2 battery questions
 

Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist knob).
Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and the boat
sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot seem to
figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything off in the
boat. How can I track down the "leak".

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do this
which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery so
the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the boat
uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as well - ie -
I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots guide out
there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much build anything
and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue - but for some
reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so a well drawn
out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

If you add a second battery, use one of them strictly for starting the
engine. Don't follow your plan to use one for the radio, and then put
the starter, the lights, and everything else on the other.

The most important electrical funciton on your boat is starting the
engine. If you can get the engine started you can recharge a dead
battery hooked to the stereo, etc.

Now, however, if you're a young single guy and you use the boat for
dating- ignore my advice.
Rig that son of a gun so the engine battery is
stone dead about the time you reach some secluded little cove. "Golly,
Esmeralda- it looks like the engine won't start and we'll have to drift
around here for a while until somebody comes by to tow us in..... In
the meanwhile, we can play the stereo and there's some cold beer in the
refrigerator" :-)

On 24 May 2005 00:34:32 -0700, wrote:

If you add a second battery, use one of them strictly for starting the
engine. Don't follow your plan to use one for the radio, and then put
the starter, the lights, and everything else on the other.

The most important electrical funciton on your boat is starting the
engine. If you can get the engine started you can recharge a dead
battery hooked to the stereo, etc.

Good advice.

Now, however, if you're a young single guy and you use the boat for
dating- ignore my advice.
Rig that son of a gun so the engine battery is
stone dead about the time you reach some secluded little cove. "Golly,
Esmeralda- it looks like the engine won't start and we'll have to drift
around here for a while until somebody comes by to tow us in..... In
the meanwhile, we can play the stereo and there's some cold beer in the
refrigerator" :-)

Even better advice.

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 24 May 2005 05:58:21 GMT, "Rob V" wrote:

Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist knob).
Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and the boat
sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot seem to
figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything off in the
boat. How can I track down the "leak".

Hmmm - well, if you aren't One with Mr. Electricity, then it will be
harder to diagnose why the batter is dead when it's essentially
disconnected. The only thing I can advise is to check that the two
wires from the battery to the switch and make sure the switch is wired
properly. You are looking for a break in the negative or positive
line - make sure it is a complete break then the switch is off. You
can use a test light (a screwdriver looking deal with a long pointed
end and a light bulb in the handle and a long lead to connect to
ground - available at any auto store) and check for live wires after
the switch when the switch is off.

It's also possible that something is wired around the cutoff switch
and if I had to bet, it would be the radio. I've seen this happen and
while the memories don't draw a lot - if the radio doesn't have an
internal station memory (flash memory) - then over time, 24/7 it will
draw down a battery significantly. The only solution to that is to
purchase a radio with flash memory and hook it up to the power source
after the cut off switch.

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do this
which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery so
the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the boat
uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as well - ie -
I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots guide out
there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much build anything
and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue - but for some
reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so a well drawn
out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

It would help to see a schematic of your boat, but I think that adding
a separate battery really isn't going to help you any. As Chuck said,
it's better to have a battery wired just to start the boat and a
second battery to run everything else.

Having said that though, I'd try this first - next time you use the
boat, disconnect the radio's power line and see if they battery draws
down. If it doesn't, then there is something else wrong, but I'd bet
it's the radio.

After that, we can get into details.

Later,

Tom

Just run the radio "memory" wire directly to the battery (+) and remember to
fuse it!


"Rob V" wrote in message
. com...
Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist
knob). Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and
the boat sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot
seem to figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything
off in the boat. How can I track down the "leak".

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do
this which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery
so the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the
boat uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as
well - ie - I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots
guide out there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much
build anything and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue -
but for some reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so
a well drawn out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

if you wish to run two batteries thoeugh. you need a battery
isolator/rectifier. NAPA and most auto parts stores carry them. as well
as all your camper/RV joints. super easy to install, this will allow
you to charge both batteries at the same time, yet will allow you to
pull current off one while having not drain effect on the other.

Rob V wrote:
Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist knob).
Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and the boat
sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot seem to
figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything off in the
boat. How can I track down the "leak".

I'll have a go, at least the corrections of my attempt might help you:-)

Most things in the boat should be fused, either with one of those
placky inline fuse holders or often the fuse is part of or next to the
panel switch.

