Electrical System Problems - Any Ideas?

[Chris Reinke (CD330 Innis]

I am totally perplexed. Like most sailors, I consider myself to be relatively proficient in trouble shooting the onboard systems – but this has me totally confused.

At the end of last season my batteries and charging system were functioning perfectly. I have two group 27 batteries (purchased 8/99) hooked up as my house bank and an automobile type battery (purchased 4/99) as my engine bank. I replaced my alternator at the start of last season with a high output model. I have a dual bank Newmar model ABC 12-15 charger wired directly to each bank.

Here are the three confusing issues which may or may not be related:

1 – The shore power indicator light comes on when the shore power is connected. The indicator light begins to blink randomly and dimly when I turn on the battery charger. I can operate appliances in the outlets without any problem and the indicator light remains on providing the charger is off.

2 – The battery charger has an amp meter located on the front panel. The charger shows it is putting out almost 15amps when it is turned on. After about 5 minutes of operation the charger will suddenly drop to 0 output at which time the shore power indicator light will return to full intensity and no longer blink. After another 3 to 5 minutes the charger will kick back on and the shore power indicator will begin the blink dimly again.

3 – While out sailing this past weekend I was motoring down the Hudson River during the early morning hours. The amp meter on my engine panel indicated a moderate charge when I first started the motor. After 15 minutes or so the amp meter showed little output so I assumed my batteries were fully charged. Once the wind picked up an hour or so later we raised the sails. I had only the cockpit instruments operating off my house battery bank of two group 27 wet cells. After 3 hours of sailing I tried to start the motor while using the house bank. The battery level had dropped from 12v to 9v and was unable to turn over the motor. I was able to start the motor without a problem off my other battery bank.

Any ideas as to why my battery charger would cause my shore power indicator light to blink dimly? Any ideas as to why my charger would peak at 15amp output and then suddenly drop to 0? Any thought as to how my minimal cockpit gauges could draw down 2 group 27 cells after only several hours (last season I could get 24 hours of guage operation without the need to recharge the cells)? Can all these items be related?

I guess my last call for assistance should be to ask if anyone knows a good marine electrician in the New York area?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I am at a total loss to explain this one.

Thanks,
Chris Reinke




chris.reinke@transamerica.com

[Patrick Turner]

I know there are some folks out there with alot more electrical knowledge then I have, but I would suspect a short of some kind in the battery charger. The short causes a stronger draw which dims the AC light and also creates heat in the charger which might then trip a safety in the charger. Charger cools off...no drain...pilot light looks normal...charger kicks on again, etc. The short might also "suck" power from your batteries. That's where I'd start to look at any rate.

Pat



patturner@earthlink.net

[Larry DeMers]

Chris,

Boy, perplexing problem, as you say. It could be something is gone in the charger and drawing too much current. It is also possible that the Inverter (if equipped) is trying to feed the AC lines, causing a loss there (trying to work on the dimly lit pilot light symptom.

This is a good example of a complex problem solved better by symplifying it. Try to isolate the AC from the charger, and see if that stops the blinking pilot lamp..or if it has anything to do with it. Next, see if the charger is outputting much current while the AC is on (ie;where is the current going when it flattens your battery). Eventually your symptoms will whittle the possible causes down to a single one, but we need more info first.

What system and charger is this? Is there an inverter as I assumed? Is it working normally under all other conditions?

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

I am totally perplexed. Like most sailors, I consider myself to be relatively proficient in trouble shooting the onboard systems - but this has me totally confused.

At the end of last season my batteries and charging system were functioning perfectly. I have two group 27 batteries (purchased 8/99) hooked up as my house bank and an automobile type battery (purchased 4/99) as my engine bank. I replaced my alternator at the start of last season with a high output model. I have a dual bank Newmar model ABC 12-15 charger wired directly to each bank.

