The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Honda Alternator Fuse Blown
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
John&Robin



Joined: 18 Aug 2014
Posts: 41
City/Region: Freeland
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Biscuit (was Wanda Fuca!)
Photos: C-Biscuit
PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 7:21 pm    Post subject: Honda Alternator Fuse Blown Reply with quote

Hi Brats,
During the engine flush after a couple of days out I noticed the starboard engine wasn't putting out charging voltage. I checked the internal engine fuses and found the alternator fuse was blown. Swapped it for the spare and it's working again. Does anyone have suggestions on what to look for that might have caused this? We've got twin Honda 40's wired to a 1-2-Both-Off battery switch and two 12V batteries. Any suggestions appreciated!

Thanks,
John

_________________
John and Robin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
T.R. Bauer



Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 1726
City/Region: Wasilla
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Whisperer
PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was a short somewhere that blew the fuse - maybe. Nobody will be able to tell you where with much certainty as that is complicated and will depend on boat electronics configuration. But, I doubt it is your battery switch that caused it. I can't think of any known smoking gun trouble areas on the honda 40/50 motors that had electrical problems. However, running 2 outboards on 2 batteries connected together on "both" is never a good idea. In fact, I'd never do it because the regulators can and will fail - hope you're not doing that. So, this was a really long way of saying I have no idea.....lol.....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John&Robin



Joined: 18 Aug 2014
Posts: 41
City/Region: Freeland
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Biscuit (was Wanda Fuca!)
Photos: C-Biscuit
PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the suggestion, and yikes, the advice! I always run on BOTH, thinking I'm charging both and that would be a good thing...

Two batteries, one switch, two engines, how should they be set up (if I can lean on your good will and expertise!)?

John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
T.R. Bauer



Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 1726
City/Region: Wasilla
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Whisperer
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Each engine will charge each battery just fine on it's own if they are wired individually. There is not a need to go to "both" unless there is some emergency and one engine will not start. And, if you only have 2 batteries, putting the switch to "both" can cause each regulator to go into a hyper mode of sorts with them switching like crazy and then they fry themselves - eventually. Lots of folks have had this happen. That may or may not have caused your fuse to blow. It's really hard to tell. Do you have a 3rd battery too?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
clayhubler



Joined: 03 Aug 2019
Posts: 280
City/Region: La Center
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Hammerhead
Photos: Hammerhead
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So two engines on one battery is no good? My boat is like that, but if it is a time bomb then I'll have to make some changes.
_________________
Clay on Hammerhead
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
T.R. Bauer



Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 1726
City/Region: Wasilla
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Whisperer
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's what the people at the shop said who are supposed to know when I added my 3rd battery, because I wanted to tie both hondas together on a battery and use the other spot for the house so I'd only have 2 to deal with. The parts/tech rep said don't do that, gave the reason, and now I have 2 lead acid starting batteries and 1 lifepo4 house battery. I strongly suspect that many people have gotten away with it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John&Robin



Joined: 18 Aug 2014
Posts: 41
City/Region: Freeland
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Biscuit (was Wanda Fuca!)
Photos: C-Biscuit
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks TR,
We have two deep cycle batteries, lead acid, so I've randomly designated one as house, other for starting when we cruise. I'm on the hunt for a wiring diagram for twins with two batteries as I'm not excited about installing a third but don't want to burn up regulators! Hope you're thawed out up there and getting time on the water.

John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
clayhubler



Joined: 03 Aug 2019
Posts: 280
City/Region: La Center
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Hammerhead
Photos: Hammerhead
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for this info TR Bauer,

When I got the boat it had three batteries which are new and in good condition. All were tied together into one huge rats nest and so I dedicated two to the house bank and one to the engines and didn't have any troubles, so far... I don't know if I can make room for another start battery and it seems a little silly to have 4 batteries on a CD22.

I only charge my batteries with the engines (or an external charger while in the carport), and I was wary of mixing battery types. Have you had any issues in this regard, or do you charge the lifepo4 with a charger and/or solar?

Sorry to hijack the thread like this but this is good info,
Thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7878
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

T.R. How are you charging the lifpo4?
_________________
Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
C-Wolfe



Joined: 16 Sep 2020
Posts: 241
City/Region: Anchorage
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Wolfe
Photos: C-Wolfe
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use a BEP switch cluster with 2 batteries, one for each engine, and they each have their own on/off switch. I have the off-1-2-both and can decide which on I will be using for my house battery. each battery have its own meter inside for monitoring. I try to upload the diagram but it didn’t work.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
C-Wolfe



Joined: 16 Sep 2020
Posts: 241
City/Region: Anchorage
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Wolfe
Photos: C-Wolfe
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ran out of time for editing, parts number is 715-S if you want to look up the diagram.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would also like to know how you are charging the LiFePO4 battery. What have you done to prevent it from ever being attached directly to one of the FLA batteries?
_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John&Robin



Joined: 18 Aug 2014
Posts: 41
City/Region: Freeland
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Biscuit (was Wanda Fuca!)
Photos: C-Biscuit
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

C-Wolfe,
Thanks for the info, it looks like the solution. Does the 715-S also combine the two batteries, or do you have a separate 1-2-both switch?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
C-Wolfe



Joined: 16 Sep 2020
Posts: 241
City/Region: Anchorage
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Wolfe
Photos: C-Wolfe
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John&Robin wrote:
C-Wolfe,
Thanks for the info, it looks like the solution. Does the 715-S also combine the two batteries, or do you have a separate 1-2-both switch?


The 715-S has 3 different switch. 2 battery/engine switch (port and starboard ) and a main off-1-2-both (combine). If one battery is dead you can combine to start .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
T.R. Bauer



Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 1726
City/Region: Wasilla
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Whisperer
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Probably the wrong way by somebody. I was instructed that as long as you don't ever run on "all" they are mechanically disconnected from each other. And the volt meter says it is true. So basically, when I set my perko over to the lifepo4 battery, it is just powering the house. Then, if I switch over the starting battery, it isn't tied to lifepo4, except for the moment in time you pass through "all" on the switch, which is about 1/4 a second and supposed to be safe. The bad part is, the only way to charge the lifepo4 with the outboard is on both, which can never happen since you can't run these batteries in parallel, so that kind of sucks. But, I don't do much more than weekends, don't have much power demand, and the lifepo4 never gets that low (so the math says) that I have run into trouble with that. It gets charged by a small charger lifepo4 charger at camp, the dock, or at home. It's not ideal by any means. Is there a way to make it ideal?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.1054s (PHP: 84% - SQL: 16%) - SQL queries: 33 - GZIP disabled - Debug on