voltage drain dinghy

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booboo

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Feb 21, 2005
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16369
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ok..

Here is the problem. I have a rigid boat dinghy that has a 40 hp evinrude that has run flawlessly. Last year, I added a stereo and an automatic bilge pump to this 13 foot beauty. Problem is since that time, I have had a problem with the battery running down if the boat sits for a couple days. The other "draws" on the battery include navigation lights which of course I shut off when they are not needed. What do you think I should do to begin to trouble shoot this? Will putting an inline battery switch keep the battery from running down even if there is a small voltage leak?

Thanks
 
can you add a 'main' switch that kills everything?...or is she moored and needs the bilge on auto?
 
The inline battery switch will definitely help but you still want to determine the cause of the drain. My guess it's the stereo, as often when they're "off" they are still drawing a little power.

Another possibility is the automatic pump. Is it the type that comes on every few minutes to "check" for water? If so there is another power drain.

I would disconnect each possible drain and with the unit off, check between the battery and the disconnected lead with a voltmeter. Any reading other than zero indicates a drain.

How old is the battery??

If the dink lives outside consider adding a small (10w or so) solar panel.
 
The easy fix is the battery switch, not really a fix, but a good band-aid. If you have a volt meter that measures amps, with everything off, I would put the meter in series with bilge pump, and see if there is a draw, repeat the same for the stereo. Your problem may be the stereo, even though it is off it is drawing power for the memory, and clock. If it is the stereo, just add a power switch for that.

Also,
It might just be coincidence this is happening since you installed the bilge pump and stereo.

Sal,
if you don't have the proper amp meter for this, I think I do and could send it to you to use, just let me know.

Walter
 
Also,
another easy way to do this is to just remove the power wire for the radio first, wait a few days and see if that is it, if not do the same with the bilge pump.
 
Thanks guys. I will look into these. Time to get the little guy out of the shed. Walter, sure is a bit easier than the other boat. Problem is, no master stateroom!
 
The stereo memory/clock circuit drain should be minimal. It would take months to drain a typical battery. Remember, these are used on cars and trucks without draining the batteries.

Troubleshooting is pretty simple. Use a meter to determine if there is current flow to any of the circuits, then find out how much and why.
 
Take a standard multimeter, place the leads in the "amp" position. Place the leads in series with the positive battery cable. Pull all fuses and circuit breakers. Energize each circuit one at a time until the amp meter registers signifigant draw. That circuit is your culprit.
 
quote:
Originally posted by booboo

Here is the problem. I have a rigid boat dinghy that has a 40 hp evinrude that has run flawlessly. Last year, I added a stereo and an automatic bilge pump to this 13 foot beauty. Problem is since that time, I have had a problem with the battery running down if the boat sits for a couple days. The other "draws" on the battery include navigation lights which of course I shut off when they are not needed. What do you think I should do to begin to trouble shoot this? Will putting an inline battery switch keep the battery from running down even if there is a small voltage leak?

Click to expand...

Voltage doesn't "leak", current does.

What hasn't been mentioned here is the possibility that the battery is defective and needs to be replaced. Take it out and have it checked.

An inline battery switch, properly installed, will disconnect all the boat circuits and prevent them from drawing the battery down. A better solution is to find the culprit and fix it.
 
Install battery switch & leave it OFF when not in use. The bilge pump should go directly to the battery anyway. Is the bilge pump one of those all in one types that cycles all the time or is it the traditional setup with a float switch? Clock & memories on the stereo don't add up to much.

All this assuming the battery is in good shape of course.
 
as others have noted a battery switch will fix all but one of the issues. check your bildge pump to see if it has an electronic float switch built in. a mercury type float switch will not draw power, howeve the new built in types often cycle the pump every few mins and register flow or not to determine if there is water in the bildge. the pump is always placed in front of the battery switch so everything south of the switch will be isolated from the battery.
 
The outboard may not produce enough energy to replace and or even keep up with demand. So if the trips are short , or at low speed, you may not actualy be able to replace the used power back into the battery.

Just a thought. Whats the output from the outboard and not just its peak output.
 
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