Hello Kevin,
My problem is that I have 24 foot pontoon boat with a 15 hp Mercury that continues to drain my battery.
I have to disconnect the negative cable after each use to keep the battery alive. Is there a way to find what’s draining this battery?
Thanks for your help on this.
Leon
Leon,
The easiest way to solve you boat wiring problem is to use a digital meter that can measure DC current. Something like this one from Radio Shack would work great.
To troubleshoot your system:
- Disconnect the negative lead on your battery
- Turn off all devices on the boat
- Select DC amps on your meter
- Connect one lead from the meter to the battery negative post
- Connect the other meter lead to the negative battery cable
- Observe the current – a few milliamps will be normal, a few amps will cause the battery to die quickly
- Disconnect components that are not turned off until the meter reads a few milliamps.
Most of the time, you will discover that the problem is the stereo does not shut down completely until you hold the power button down for a period of time. Adding a stereo switch that completely shuts the stereo down is the easiest solution.
Another option is to add a battery switch like the ones from BEP. This would immediately solve your problem.
Thanks,
Kevin
Good morning Kevin,
Yesterday you suggested that I get a digital meter from Radio Shack and test my battery and that it would probably be the radio. Well you were right.
If I unhook the radio the meter reads .51. If I hook it back up it turns on when I touch the leads from the battery to the neg. cable. and reads 268. Did they wire the radio wrong and is this something easy to fix?
Thanks for your help
Leon
Leon,
Most stereos used on boats were originally designed for automotive use. They have two power wires. One (usually yellow) is the constant/memory power. It is connected to an un-switched 12v supply. The other power wire (usually red) is connected through the key switch. When the key is turned off, the stereo completely powers down.
Especially on outboard powered boats, it is rare to have the switched (red wire) stereo power wire connected to the key switch.
You can use one of your accessory switches to turn off the power to your switched (red wire) stereo power.
Another option is to remember to power down your stereo completely when leaving the boat. It usually involves holding down the power button on the stereo for 3 to 5 seconds. Your stereo owner’s manual or the internet will have the instructions to do this.
Thanks,
Kevin