this came up back last winter, what brand is the flag pole? I'd like to add one to our 348.

I've been considering getting a magnetic one, like those used on some model Sea Ray boats. I believe theirs is made by Southco.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista