trouble shooting help

[Ken 6645]

When I relocated my accessories battery up front for weight distribution I noticed that my battery drained out in a couple of days.All that is attached to it is my trolling motor [I pull the plug when not in use] ,sonar [again power is switched off when not in use] ,power outlet and bilge pump that has a shut off in the rear....The only other wire from the battery is the ground..I charged my battery on Monday evening and the following Thursday morning the battery was completely drained. I figured that there is a short some where but haven't a clue how to run them down.Does anyone have advice or suggestions on how I might solve my problem ?????
Thanks for your time
Ken

 

[user 7806]

The 1st thing I would do is remove all the cables from the battery, then charge it up and see if it will then hold a charge. If not then the battery is defective. If it holds a charge then you need to trace the POS wire and look for any nicks where the insulation has been scraped off so the the current can go to ground.

The NEG wire shouldn't cause a problem but I would check it also. Check the TM outlet and make sure there isn't a short in it somewhere too.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[sixgun86]

You could always disconnect one item at a time to try and isolate the issue. Also get the battery tested to make sure it's still in working order. Sounds like a short if the problem came about after you moved and rewired.

 

[linehand]

Easy way to isolate what the draw is: Remove neg cable, connect test light between the neg post and the neg terminal on batt. Light will be lit w a draw. Disconnect one circuit at a time until light goes out. When it goes out, that's the circuit w the draw. Take it from there.
Of course the batt will have to be charged for this test.

 

[Ken 6645]

I finally switched out the bad bilge pump wire and this fixed my big drain. After I recharged the battery I let it set for two days. Checking the battery two days latter it had fallen into the middle 11 volts .. I though about my problem for a couple of minutes.looked and my sonar was on.My fault... Must have left it on I turned the sonar off and fooled around a bit [20 min tops] , walked by the sonar any it was on again...turned it off ,30 mins later it was on again...this went on for an hour or so that I just unplugged it .I guess the best way i eliminate this problem is to install a on /off switch between battery and sonar .I guess that I should do this on all circuits. Maybe a circuit box??? any suggestions..the simpler the better
thanks
Ken

 

[theyyounggun]

Were you saying that you unplug everything at the end of your day on the water?

 

[user 7806]

I finally switched out the bad bilge pump wire and this fixed my big drain. After I recharged the battery I let it set for two days. Checking the battery two days latter it had fallen into the middle 11 volts .. I though about my problem for a couple of minutes.looked and my sonar was on.My fault... Must have left it on I turned the sonar off and fooled around a bit [20 min tops] , walked by the sonar any it was on again...turned it off ,30 mins later it was on again...this went on for an hour or so that I just unplugged it .I guess the best way i eliminate this problem is to install a on /off switch between battery and sonar .I guess that I should do this on all circuits. Maybe a circuit box??? any suggestions..the simpler the better
thanks
Ken

Check the setting on your sonar, some of the can be set to automatically come on when then see voltage. This sounds like what is happening in your case.

 

[Ken 6645]

Were you saying that you unplug everything at the end of your day on the water?

I didn't unplug the sonar until after I couldn't figure out how to prevent it [ the sonar ] from turning on automatically by itself.

 

[theyyounggun]

I would just do what your saying and install a main switch that controls everything

 

[bduffel]

Same problem. My starting battery keeps losing juice whenever the negative cable is connected. It did it before I started running a rear sonar off it. It's like something in the starting/engine wiring is sucking up the volts. I tried the circuit tester light between the neg post and cable but got no light indication. Battery holds its charge with the neg cable disconnected but with it connected the batt. has dropped from 12.8 volts to 12.1 in the last five days.

Is there any way to measure the voltage/amps being drawn between the disconnected cable and terminal? I think the draw is too little to light the bulb in the tester.

 

[Ken 6645]

Same problem. My starting battery keeps losing juice whenever the negative cable is connected. It did it before I started running a rear sonar off it. It's like something in the starting/engine wiring is sucking up the volts. I tried the circuit tester light between the neg post and cable but got no light indication. Battery holds its charge with the neg cable disconnected but with it connected the batt. has dropped from 12.8 volts to 12.1 in the last five days.

Is there any way to measure the voltage/amps being drawn between the disconnected cable and terminal? I think the draw is too little to light the bulb in the tester.

About the only help I can give you is .. if you used a continuity tester to check the circuit and you didn't get a light, this would indicate that the circuit has a break some where in the line..I don't know if this will help you or not just my 2 cents worth...
Ken

 

[JMichael]

Trying to keep things straight in my head as I read this but some things are not adding up here. You posted this info on the 6th of this month.

I finally switched out the bad bilge pump wire and this fixed my big drain. After I recharged the battery I let it set for two days. Checking the battery two days latter it had fallen into the middle 11 volts .. I though about my problem for a couple of minutes.looked and my sonar was on.My fault... Must have left it on I turned the sonar off and fooled around a bit [20 min tops] , walked by the sonar any it was on again...turned it off ,30 mins later it was on again...this went on for an hour or so that I just unplugged it .I guess the best way i eliminate this problem is to install a on /off switch between battery and sonar .I guess that I should do this on all circuits. Maybe a circuit box??? any suggestions..the simpler the better
thanks
Ken

Then you posted this info the 9th (today). In the above post you identified one source of power drain in the FF that kept turning it's self back on. So how did you get the "5 days of testing" mentioned below that the battery dropped from 12.8 to 12.1? Troubleshooting electrical problems can be a real PITA some times. If you start making assumptions you're in trouble from word go.

Same problem. My starting battery keeps losing juice whenever the negative cable is connected. It did it before I started running a rear sonar off it. It's like something in the starting/engine wiring is sucking up the volts. I tried the circuit tester light between the neg post and cable but got no light indication. Battery holds its charge with the neg cable disconnected but with it connected the batt. has dropped from 12.8 volts to 12.1 in the last five days.

Is there any way to measure the voltage/amps being drawn between the disconnected cable and terminal? I think the draw is too little to light the bulb in the tester.

 

[Ken 6645]

bduffel wrote:
Same problem. My starting battery keeps losing juice whenever the negative cable is connected. It did it before I started running a rear sonar off it. It's like something in the starting/engine wiring is sucking up the volts. I tried the circuit tester light between the neg post and cable but got no light indication. Battery holds its charge with the neg cable disconnected but with it connected the batt. has dropped from 12.8 volts to 12.1 in the last five days.
duffel wrote about using a five day span..I used a Mon thru Thurs [four days on fingers , around 72 hours actually ....
Because I don't type so well, i'm easily confused...
Ken

 

[rusty.hook]

It also could be the resistor in your charging system, that's what is was on my 60 hp Johnson.