Joe how do I check to see if ilt is giving out 20amps?
You really need an ammeter for this, connected in series with the current flow out of and into the motor. The ammeter is best connected between each
battery post, one at a time, and the "+" cable coming to it from the battery switch. Test each battery separately with the motor running and also off. An automotive ammeter will tell you if current is flowing, how much, and which way (charging, discharging).
I also suspect the diagnostic program that Brent has could tell you if the alternator isn't working.
In a simpler vein, if you've got good batteries, you've done the test below and have no shorts, the refrigerator is off, and, after starting the motors, the batteries loose their charge, something's not charging them, so it must be the alternator is bad, or some connection is loose.
Always make sure your battery cables are tightly connected. Use nuts and a wrench and keep the posts, connections and cables clean. If you must use wing nuts, tighten them with a pair of pliers. Loose cables can keep electronic devices from working, or even cause damage to them!
also where should i look for a short ?
Start with the batteries. Charge the batteries independently and leave them sit w/o a load on them for a day or two with the battery cables detached. Check the voltage on each one every six hours or so. If either one of them drops voltage dramatically, it's either got one or more dead cells, or a internal short.
and how do you find it (short) what , where and how?
To check for an power robbing short in the wiring, turn every switch in the boat off and with the batteries removed. Then check the resistance in Ohms between the hot lead coming out of the battery and the ground cable for that battery. Do this for each battery hookup one at a time with the battery switch turned to that battery. Generally the meter ought to show "Open Load" or a LOT (hundreds or thousands) of Ohms resistance.
You can also do this with the batteries installed and a continuity light test probe, which lights up when current flows. Turn everything off as before, then flip the switch to one battery at a time. Put the continuity tester between the "+" battery post and the disconnected "+" cable. With everything off, no current should flow, and the light should not go on. If it does, you've got a short or some unit is turned on somewhere. Leave the light clipped to the post and the cable, and one by one, remove fuses and turn off circuit beakers until the light goes off and you find where the current is flowing. You can do the same with the digital meter. Set it on resistance, and watch the Ohms as you one by one disconnect the fuses and open the circuit breakers. When the meter goes from a few Ohms to "Open Load", you've found the circuit that's providing the path for the power to flow through.
I think after i check this out i will need a few of these :beer :beer :beer
Thanks,
jennykatz
Are any more c-brats coming down to fla.for winter?
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Did you want lime with the beer? We've got an extra one or two left over from Tom, too!
Hope this helps!
Joe. :teeth :thup