Accentuate the negative

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1

Posted by William A. Cormack (wacormack@…>)


Just wanted to share the solution to a problem I wrote about a few weeks ago.

The problem was that the engine would not turn over when I tried to use the house batteries but would with no problem with the starting battery. I could not understand how this could happen since both batteries went through the same switch and I replaced the switch, just in case.

The answer was - look at both sides of the circuit dummy.

There was a corroded connection in the negative side where the house bank connected to the common ground. Low draw loads would work, with some voltage loss, but the high amperage could not get through the resistance of the corroded connection.
_________________________________________________William A. Cormack, CPAPrincipal and Chief Financial OfficerWhelan Associates, LLC, a Corporate Real Estate Service Firm100 Faunce Corner Executive Center, Suite 150500 Faunce Corner RoadNorth Dartmouth, MA 02747Voice: 508-984-4100, Fax: 508-984-4101, Cell 508-254-5828MailTo:wacormack@…

2

Posted by Jacqui MacConnell (jacimacc@…>)

Cute note. Thanks. As a semi-newbie, it always
heartens
me to find out some other folks, even you salts, miss
the
obvious, too. By me, none of it’s obvious yet.

We’ve just “concluded” a glacially speedy rewiring of
the
whole boat. Six months, 7K. Get out to the San Juans
on
our first two week shakedown cruise. Oops, house bank
o’ batteries seems not to be re-charging while under
motor.
Hmm.

Suffered through. Hunting the occasional non-anchorage
so we could power-up. After a week at home, I noticed
a
bundle of new black cables. One of which appeared to
have
two loose ends. I wonder if this…

Doh.

Now if we could only lure the elusive but highly
popular
marine electrician back to make the nice SeaTalk
Autohelm
stuff talk to all the fancy new Raymarine plotter
stuff. They
seem to be having an “issue.” Work well together
sometimes,
sulk others. Aargh.

Those handy among you, like Sparrow’s prior esteemed
owner,
Sir Brian Guptil, can only wince and imagine. Carry
on, sailors.
Keep the news of your defeegulties coming. It helps me
a bunch.

Mincing regards, MacConnell in Wonderingland



— “William A. Cormack” <wacormack@…> wrote:

Just wanted to share the solution to a problem I
wrote about a few weeks ago.

The problem was that the engine would not turn over
when I tried to use the house batteries but would
with no problem with the starting battery. I could
not understand how this could happen since both
batteries went through the same switch and I
replaced the switch, just in case.

The answer was - look at both sides of the circuit
dummy.

There was a corroded connection in the negative side
where the house bank connected to the common ground.
Low draw loads would work, with some voltage loss,
but the high amperage could not get through the
resistance of the corroded connection.

William A. Cormack, CPA
Principal and Chief Financial Officer
Whelan Associates, LLC, a Corporate Real Estate
Service Firm
100 Faunce Corner Executive Center, Suite 150
500 Faunce Corner Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Voice: 508-984-4100, Fax: 508-984-4101, Cell
508-254-5828
MailTo:wacormack@…


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3

Posted by mike cunningham (seychellois_lib@…>)

Very interesting, I just resolved a similar problem on
my F30. When I depressed the start switch I would hear
the selenoid click to switch full batt current to the
starter motor but the motor would not turn over. I had
to press the start switch several times and would
finally get juice to the starter.

I took the advice of a mechanic I just happened to be
chatting with about the problem. He said start with
the pos and neg power connections at the starter
motor. Sure enough I pull both and cleaned them up. I
also cleaned up the engine block ground connection.
Note that the connectors were not extremely corroded,
just a little dirty and not really tight. I was able
to break the hold down screws loose with minimal
torque on the ratchet handle.

Tried the start button and voila, turned over first
time. Tried a second test several minutes later with
same result.

Lesson is that the connectors may look clean and tight
but may not be.

— “William A. Cormack” <wacormack@…> wrote:

Just wanted to share the solution to a problem I
wrote about a few weeks ago.

The problem was that the engine would not turn over
when I tried to use the house batteries but would
with no problem with the starting battery. I could
not understand how this could happen since both
batteries went through the same switch and I
replaced the switch, just in case.

The answer was - look at both sides of the circuit
dummy.

There was a corroded connection in the negative side
where the house bank connected to the common ground.
Low draw loads would work, with some voltage loss,
but the high amperage could not get through the
resistance of the corroded connection.

William A. Cormack, CPA
Principal and Chief Financial Officer
Whelan Associates, LLC, a Corporate Real Estate
Service Firm
100 Faunce Corner Executive Center, Suite 150
500 Faunce Corner Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Voice: 508-984-4100, Fax: 508-984-4101, Cell
508-254-5828
MailTo:wacormack@…




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