www.iFourWinns.com

Good morning guys,
I have a battery and/or charger issue than may be answered by anyone in the know.
Here is the situation, after a long winter, I just put the boat in the water yesterday.
After powering the panel, I noticed the radio, blower and other accessories were not working, I checked the port and starboard engines and they were fine (13.5), the bowthruster battery was fine it read (13.5 as well, the 3 deep cycle accessories batteries read 9.6, these 3 batteries were connected in a series when I took the reading, so I'm thinking one of them or all 3 could be dead to the world.
In addition, when the ambilicle is attached to the dock (shore power)... my amp gauge inside the panel fluctuates, it will read 15 amps for a few minutes then drop to 5 or sometimes zero, then back up to 15.... I checked the shore power connections, they seem fine... so I'm wondering if I am having charger issues or battery issues.... not that is why I thought I would ask you guys, I am definitely not experienced in battery diagnostics.

If new batteries are recommended, which ones (deep cycle)
If a new charger is recommended, which one?

I hope your recommendations are available in Canada

I really hope this is a simple oversight, because the boat has only been in the water 24 hours and already it cost 5 gs to get it there (break out another 5 thousand)

Thanks guys

Collin

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Funtastik
Gatineau, Qc. Canada
2000 298 Vista
http://village.photos/members/Funtastik/Funtastik

Well a couple things I would consider and check first.

1) You mention your boat was just put back in water. Is the battery cables hooked up correctly and tight? It is common practice for battery cable(s) to be disconnected over winter lay up.

2) You verified house batteries are reading low voltage. With your charger on you should be able to measure the voltage at each house battery and verify a voltage increase at the batteries with charger on. The voltage measured at the house batteries should continue to increase from there low levels as the battery charger continues to charge batteries if the charger is good and the batteries are still good.

3) If you find a battery that is not coming up to charge like the other ones, I would take that battery into a shop and get it load tested.

If your lucky maybe a accessory was somehow left on over the winter (batteries not disconnected properly) and your charger is having a hard time bringing the three house batteries up to full charge. Your engine alternators may also charge the house batteries after a good run and assuming your house batteries are good.

Good luck.
Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

I would first clean and check the connections at the amp meter. If the problem is still there, use a meter and check the voltage at the amp meter. If the amps (up & down) are high enough, you should see the voltage go up and down too. Lights may even flicker. Do this with the charger off.

From there, then I would look at the batteries and connections.

On your panel can you turn off the battery charger breaker?

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Be careful with older batteries. Wear safety glasses, turn off the charger for a little while and check the fluid and make sure it isn't low if they are not sealed type. Add distilled water if needed.

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Thanks guys I really appreciate the help.
I will start by cleaning the connections at the volt meter in the panel, then I will disconnect the three house batteries and check their amperage individually to make sure that two good batteries are not compensating for one dead one.
Then I will connect the batteries and retest again.
Unfortunately I can't find a charger fuse in the panel (Vista 298, 2000)
I really hope that the people at the storage facility didn't leave anything on during the winter months because that would kill a battery for sure.

Off to get my hands dirty, thanks for the help guys

The way I see it, the worst case scenario is that I would have to replace all three house (deep cycle) batteries or replace the charger, either way I'm told its another thousand sorta speak.

Merci beaucoup

Collin

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Funtastik
Gatineau, Qc. Canada
2000 298 Vista
http://village.photos/members/Funtastik/Funtastik

The original charger breakers for my 298 (2004) are located under the battery switches. These are the breakers from the charger to the battery. You should also have an AC breaker on the panel, this is for the AC circuit going to the charger.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E