help with onboard charger

[black otter]

So, I just plugged in my onboard charger and the check connection lite is on for both batteries. Ive never seen this before on my boat.the connections are tight, not sure where to go from here. Any ideas?

[CAMAN]

Disconnect everything attached to it and see if it goes away. Might have a short somewhere in your wiring.

[SpecialK]

I would take the connections off the batteries, clean them then reconnect and test again.

[black otter]

Yep, thats the plan, hopefully fixes it. Any good wiring diagrams so I know they are hooked up right? Im a newbie with this charger system, it was installed by the dealer.

[Pat K]

Tape all the wires connected to the (-) post together with black tape.

Tape the wires connected to the (+) terminal with red tape.

Clean connections and terminals then replace wires on the proper terminal.

[black otter]

Ok, so I took all wires off, tried again, still says check connection. So, I tried to just hook the two wires(to each battery) from charger. no conn. light still on, shouldnt it charge even though the troll motor isnt hooked up? I replaced the four fuses in the wires to the battery.

Looking for some more tips, I hate to spend $100 to have it looked at, Im sure Im just missing something easy. Thanks.

[pulleye16]

Shouldn't cost $100 to look at. Sounds like something IS wrong, either the battery or charger. Bring to batteries pluz and they can check the battery for free. If the battery is good, then you know its the charger...and I think they can test that as well for you for free.

The only thing I can think of that hasen't been said is if you are using an extention cord, don't! Try charging staight from the wall outlet.

[Chris Haley]

You say you plugged in the charger? Was the boat left with the charger unplugged all winter in an unheated building? If so, you could have froze your batteries and if that's what happened they are so dead that they wouldn't even take a charge causing the charger to tell you to check the connections.

I leave mine plugged in all winter.

[black otter]

Was in heated garage, but yep, both batteries are dead. Manual said a dead battery will give that no conn. light. Thanx for the advice guys, I knew it was something I just missed. I sure didnt think the batts. were stone dead.