Tuesday
November 15th, 2016
Electrical Problems
A couple of times now, while we
were sleeping we’ve been having one of the CO2 detectors go off with a high pitch alarm due to low
voltage, not C02 detection! So, last evening around 3 AM this happened
again. I unscrewed the CO2 detector and
threw a voltmeter across it…. 8.2 VDC… very low. Before leaving on our trip we replaced all 4
battery’s… one standard starting battery for the generator, one deep cycle #29
for the Starboard engine and two deep cycle #29’s connected in parallel for the
Port engine and house draw. After seeing just over 8 volts I cleared the
cockpit to opened the hatch over the engines and batteries… When checking the
single #29 battery for the starboard engine I was a bit baffled because it was just over 8 volts. I then went topside to see if this battery
would start the Starboard engine, it did…but in trying to start the Port
engine, it just clicked and wouldn’t turn over. So the single #29 is on the Port engine not the
Starboard engine. Thinking back when
ever I’ve had trouble starting any engine due to low power it’s always been the
Port engine…This was my first misunderstanding… I
checked the two #29’s that are connected together in parallel and I had a nice
12.7 volts….this is why the starboard engine started right up. So what the heck is drawing this single
battery down that just happens to have one of the hard wired CO2 detectors
connected to it? I decided to pull the
positive cable from this low battery only to find out that the refrigerator was connected to it. I don’t know who set this up
prior to us purchasing this boat, but why would you put a device
(refrigerator) that draws the most power on a single battery when you have a
double battery bank. I open the AC/DC
panel, installed a new breaker on the Battery 2 side which is connected to the dual
battery’s and moved the wire running from the fridge over to that buss. Tonight will be the test to see if all is
well…
I’d like to personally thank
my Generator for always starting and running 110 VAC to power the battery
charger.
Back into Gulfport, Fl to look at some of the shops.
Found these rather nice, large carvings....
Enjoying the Super Moon while anchored in Boca Bay...
Free Fireworks tonight from someone ashore...
Yahooo...
