Joe,
I've had an ongoing issue with my battery banks. The main (3 battery) bank
is on position #1 of the OFF-1-2-Both battery switch. My engine battery is
on #2.
Engine Battery Volts are nearly always less than Main Bank. Sometimes up to
1.5 volts less.
I have had 3 different batteries installed in this engine bank location over
the years with the same issue. I just put a brand new battery there a week
ago. Batteries tend to loose AH capacity in this location more than the
main bank.
I am not sure what is the cause of this.
I keep the battery switch in the BOTH position.
Tests thus far:
1. Measured Engine Battery Positive as .7V less than Main Bank Positive with
cables on.
2. Removed engine battery cable Positive and measured .5V less than main
bank positive. (My guess is the drop is less because battery was getting
less V and as a result it is less charged).
Prior to above I have:
3. Removed the battery switch from wall to get to connections. Measured 0
ohms from input to all positions. There was no load. I may have tested
further but this was done months ago and maybe I have notes somewhere about.
4. I sanded battery cables with #600 wetdry paper added silicone grease and
tightened connections on batteries for very good connections.
Per Seawind Manual the automatic transfer relay switches to charge Bank 2
after Bank 1 reaches 13.8V. But in BOTH position this relay should not be a
factor. But, I still see it or the Battery Switch as the possible culprit.
Thank you for any input you or others may offer.
Still pondering in another tropical paradise,
Gary Oelze
