[C38] Two Electrical Problems

Thu Jun 26 17:48:34 EDT 2014

I have a portable Honda generator. 
Just a thought.  Always starts.  Don't have to run the diesel 

Patrick 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Steve Smolinske" <SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com> 
To: "Catalina" <listserve at catalina38.org> 
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 1:43:36 PM 
Subject: Re: [C38] Two Electrical Problems 

1) voltage drop could be due to bad ground,  your 12v system  is 
grounded back to the battery negative terminal, youll  need to  retrace 
the entire ground system to see if and where any splices or connections 
might be, also your  wire size could be to small for the run (both to 
electronics and back to the ground), to small of wire could also result 
in a voltage drop.   Blue sea systems has a neat online calculator to 
help you determine what size wire you need.   Also your  negative 
battery posts could be corroded and need cleaning, typically there 
should only be 2 connections to the battery post, after  that you need a 
negative terminal to add all the other grounds to.  You may also have a 
loose  connection in your grounding bus bar behind the electrical panel. 
This is why I rewired my entire boat so I would nt have to chase these 
types of  annoying problems. 

2) could be any number of things from a bad voltage regulator, to 
undersized wire from the alternator to the batteries,  again check blue 
sea systems for wire sizes, also the article Tom and I did, which you 
should find on the list serve email for  this year talks about the 
charging circuit and efficiency of the old amp meter vs a voltage meter 
at  the control panel.   Blue Sea is very helpful with questions and 
answers for all things electrical, and they answer their phones.   

-----Original Message----- 
From: Listserve [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of 
Julian Adams 
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 1:09 PM 
To: listserve at catalina38.org 
Subject: [C38] Two Electrical Problems 

I have two electrical problems that have been resistant to my tinkering. 

1. Low voltage at the helm.  I mounted a Garmin GPS unit (4308, I think 
the number is) ate the helm.   Every so often (typically when I need it 
the most) the screen goes blank.  I sent it back to Garmin for service 
at a cost of $500 only to receive a reply that there was nothing wrong. 
A Garmin rep. told me that it was likely low voltage at the unit and 
sure 
enough when II measured the voltage it was 8-9 volts.   He suggested 
that 
it may be a bad ground. I replaced the cord and resoldered connections 
to 
no effect.   So if it is a bad ground where do I start looking?  I 
thought 
everything was grounded though the keel.   OK, maybe I am just showing 
my 
ignorance here? 

2. This problem is unconnected to the first.   At the dock I can charge 
the batteries to the usual 13-14 volts (through shore power), but when 
we are cruising, and on the hook for several days the battery voltage 
steadily goes down to 10 to 10.5 volts (over say 3 -4 days) irrespective 
of how long I run the engine to top off the batteries.  I have removed 
the 
alternator and had it serviced.   I also have a unit called an 
alternator 
controller, made by a company named called "Spa Creek".   I have no 
manual 
for it; the company no longer exists so I can find nothing on the web 
about the unit.  It has a switch and a dial but no idea what the switch 
and the dial do. 

I would greatly appreciate some tips from on how to solve them 

Julian 
************************************************ 
Julian Adams 
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University 
of Michigan 
 830 N. University, Ann Arbor MI 48109-1048 Tel. (734)-763-3431; Fax 
(734)-647-0884; Cell (734)-239-3627 E-mail julian at umich.edu 
************************************************ 

-----Original Message----- 
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Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 3:29 PM 
To: listserve at catalina38.org 
Subject: Listserve Digest, Vol 10, Issue 97 

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