Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-06-2009, 04:54 AM   #1
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lake Mead Marina
Posts: 57
Default Charging Batteries with Generator?

OK, made an amateur mistake this past weekend. Went out in 110 degree temps, found great cove, set up shop for over 5 hours. Very fun, but when I went to start it up, just clicks. Sadly found the battery setting at "both". DOOCH! I ended up pulling the battery from the generator and attaching to the engine, fired right up.

I guess sitting all that time with the refridgerator running drained the batteries... is that logical? I was running the fridge and the sterio during this time, I don't think anything else was energized.

In retrospect, seems I could have fired up the generator and used that power to charge the batteries...

I hope to never make this mistake again, but just in case...???
__________________

__________________
2001 Maxum 2700 SCR - Lake Mead, Nevada
Doc_Vegas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 12:55 PM   #2
Admiral

 
seapuppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Everett Wa
Posts: 4,681
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

yep...rookie mistake.......but it does sound nice to camp in a cove for 5 hrs...


SP irate:
__________________

__________________
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
------------------------
SSN683 Association member
Par Excellence
------------------------------
2008 Bayliner 340 - "Wild Whim"
--------------------------------------
I live in my own little world....but it's okay-they know me here!!!

Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.
Tap-Rack-Bang

Anyone that sez "Size doesn't matter" has never owned a boat!
seapuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 03:22 PM   #3
Commander
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 291
Default How long should a battery last?

I'd be interested to see if anyone knows how long it is possible to run the fridge only before draining the house battery completely. I am heading out for a week and will be anchoring overnight so I am curious if my battery will last through the night keeping the fridge cold. I am not sure what size my house battery is, but if it helps, it is in a 2001 Maxum 2500 SCR.
rgreenwell8962 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 03:27 PM   #4
Admiral

 
seapuppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Everett Wa
Posts: 4,681
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

if you have a group 24..then it will be marginal if it will keep the charge for 24 hrs....but I'd look at installing either a group 27 or 1 extra gp 24.....installed parallel it will keep the fridge running for quite awhile...or ....
stick golf cart batts in....a bank of those will run your boat for a week....of course they weight about twice as much....


might wanna get the ph levels checked on those batt's....might be low ..thus not taking a full charge...

SP irate:
__________________
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
------------------------
SSN683 Association member
Par Excellence
------------------------------
2008 Bayliner 340 - "Wild Whim"
--------------------------------------
I live in my own little world....but it's okay-they know me here!!!

Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.
Tap-Rack-Bang

Anyone that sez "Size doesn't matter" has never owned a boat!
seapuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 03:33 PM   #5
Commander
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 291
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

Is there a test kit I can purchase at the auto parts store to check the ph levels? Also, any recommendation on a new deep cycle battery? I am looking on fishery supply and it doesnt seem to specify whether the deep cycle batteries are group 24 or 27.

THanks


Quote:
Originally Posted by seapuppy
if you have a group 24..then it will be marginal if it will keep the charge for 24 hrs....but I'd look at installing either a group 27 or 1 extra gp 24.....installed parallel it will keep the fridge running for quite awhile...or ....
stick golf cart batts in....a bank of those will run your boat for a week....of course they weight about twice as much....


might wanna get the ph levels checked on those batt's....might be low ..thus not taking a full charge...

SP irate:
rgreenwell8962 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 06:39 PM   #6
Admiral

 
seapuppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Everett Wa
Posts: 4,681
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

yeah...any auto parts store will have a ph tester...looks like a turkey baster...


go to costco..they have both gp 24/27 batts...cheaper than fisheries....plus a pretty good warranty..

SP
__________________
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
------------------------
SSN683 Association member
Par Excellence
------------------------------
2008 Bayliner 340 - "Wild Whim"
--------------------------------------
I live in my own little world....but it's okay-they know me here!!!

Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.
Tap-Rack-Bang

Anyone that sez "Size doesn't matter" has never owned a boat!
seapuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2009, 04:16 PM   #7
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lake Mead Marina
Posts: 57
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

Thanks. So howz about my question with the genny? Do you guys think we could have charged the engine batteries using the on-board generator? Thanks
__________________
2001 Maxum 2700 SCR - Lake Mead, Nevada
Doc_Vegas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2009, 10:48 PM   #8
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

Yes you can charge your batteries with the onboard generator. With the generator running, turn on your battery charger/converter switch on the 120VAC panel. Then watch your voltmeter on the 12VDC panel -- you should see the voltage rise up to about 14 volts, indicating batteries are being charged. I do this all the time.
Big Daddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 12:31 AM   #9
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lake Mead Marina
Posts: 57
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

THANKS! Sadly, moving the batteries around caused me lose a pair of shorts and a great Hawaiin shirt to acid burns. Well, I learn more every day.
__________________
2001 Maxum 2700 SCR - Lake Mead, Nevada
Doc_Vegas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 02:47 AM   #10
cj
Lieutenant
 
cj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 53
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

I have a 2400scr with two group24's. Before I went out this spring, I ran my fridge in the driveway for 2days/nights on setting 2, then tried to start the engine when I hooked up the hose. It fired right up. I have camped all summer, overnighting etc.. and always make sure #2 is selected, just in case. We run lights, stereo, and fridge etc.. all night, and never had to switch to #1 to start. My boat is always plugged in while in the driveway though, so my batts are always topped right up ready to go.

Cheers
Chris
cj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2009, 04:14 PM   #11
Moderator

 
shrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,588
Default Re: Charging Batteries with Generator?

OK, I'm going to TRY not to hijack this thread, but this is something I've been wrestling with for a couple of weeks and JUST got back from a week's vacation on the boat and had a tough couple of days on the hook without house power. ops:

I've been having battery capacity issues. I recently upgraded to two Group 31 AGM batteries. I've been having significant issues maintaining house power. recently I left the boat on anchor with a fully charged house battery and the anchor light on. I came back about 6-8 hrs later and the battery was dead. I've been running a Honda 2000 to charge the battery and after 4+ hours with nothing but the charger running, my 12v systems continue to slowly die. I would think that at the very least the generator would be able to maintain the existing charge without drawing on the battery. At the time I had the fridge off.

Steps taken so far:

1) I've been leaving my fridge turned up to 5 while on the battery. I've since been turning it completely off.

2) I 'discovered' the wife was using a 12V cigarette lighter style mount for her iPOD. In the car, it doesn't get power when the ignitiion is off. On the boat it does. We've since unplugged it.

3) Stopped playing CD's and now only play FM stereo when on battery and limit its usage.

I'm still getting very poor battery life on brand new AGM batteries. The only change I recenlty had was the pressure water pump was not getting any power. I found it, like many other 12v devices on my boat was connected directly to the battery. I had decided to run it up to the fuse bus at the dash to ensure it was on teh battery switch. I noticed this was causing the lights to dim and the stereo to cut out when the water was turned on.

I've since completelly disconnect the pressure water pump. After doing so, I could get the charger to flip to float while running the generator. I was able to wake up on sunday morning and actually run the stereo the next morning and I had lights the next morning as well.

-> Could the length of the run to the fuse bus at the dash cause such an issue?

-> I notice that my guages all drop when I use 12v at the dash, such as Outdrive Trim or tabs. Could a short cause such a draw on the battery?

-> I'm considering moving both Group 31 AGM, into parallel for the house and adding a smaller starting battery for hthe motor.

I'm just trying to chase this issue down. I've removed as many variables as I can, but I'm not sure where to go next.
__________________

shrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Strange gas and acceleration problems Rod Engines 4 08-07-2009 02:03 AM
Anyone put trim tabs on an 1800mx? TBarCYa Maxum Owners General Discussions 5 03-15-2009 12:07 PM
Transducer location macfranz Electronics 4 09-08-2008 05:13 PM
Buying a new engine hybris1 Engines 2 07-01-2008 06:31 PM
spun prop Cal boatr Engines 5 11-20-2007 12:16 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 07:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.