(i) Take the positive off the battery & put an ammeter in series. (a
cheap $10 multimeter is fine, most will read up to 10amps & the leak
won't be that big:-)).

(ii) Make sure everything seems to be "off"

(iii) Turn the main power switch on, the multimeter should not show
much flow, maybe a very low milliamp reading only.

(iv) Lots of things on a boat draw tiny amounts when "off" VHF radios,
the ordinary receiver you mention, some depth sounders etc etc almost
anything that has a memory, so a very small flow is not a problem of itself.

(v) If you get a largish reading say 2 or 300 milliamps it confirms
what you already know, that there is a "leak"

(vi) Start a process of elimination easiest first, by removing fuses
one at a time till you see the flow change, whichever circuit kills the
leak ( or most of it) then you can look further. If you don't have any
impact on the leak by removing fuses etc then get more creative & start
by taking the main lead off the alternator (the diodes might be leaky &
don't accidentally earth or you'll need another $10 multimeter:-)),
alternator field wire if there is one, then other likely candidates
which operate in a damp vibrating environ & leads off other parts of the
system always one at a time.

(vi) Once you know the circuit/general area the leak is in then try to
fix, sometimes it can be salt/corrosion buildup (when damp it's
conductive) or a wire somewhere has lost it's insulation (crushed behind
some trim?, someone put a self tapper through it? it's just got worn etc.



The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do this
which leads me to my next question....

The radio memory only draws a tiny amount, some people hook up an
ordinary 9 volt alkaline battery to keep all the memory things alive
when the system is "off" The 9 volts is enough & one battery should last
you the season.


2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery so
the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the boat
uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as well - ie -
I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots guide out
there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much build anything
and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue - but for some
reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so a well drawn
out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

It's not difficult & most multi battery switches you'll get from the
chandler shops come with pretty clear instructions about the wiring.

You might reconsider your wish not to "switch some switch" because you
can control the system pretty well with a manual switch, just so long as
you don't switch to the off position when the motor (ie alternator) is
at high revs.


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks



K

The Krause lie of the day is well um sorry............it's the truth!!!

This stalking idiot thinks that because Madcow didn't protect herself
to his standards it makes it totally OK for him to "secretly" spy on
her, then post denigrating posts about her boat her appearance etc etc
etc, clearly because the lying pervert Krause has no boat much less CG
training as Madcow did, he was jealou & set about stalking her.

He finishes off with a nice little stalkers boast to John, just letting
John know he's checked out his address etc.

Oh by the way this post?? he made it yesterday!!! a sick & very
dangerous liar is our Krause.

As for Ms. Klummmmmpppp, she outed herself. Madcow made a big deal of
her volunteer work as a "boat safety inspector," and her work for her
local power squadron, and even invited folks to look at her USPS home
page and see a few "knot animations" she said she did. Lo and behold,
there on her local USPS home page for the world to see were photos of
Dolores and her boat, and a chart listing the names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of the local chapter's USPS "safety inspectors."
Including the delightful Dumblores. Oh, she also told us the name of the
marina where she kept her Bayliner, and the fact that it was next door
to her apartment high-rise condo.

BTW, John, you were practically a neighbor of mine when I shared an
office in Alexandria. At least I think you were. How close are you to
"Rose Hill"?

The radio memory only draws a tiny amount, some people hook up an
ordinary 9 volt alkaline battery to keep all the memory things alive
when the system is "off" The 9 volts is enough & one battery should
last
you the season.

*************

Question: If the 9-volt battery should "last a season" wouldn't there
be almost no chance that the radio memory was drawing down the primary
12-volt battery in a week?

On 24 May 2005 09:00:41 -0700, wrote:

The radio memory only draws a tiny amount, some people hook up an
ordinary 9 volt alkaline battery to keep all the memory things alive
when the system is "off" The 9 volts is enough & one battery should
last
you the season.

*************

Question: If the 9-volt battery should "last a season" wouldn't there
be almost no chance that the radio memory was drawing down the primary
12-volt battery in a week?

It depends on the radio actually. I've had it happen on my Ranger
once. Internal memories can eat up a lot of power over time.

As I said, it's a simple experiment to find out.

Later,

Tom

wrote in message
oups.com...
The radio memory only draws a tiny amount, some people hook up an
ordinary 9 volt alkaline battery to keep all the memory things alive
when the system is "off" The 9 volts is enough & one battery should
last
you the season.

