rinker 370 2017, on/off switches, generator, alternators,

daveha · August 26

looking at various discussions and a wiring diagram and still think I don't understand.

370 has:

- generator

- generator battery

- house battery

- battery for each engine.

- on/off switch for "house" and "generator" at stern panel door.

questions:

- when plugged into shore power or running generator:

-which batteries get charged?

- what is impact of on/off switch at stern panel for "house" in on or off?

- impact of on/off switch for "generator" is on or off? does that battery get charged?

- when running engines:

- do house and gen battery get charged? if on/off switch is off?

- when sitting at anchor, no generator running:

- house battery gets used for 12v items. only if on/off is on?

- does gen battery get used for 12v items if switch is on?

Thought I understood battery and switch usage but not so sure after generator would not start (10v showing on gen battery) then losing power to vhf radio, radar, helm instruments while cruising at 30 knots after two days at mooring ball. I do think I will be replacing a battery, but wonder if I contributed to the failure by my use of generator and switches.

thanks

YYZRC · August 26

My 2008 350 does not have a separate battery for the generator. The generator shares the port start battery. Perhaps you could post some photos of your setup (batteries plus charger)? I think the factory configuration for the 2007/2008 350 and 2009+ 360/370s (same hull) was 2 start batteries and the house bank, where the AC charger and isolator had 3 outputs.

Charging while on shore power or generator only happens when the battery charger is on (breaker at AC panel). Switch position at stern DC panel doesn’t matter.

aero3113 · August 26

@YYZRC , is that the same for the 330 or is your generator on the port side? Seems strange for it to share the port battery since the generator is on the Starboard side.

YYZRC · August 26

My generator is on the starboard side.

Just guessing but perhaps it is because the generator switch is port side so the cable run from port start battery to switch to generator is shorter than what the cable run would be from starboard start battery to switch to generator.

LaRea · August 26

Right -- in general, battery switches disconnect the load from the battery. The charger and alternators are always connected to their batteries. Switch position should not prevent charging the batteries.

You lost instruments at 30 knots ... I'm thinking failed alternator. At 30 knots, your alternators should be pumping 13.5 volts or more. When an alternator fails, the engine starts drawing from the battery, and the voltage will drop in a hurry. Somebody check my logic ...

daveha · August 26

I have 4 batteries, 2 large and 2 smaller. 3 are on starboard side, 1 on port next to the generator.

yes the "battery charger breaker is on". so I think you are suggesting the on/off switches are only to Provide power and not to R

estrict or allow charging of the gen or house battery.

picture of port 3 batt, stbd 1 batt attached

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/08/j8qokf7y27fu.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/8f/y4o08cff7lgp.jpg

YYZRC · August 26

2 yellow batteries are your house batteries
Grey battery beside house batteries is your port start + generator battery
Grey battery on starboard side is your starboard start battery

Are those house batteries 6v each connected in series? Very interesting wiring arrangement to say the least.

aero3113 · August 26

@daveha remove and clean the terminals on you batteries, it could be part of the issue. The ground on this battery looks pretty bad.

Grahamu · August 26

YYZRC said:

My 2008 350 does not have a separate battery for the generator. The generator shares the port battery if I recall correctly. Perhaps you could post some photos of your setup (batteries plus charger)? I think the factory configuration for the 2007/2008 350 and 2009+ 360/370s (same hull) was 2 start batteries and the house bank, where the AC charger and isolator had 3 outputs.

Seems most Rinkers were set up this way. I have always been of the opinion that the generator be a stand alone component with it's own battery and maybe a jumper cable and switch for emergencies. A friends Rinker recently experienced his Pronautic Charger shutting down with a high voltage alarm while running the genset . Turns out the genset voltage regulator had failed and was charging at over 18 VDC. At anchor for the weekend he was unable to charge the batteries except by running an engine. He later installed a new regulator and a separate battery for the genset, problem solved.

daveha · August 27

thanks for the very useful insights. an Update. Went to the boat with a load tester. That was when I realized that I had the 2 x 6V in series (and that they were the house batteries. Also seems that the generator starter is drawing from pair of house batt. (agree should be on own battery, had that on my Cruisers)

Update on cause: Pulled off all wires to the pair of house batteries. both tested "Good" with load tester. (me showing puzzled face). so I reconnected all and tested instruments, vhf and much more. meter showed 13v (good). so turned on generator switch and started generator.... so all back to normal.

My theory: when could not start generator I must have left "battery charger" switch off, so on trip back engines could not feed the house batteries and they went from 10v down to 0 and I lost instrument displays etc.

Other lesson learned: on mooring:monitor voltage to make sure not dropping below 13v on house, run generator longer, and turn off any switches not needed (water pressure e.g.)

At least now I know where to buy the various batteries I might need and how much they cost.

thanks again.

Ian · August 27

Why 2 6V batteries? They look to be paralleled.

Grahamu · August 27

I have to agree with @LaRea, Your battery charger switch should not stop your engine alternators from charging your batteries. The charger and alternators are normally connected to the isolator which allows either or both to charge batteries. Have you checked the isolator with engine(s) running?

daveha · August 27

re: "why 2 x 6v": the boat came to me that way. not sure if all Rinkers are like that.

re: "check the isolator while running engines", I will check that out on next visit.

thanks

Spyderweb · August 27

Always assumed on my 330 that the single battery behind generator started the genny plus starboard engine on same side. Few years back genny wouldn’t start, tried bunch of things, including cleaning up that single battery connection. Stilled failed. Finally had to hire genny specialist, who spent lots of time trying things, and finally went to port side and cleaned terminals over there. Voila! Genny started. Never understood why till now. That ended up being a very expensive lesson.

rasbury · September 2

Spyderweb said:

Always assumed on my 330 that the single battery behind generator started the genny plus starboard engine on same side. Few years back genny wouldn’t start, tried bunch of things, including cleaning up that single battery connection. Stilled failed. Finally had to hire genny specialist, who spent lots of time trying things, and finally went to port side and cleaned terminals over there. Voila! Genny started. Never understood why till now. That ended up being a very expensive lesson.

Aren't they all expensive? I'm in a 270 with 2 batteries, and a gen set. Keeping them charged has always been an issue- something kills them.

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