www.iFourWinns.com

I am a new owner of the above mentioned boat. The previous owner had a custom stereo installed- actually he left the Sony head unit and installed some sub-woofers, amps and a bunch of tower speakers. He also installed a second battery with a switch allowing Battery 1, Battery 2, Both, and Off.

Normally I turn the battery to off when I am done boating for the day. While at the lake for the past week, I left the switch on over-night. One battery was weak and barely started the motor. I also noticed that day that the stereo would only work at fairly quite volumes and would cut out if I turned it up. When I got home I took both batteries out to have them tested, assuming I had a bad battery. Both batteries tested great. I put the batteries back in the boat and now I have absolutely no power. I am pretty confident that I have put the batteries back in correctly. There is a fuse back by the motor that is called, "Helm Power" that is kind of a push button. Should that be in or out? I tested the Helm Power breaker and it appears to not be tripped-

How far out should the red fuse that comes out from the engine be? It wont push in either- but maybe it is "in"-

In advance, thanks for the help!!

Make sure you have the red wire from the "helm power" hooked up to a "hot" terminal. I'm betting that the stereo was not getting enought power and cut out when it tried to draw more power...if you left the stereo and amps on overnight, it really would have drained the battery.

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2008 H210
Volvo 5.0 GXi
"Summer Sled"
Indianapolis

I think Steve is right. Ran into same problem on my 07 H200SS when I put the batteries back in come spring. For got to hook the the red helm power wire cuz it had managed to get hidden under a panel and did not see it.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Besides checking the helm power go get a good battery charger. And plug that bad boy up overnight. I have an H203 and it came stock not sure about the 200 but it is really nice when I store the boat over winter inside I don't disconnect them just plug them up about once a month or so and they stay charged. An amp pulls enough juice to drain the battery as well.

First, thanks to all for their replies!

I've been out in the boat trying to figure out the wiring... here goes-

Here’s how the boat is wired…

The positive from battery 1 goes to the “in” on the battery switch 1.
The positive from battery 2 goes to the “in” on the battery switch 2.
The negative from battery 1 goes to the negative on battery 2.

There are two clear cables that are taped with black tape that come from the stereo that attached to the negative pole of battery 1. The ONLY thing I could have messed up when hooking the batteries back up are those wires from the stereo. Could they have gone on the positive pole?

From the “out” on the battery switch:
-two blue heavy gauge wires that go up to the stereo rig.
-a thick red wire which goes to the engine
-a red wire with stripes that goes to a 30 amp helm power breaker.

From the helm power you a red-striped wire that goes to the fuse box at the helm.

I have checked both batteries and they are fine. I have checked the helm power breaker and it is not blown. I have also checked every fuse in the boat and they all appear fine.

What in the world is going on?

In advance, Thanks!

You didn't mention any wire going from the -ve of either battery going to a ground point on the engine. Incidentally, the factory dual battery set up has a dedicated ground wire to the engine on each battery, rather than just one.

Graham

I agree - you mentioned bat 2 neg going to bat 1 neg, but is the bat 1 neg attached to engine ground?

Also - when they checked the batteries did they check the charge or just to see if they had a dead cell? With everything going on have you made sure to turn your battery selector back to either bat 1 or bat 2....i assume you did, but sometimes the simple things get overlooked....at least for me they do:)

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

+3 on the thick black ground wire not being connected to battery 1 or battery 2. This is another reson I like to see individual grounds from each battery to the block.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Post some pictures as it makes it easier for the guys to analyze (i use photobucket and its free). +4 on Battery 1 with a negative to the block (assuming battery 1 is in the original spot as it came from the factory and the previous owner installed battery 2).

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Individual grounds are not required on a dual battery setup as long as your terminals touch one another on top of the battery. Pull the stereo wire off the switch and either jumper it to the battery of hook it up if it reaches, take the switch out of the equation, if it works then you know it may be the switch.

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.