*************

Question: If the 9-volt battery should "last a season" wouldn't there
be almost no chance that the radio memory was drawing down the primary
12-volt battery in a week?


There are 2 power wires to modern radios. One to keep the station presets
and to to keep the anti=theft circuit alive. Then there is a power to the
radio and amplifier. And most wakeboarding boats I see have large amps, for
the big speakers on the tower. So just run the preset wire to the battery
and and turn off the power switch to all else. For a 2nd battery, use
either a battery combiner or battery isolator.

In article ,
says...


There are a multitude of 12 volt units which don't actually 'turn off'
when you hit the off switch. Many items with a 'soft touch' on/off switch
just go into a sleep mode. Now READ THIS,,, the Radio Shack power inverter
22-138 and all similar inverters DO NOT TURN OFF!!!!! Even when you turn
off the lighted power switch, the inverter is still running!!! Check with
an amp meter on the d.c. input, and no load on the output, you see about
..5 amp draw, ON or OFF!! That will kill a battery in about 2 days. Find
a local ham radio dude that likes to water ski, let him meter your current
draw when everything is off, and in return you can get him some ski time.
If you were close to Wrightsville, Pa. I would do it for you.






Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist knob).
Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and the boat
sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot seem to
figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything off in the
boat. How can I track down the "leak".

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do this
which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery so
the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the boat
uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as well - ie -
I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots guide out
there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much build anything
and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue - but for some
reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so a well drawn
out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

On Tue, 24 May 2005 05:58:21 GMT, "Rob V" wrote:

Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I broke many water sking records behind Tiges. Darn nice ski boats.

Me and the wife
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/harkra...bum?.dir=/1323

You answered your own question. The radio is killing the battery. This is
a common problem on boats since they tend to sit for long periods of time
between use. Tend to run for short periods of time and be turned off and
cranked a lot. The battery is never really fully charged chances are.

If you truely want the radio to keep the stations then you have two choices.
1. Install 2nd battery and isolator (get one from the auto parts or RV
place).
2. When you get the boat home just hook up a trickle charger to the battery
to keep it fully charged.

The charger is cheaper. But having two batteries on the water has its
advantage as well.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
"Rob V" wrote in message
. com...
Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist
knob). Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day and
the boat sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot
seem to figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything
off in the boat. How can I track down the "leak".

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do
this which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second battery
so the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of the
boat uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as
well - ie - I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an idiots
guide out there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much
build anything and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an issue -
but for some reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that well -so
a well drawn out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Don't go too cheap on the trickle charger or you'll end up damaging your
battery. An electronic battery maintainer that stops charging, then trickle
charges again when it senses the battery voltage drops below a certain level
is well worth the $30-$35 bucks.

"tony thomas" wrote in message
news:e8Rle.15752$g66.9520@attbi_s71...
You answered your own question. The radio is killing the battery. This
is
a common problem on boats since they tend to sit for long periods of time
between use. Tend to run for short periods of time and be turned off and
cranked a lot. The battery is never really fully charged chances are.

If you truely want the radio to keep the stations then you have two
choices.
1. Install 2nd battery and isolator (get one from the auto parts or RV
place).
2. When you get the boat home just hook up a trickle charger to the
battery
to keep it fully charged.

The charger is cheaper. But having two batteries on the water has its
advantage as well.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
"Rob V" wrote in message
. com...
Hello all,

I have a Tige 22v riders edition. Great wake boarding boat, we love it.

I have 2 questions - I hope someone can help me out w/.

1. It has a main power off switch in the engine compartment (A twist
knob). Ive noticed that if I dont turn this off at the end of the day
and
the boat sits until the next weekend the battery will be dead. I cannot
seem to figure out where the draw is coming from. Ive tuned everything
off in the boat. How can I track down the "leak".

The real pain in the ass thing is each time Im done for the weekend and
I
turn the main power knob off - I lose my radio stations each time I do
this which leads me to my next question....

2. The boat has 2 battery compartments. Id like to add a second
battery
so the radio works off a seperate battery vs the main one the rest of
the
boat uses (ie starter, lights, etc...). (I want it be transparent as
well - ie - I dont want to have to switch some switch) Is there an
idiots
guide out there somewhere that shows how to do this? I can pretty much
build anything and am mr fix it so installing something wont be an
issue -
but for some reason me and mr electricity dont get along all that
well -so
a well drawn out electrical diagram would be really really really good!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks