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Lady_Why

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Posts posted by Lady_Why

  1. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    Only one person on tenterhooks?  Damn, I expected you all glued to your laptop screens, unable to contain your curiosity. But no - it's Saturday and everyone' gone to the pub. Bah! Oh no Mike's here too.  Good, Tony and I should have an audience.

    IT WAS THE MULTIMETER!!!! 

    And it wasn't the wires of the multimeter either. It was the actual, actual multimeter. Despite passing the ohm test. 

    In essence I've been charging fully charged batteries all week.

    • Greenie 1
    • Haha 2

  4. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    As it happens, 1.) my newly-returned-boat-neighbour did have a bigger and shinier genny to lend me... yay!... but 2.) turns out my battery-charger does not register a current flow (amps, I'm guessing) despite voltage showing at the batteries. Unless it's perfectly normal to have volts without amps. Or my multi-meter is possessed. But it does mean there will be a genny here for Tony tomorrow so that he may observe and apply his wisdom upon my pitiful situation. 

    I think I just need to know what direction to take things at this point! 

    *sorry for not keeping up with info giving, Tony!

  5. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    Haha, I'm alive. I had crazy busy time yesterday uploading marks for my uni. Still got a batch to do this evening. I probably opened the page in the hope that I'd be able to engage, but it never happened!

    Just to add to my tale of woe, my new genny malfunctioned... (I gathered after 5 min of white smoke that it probably wasn't the right kind of genny smoke), (and no, I followed the instructions scrupulously so it's not me!). I used the engine instead and found this time that the alternator showed an input charge which was less than I had in my batteries; fool that I was, I made the bet that my multimeter was wrong and kept it running which probably means the charge went into the alternator rather than the other way around. I think I'm past weeping!

    I will look upon Tony as my savior tomorrow!

    And here's Horus, my one-eyed cat.

    IMG_1517[1].JPG

  8. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    1 minute ago, WotEver said:

    Just a thought. If the genny doth protest, switch everything off and disconnect the charger cable that connects to the starter battery. Tape over the end with insulating tape. Try again. 

    Curious - what does the insulating tape do?

     

    1 minute ago, bizzard said:

    Is the generators engine a 2 stroke or 4 stroke?

    It advises 4 stroke oil, so I assume 4 stroke.

  10. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    Ah ok, my confusion arose as you guys clearly have different set ups to me. My blue mains socket is indoors and internally wired to the charger through a switch, so I simply plug in and turn the switch. The wires that go from the charger down to my batteries are similarly part of the permanent set up.  I do know what the Sterling does & the inverter is pretty much always switched off. ?

    I have a switchboard for all appliances so I'll just 1.) switch everything off, 2.) start the genny, 3) plug genny in and turn the switch to get the charger going. If the genny starts to protest, I'll unplug and attach the clamps to the leisure battery next to the starter.

    By wires we are talking the two thin wires going down? Since the thicker cables have one going to the starter in a dodgy way.

    *I think I might have a cable that can be used as an extention assuming ends match up. Worst case scenario genny fumes will be aimed downwind and there's at least two sets of doors that I can close between the genny and me. AND I'll keep the CO alarm by me. I think I'm running out of time for today's charging so won't have time to find extention.

  11. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    I have yet to learn the genny - it's today's big task! Got oil and petrol on the ready though, and a lead which can connect the 240v output on the genny with my mains socket and then a switch which will take that incoming charge through the sterling. It would have to sit on the stern though (limited cable reach) and I have no earth yet. 

    This said, going back to the origins of things (I have lived in a marina for years, but cruise since Sept due to sharp fee increases), my old batteries were fizzing for a long time which is a concern as I was on the mains at the time and it is unclear what caused them to overcharge (now that I know what causes fizzing!). My fridge has been switched off pretty much since cruising as it is old and I suspect the load has increased.

    A little confused about the two wires you mention, Mike. Surely I don't clamp on AND plug in both at the same time; is it not that I choose to do it with clamps OR charger? Confused.

     

    11 minutes ago, NB Lola said:

    Chin up, we are all here to help, in one way or another.  Let’s see how Tony gets on first.

    All moral support has been invaluable too. ❤️

  13. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted · Edited by Lady_Why

    I am just wondering what to do meanwhile. I am thinking of deserting engine-charging completely and move on to the genny  - but I'm not sure whether to clamp the genny onto the starter or a leisure given that the starter is making noises. 

    I was hoping that the leisures holding their charge would indicate that they're still alive... but then I would hope that.  ?  

  14. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted · Edited by Lady_Why

    I can't keep up! Just now back at the cafe and trying to read through it all. 

    Firstly: I woke up feeling a little broken this morning, so I just want to say thank you again for helping me tread water.  On my own I would clearly have sunk at this point.  

    But I think the mystery deepens....

    The alternator performed even worse yesterday according to my multi-meter (13.15-13.30), causing me considerable stress. Ran it until the evening with the tiny solar panel also clamped on daytime, waited an hour, took my measures and then disconnected them from each other. My heart sank as the ratings were very low (starter: 12.00, leisures all: 11.76-11.80). 

    Here is where I am surprised. This morning all the leisures were the same and had not dropped at all. The starter only had dropped to 11.70. On top of which I am fairly certain that the starter was making noises yesterday indicating it is near fizzing. 

    *I did check the multi meter on the presumed old battery (it's a pp3) I had pulled out of it, and it read 8.70 (roughly from recall; it was close though) so this indicates that the meter isn't far off. Don't have two lying around but I guess I could buy another one. Unless there's any other check I can do. 


     

  15. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted · Edited by Lady_Why

     Haha, sorted! Perhaps I should take the battery terminals (clamps! I mean clamps!) (wait not, perhaps they are called terminals)  off and sand them too on the inside? They're clean, but sanding clearly sound like the way to go. 

    I want to uplike all your posts, but the forum won't let me for some reason! Well, water's topped up, engine is running and solar is clamped on. Duly noted I should wait an hour before measuring and disconnecting tonight. The saga continues! 

    *I attempted using my hydrometer... but it was leaking.

  17. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    Well, I'm back from the engine room as I am confused. The charge is lower again - I think what I just read was the surface charge from the tiny solar panel I had on it (it's literally just a clip on car one). However, out of curiosity I checked the charge from this panel and it read 19v. That can't be right? That's higher than my alternator. It's an absolutely tiny panel.

    Sorry for taking up everyone's time!

    IMG_1512.JPG

  18. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted · Edited by Lady_Why

    Ok, wiped them down with WD40, changed it to 2000k and re-did it. It did jump a bit still but settled at 000. I assume the extra zeros are due to the shift to 2000.  

    Went into engine room and my batteries read higher (12-12.20) so perhaps there is hope they're still alive. Will run engine until 8pm and then disconnect to check the individual discharge overnight. Early night for me!

    (will check if alternator charge reads better now too, but given the still low levels from yesterday's charge I doubt the change will be much)

    Thank you again, guys! 

  19. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted · Edited by Lady_Why

    Any good news at this point is very good news!! I do have a CO alarm but it is next to the stove which is at the other end. My lead doesn't quite stretch to the bank so I had been hoping to have it outside on the stern with the exhaust facing outwards (as I've seen others do, but then that is clearly not reliable!). As for earthing it.... let's take that conversation later!! I feel my hands are full with fixing this first.

    So, I got a new battery for the multi-meter and headed back home with my heart in my throat, but...  it still fails the ohm test (pic attached to check I've done it right). I got jumpy readings that only settle occasionally at 1. 

    I should head back into town to get a new multi-meter, right?

    IMG_1509.JPG

  24. Battery wiring at fault? 12v socket reading jumping.

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

     

    I have lots of el-cheapo multimeters as I use them for work. They are disposable items and I often buy them. They always agree with one another almost (but not quite) exactly on the 20Vdc range. Agree so closely that I'll be surprised if the multimeter you have is wrong. I would not however trust that plug-in chinese meter you mention.

     

    Don't beat yourself up too badly over the wrecking of your new battery set. Most of us here have done the same at least once, before we really took on board how crucial it is to keep them fully charged and to have a way of monitoring them. The more expensive the lesson the better one learns it, in my experience, whatever the subject. Batteries are a good example of this rule in action! 

     

     

    Thank you for moral support - your previous comment helped a lot as I am very much prone to beat myself up. I'm more resigned now, but also hellbent on working it out. Which I guess is the one healthy outcome of it! 

    I found some test on the web for multi-meters where you put it on the lowest ohm setting and then let the wire ends cross - apparently this should read 0 (no resistance) but mine produces a mixture of readings, none being 0. I think it may be worth getting a new one. Technically, when do you know that they are to be disposed??

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