I rescently purchased a 1990 232 Gulfstream. The battery configuration raises question with me. I have twin Yamaha 150's , 2 batteries and 2 battery switches. I'm not sure what settings they need to be on while running, or docked using accessories etc... Lately, I'm experiencing a problem that my port engine wont start. I turn the key, dash gauges light up but engine will not turn over, just a click from the starter. With my starboard engine running only, my dash gauges do not work. When I then turn the port key, there is an interruption in power and it shuts down my GPS/FF but my dash gauges work. The starboard battery is low in charge but will not accept a charge. Is this a dead/weak battery or something more???
New Grady Owner with a Question
- Thread starter Reel Passion
- Start date
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GreatGrady Captain
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2006
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- Location
- Southern New England
- Model
- Sailfish
It sounds like a battery issue. The gauges on my Sailfish only work when my port engine is running. I actually just noticed it 2 weeks ago when I shut down one engine to try and save gas trolling and my gauges shut off.
It's either a bad battery or a bad connection. You can remove the battery and bring it to Auto Zone or the like and they will load test it. First though, you might want to take a look at the battery terminal connections. make sure thay are not corroded and are tight. Note that if the terminals were bad, the battery probably is also not charged so even if you find a connection issue and fix it, you may need to separately charge that battery
The "usual" way of powering the gauges is with each engine powering its own tachometer, and the other gauges powered from one of the engines.
This will result in loss of the fuel management and speedo gauges if runnning on just one, when the other is powering the gauges.
The solution is a small kit that is available from your Yamaha dealer (I got the parts from Andy at SIM). It has a couple of diodes, some male and female bullet connectors, and some wire, and changes the system so the fuel management and speedo gauges are powered from either engine.
Brian
This will result in loss of the fuel management and speedo gauges if runnning on just one, when the other is powering the gauges.
The solution is a small kit that is available from your Yamaha dealer (I got the parts from Andy at SIM). It has a couple of diodes, some male and female bullet connectors, and some wire, and changes the system so the fuel management and speedo gauges are powered from either engine.
Brian
How do you have the battery switches arranged? If you have both switches on 1 or both switches on 2, you only charging one battery. The switches should face away from eachother, one switch on position 1 and the other on position 2.
Generally I put both battery swithes to the "ALL" position. I would think that this would charge both batteries. I guess I'm wrong. My last boat had 2 batteries and 1 switch and thats how it worked. Upon further investigating, I found behind the batteries a disconnected negative cable about 16" long. Looks like it would be a perfect fit from one negative terminal to another, now I'm really baffled.
You can connect that wire only if you want to use your switch to the ALL position also. Those batteries should be connected with each other on the negative terminal only.(negative from batt 1 to negative of batt 2)
That short cable is the ground tie cable and should be used to connect each battery'e negative terminal together. What you have is one battery without a ground.
Been there , done that...
Been there , done that...