Here are the three confusing issues which may or may not be related:

1 - The shore power indicator light comes on when the shore power is connected. The indicator light begins to blink randomly and dimly when I turn on the battery charger. I can operate appliances in the outlets without any problem and the indicator light remains on providing the charger is off.

2 - The battery charger has an amp meter located on the front panel. The charger shows it is putting out almost 15amps when it is turned on. After about 5 minutes of operation the charger will suddenly drop to 0 output at which time the shore power indicator light will return to full intensity and no longer blink. After another 3 to 5 minutes the charger will kick back on and the shore power indicator will begin the blink dimly again.

3 - While out sailing this past weekend I was motoring down the Hudson River during the early morning hours. The amp meter on my engine panel indicated a moderate charge when I first started the motor. After 15 minutes or so the amp meter showed little output so I assumed my batteries were fully charged. Once the wind picked up an hour or so later we raised the sails. I had only the cockpit instruments operating off my house battery bank of two group 27 wet cells. After 3 hours of sailing I tried to start the motor while using the house bank. The battery level had dropped from 12v to 9v and was unable to turn over the motor. I was able to start the motor without a problem off my other battery bank.

Any ideas as to why my battery charger would cause my shore power indicator light to blink dimly? Any ideas as to why my charger would peak at 15amp output and then suddenly drop to 0? Any thought as to how my minimal cockpit gauges could draw down 2 group 27 cells after only several hours (last season I could get 24 hours of guage operation without the need to recharge the cells)? Can all these items be related?

I guess my last call for assistance should be to ask if anyone knows a good marine electrician in the New York area?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I am at a total loss to explain this one.

Thanks,
Chris Reinke

demers@sgi.com

[John R.]

I am totally perplexed. Like most sailors, I consider myself to be relatively proficient in trouble shooting the onboard systems – but this has me totally confused.

At the end of last season my batteries and charging system were functioning perfectly. I have two group 27 batteries (purchased 8/99) hooked up as my house bank and an automobile type battery (purchased 4/99) as my engine bank. I replaced my alternator at the start of last season with a high output model. I have a dual bank Newmar model ABC 12-15 charger wired directly to each bank.

Here are the three confusing issues which may or may not be related:

1 – The shore power indicator light comes on when the shore power is connected. The indicator light begins to blink randomly and dimly when I turn on the battery charger. I can operate appliances in the outlets without any problem and the indicator light remains on providing the charger is off.

2 – The battery charger has an amp meter located on the front panel. The charger shows it is putting out almost 15amps when it is turned on. After about 5 minutes of operation the charger will suddenly drop to 0 output at which time the shore power indicator light will return to full intensity and no longer blink. After another 3 to 5 minutes the charger will kick back on and the shore power indicator will begin the blink dimly again.

3 – While out sailing this past weekend I was motoring down the Hudson River during the early morning hours. The amp meter on my engine panel indicated a moderate charge when I first started the motor. After 15 minutes or so the amp meter showed little output so I assumed my batteries were fully charged. Once the wind picked up an hour or so later we raised the sails. I had only the cockpit instruments operating off my house battery bank of two group 27 wet cells. After 3 hours of sailing I tried to start the motor while using the house bank. The battery level had dropped from 12v to 9v and was unable to turn over the motor. I was able to start the motor without a problem off my other battery bank.

Any ideas as to why my battery charger would cause my shore power indicator light to blink dimly? Any ideas as to why my charger would peak at 15amp output and then suddenly drop to 0? Any thought as to how my minimal cockpit gauges could draw down 2 group 27 cells after only several hours (last season I could get 24 hours of guage operation without the need to recharge the cells)? Can all these items be related?

I guess my last call for assistance should be to ask if anyone knows a good marine electrician in the New York area?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I am at a total loss to explain this one.

Thanks,
Chris Reinke

Chris,
Pat is on the right track. Based on my experience it appears by your detailed description your charger has developed a failed board or a short. I would yank the charger and send it in to Newmar service. If you are reluctant then call Newmar and afford their service department the opportunity to give you feedback on the problem.