3 starting batteries in a year. Need help.

[ssaamm]

Hi my fishing buddy has 18 or 19ftLund. About 10 years old with an I/0. He has been having quite a bit of trouble the last couple of years. Every time we have the fellas up for a trip he ends up having to buy a new starting battery. He has 2 theories. 1) His alternater is going bad causing premature battery drain.2) His Gps is drawing too much and draining the system. He usually charges his boat for hours before our trips. Usually while out on the water his I/O will just die while driving around. Once after the big motor died he was able to get the kicker started. Then he could get the big motor started. It died when he put it in neutral. I can't imagine the gps could be the issue. I've forgotten mine for 12hrs before and no big deal. He needs to get it in for a look.

Any thoughts? Bad battery? Dieing alternator? Bad battery charger? Thank for any idea.

[SpecialK]

If it's an I/O like I am thinking (auto style motor) he should be able to take the alternator off the motor and bring it in to Autozone, Napa, O' Reily's and have them load test it. Needs to be off the oat though.

I would lean towards the Alternator myself.

[grizzly]

First thing is he using the correct type and size of battery? A deep cycle battery is made to be drained then recharged and will not last as long if being continuously charged. You need to use a starting battery for this.

Second you can try checking the charger and alternator by first seeing what the battery voltage is, then hooking up the charger or starting the motor and checking that the voltage went up a few volts. If so your charger/alternator is probably working but may not be puting out any amperage. To check this use an amp meter to make sure it is putting out the correct amps. Don't trust the amp meter on the charger. I really don't think the gps would do it, but I have heard they use a little even when turned off

[JohnMickish]

What is he running for a GPS and is it on all the time or is it on a switch? The new Lowrance units, if left on all the time will run a battery dead in a few weeks. It might be easiest to put in a battery isolation switch or main breaker and just turn it off when not in use, that way there isn't anything that can draw the battery down.

[boatfixer]

I would agree with testing the alternator. Theyre aint a GPS out there that will kill an engine. Something else is causing his troubles

[BobT]

Hi my fishing buddy has 18 or 19ftLund. About 10 years old with an I/0. He has been having quite a bit of trouble the last couple of years. Every time we have the fellas up for a trip he ends up having to buy a new starting battery. He has 2 theories. 1) His alternater is going bad causing premature battery drain.2) His Gps is drawing too much and draining the system. He usually charges his boat for hours before our trips. Usually while out on the water his I/O will just die while driving around. Once after the big motor died he was able to get the kicker started. Then he could get the big motor started. It died when he put it in neutral. I can't imagine the gps could be the issue. I've forgotten mine for 12hrs before and no big deal. He needs to get it in for a look.

Any thoughts? Bad battery? Dieing alternator? Bad battery charger? Thank for any idea.

A couple things crossed my mind.

You don't specify what type of battery he is buying but I assume it is a starting battery or a dual-purpose battery. If he's using deep cycle batteries for this then he may be using the wrong type battery and it won't like the application very well. Will a deep cycle work to start an outboard? Absolutely but it isn't designed for it and so it won't like it very much.

You said, "He usually charges his boat for hours before our trips." Does he charge it immediately after the trips or does he wait and charge it before each trip. Let's say his motor's charging system is not functioning. If he's cycling the battery down using electronics and such and then leaving it sit for days or weeks before recharging, his batteries won't like it very much. It's hard on batteries to be stored for any length of time low on charge. They should be recharged as soon as possible after each use.

[JohnMickish]

My buddy runs the new 4000 lowrance pucks on his Ranger and he kept having the main battery run dead. Frankies marine told him that even though they are off the antenna is pulling something like 400ma and over a couple of weeks it will run the battery dead. I'm not saying this is the cause here, but a battery shut off will cure it of any battery drain. This is what I was told from Frankies, who knows a thing or two about boats.

[ssaamm]

I checked his story. He has bought starting batteries and charged the batteries before and after use. Seems odd that the boat would fizzle out in the middle of a day of fishing. It would make more sense if it wouldn't start at all if it was simply a battery issue.

[RebelSS]

I would take that alternator out asap and have it checked for proper amp output; then check those batts for proper voltage, do a load test on them, and check for a strong parasitic drain somewhere in your electrical systems. A total check of the electrical system with a voltmeter is in order. Something in that electrical system isn't kosher; as your engine should not die out in relation to battery problems. Are you positive the batteries hadn't been OVERcharged? I feel you've got another issue going on here...just my

Good luck. Let us know what you find.

[Smokey]

My money is on the alternator. I had the diode (rectifier) bridge go bad on mine (a 1995) about 10 years ago, and it would cause the starting battery to discharge in an hour or so. I would actually see a little spark when I hooked up the big red wire to the positive battery terminal.

I was able to get just the rectifier bridge, and replaced it. Still running good today.

As others have mentioned, your best bet is to pull it off and take it somewhere to get tested. Maybe even NAPA.

[Sportland_Bait]

One easy solution that we install on lots of boats we store is a battery shut off switch. Saves a lot of headaches. It'll cut all draw on the battery. It is amazing how many boats have a slow draw coming from one of many sources. Radios, speakers, antenas, clocks, you name it. They all could have a slow draw. Just an idea and they are pretty cheap too.

Jason Erlandson

[LightningBG]

I'd put a new alternator in, and a battery cutoff. Shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred bucks if you put it in yourself.