Grady White Freedom 235 2021 have had a problem with battery drain on starboard battery when battery switch is off. Bilge pump and yellow entertainment radio cable to maintain presets were hot wired. I had radio preset cable moved to the battery switch (no longer hot wired). Still seem to have a drain problem when switch is off. Highly doubt it is the bilge pump. Recently discovered a breaker I'm told sparked when battery cable was attached to the battery (switch was off). This device is mounted right under the bottom of the hatch opening that accesses the batteries. Was told this might be "Clean Power" to the Yamaha motor. Because of this he was reluctant to switch off the breaker. With minor research, I believe Grady White does not use a clean power connection but rather through a standard battery switched harnas. Is any one familiar with this device and know what it is? What is connected to it?
Freedom 235 2021 - Starboard Battery Draining
- Thread starter dac93kp
- Start date
It's hard to follow what you're saying... can you better describe things -- or post pictures?
Is the battery healthy? Have you charged it and load tested it? That's the first step. You could also do an amp draw test - depending on results, then figure out what is drawing excess power.
Is the battery healthy? Have you charged it and load tested it? That's the first step. You could also do an amp draw test - depending on results, then figure out what is drawing excess power.
I’ve replaced the battery 3 times. A brand new battery was recently installed. I was informed by a Grady dealer the battery before that was the problem and that battery was replaced and was told problem solved. Over a period of the boat not being used I discovered that battery was completely discharged. Brought it back to the Grady dealer. After spending a few days with the boat, the dealer informed me that Grady has discovered the directly connected wire from the radio that maintains the presets in the cause of the problem and they recommend putting that wire on the switched circuit.
My boat is kept on a mooring with no access to AC power to charge. I was told that with 2 x AGM batteries, a proper mix of usage of the 2 batteries and lengthy runs the alternator should maintain the batteries.
I recently found that #1 battery completely discharged. I assumed having previously been completely discharged it was compromised. I bought a new battery, and had a mechanic install it. The damaged battery was tested and determined to be damaged.
While he was installing the new battery as previously mentioned he noticed a spark at the breaker device mentioned. It leads me to believe there is still something perhaps that breaker that is drawing on that battery when the battery switch is off.
In all this time I’ve never had a problem with the #2 battery.
At this point I’m trying to determine what that breaker is for to determine if it is the cause of the draw.
When something sparks when power is connected, it simply means it's a "live" circuit - that's not a good or a bad thing... just a "thing".
We'll need more info or pictures and/or wiring of whatever breaker this is you're talking about.
Is this a Fusion stereo? I've read recently about some of the higher end ones pulling a rediculous amount of amperage when only in off/standby mode. On a recent post in a Sea Ray forum (Fusion stereo), it was found that the standby power was using a 20a fuse! That's absolutely ridiculous if it's true.
It's easy enough to figure out the draw by doing what I mentioned above. But maybe this is what your dealer has already done - or will do.
We'll need more info or pictures and/or wiring of whatever breaker this is you're talking about.
Is this a Fusion stereo? I've read recently about some of the higher end ones pulling a rediculous amount of amperage when only in off/standby mode. On a recent post in a Sea Ray forum (Fusion stereo), it was found that the standby power was using a 20a fuse! That's absolutely ridiculous if it's true.
It's easy enough to figure out the draw by doing what I mentioned above. But maybe this is what your dealer has already done - or will do.
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The most effective approach is to measure amperage drain on one of the battery leads using an amprobe style clip on voltmeter. Measure current on positive wire and with all battery switches off. If your battery is draining over night, it is not a small drain like stereo memory. It could be an auto bilge pump that is stuck on and locked up. The spark that the tech saw on the mysterious breaker is not normal either. You should measure current on that circuit also.
Perhaps you have a friend that has the correct style of digital voltmeter.
Perhaps you have a friend that has the correct style of digital voltmeter.
SkunkBoat
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You have single motor?
One 1/both/2/off battery switch?
You turn switch Off when leave boat?
Use Position 1 when starting and running?
Everything is original config?
No ACR(Vsr)relay?
Stbd battery (bank1)connects to Motor and House when in position 1. Motor charges bank1.(We assume its charging....maybe its not)
Look at the stbd (bank1) battery + terminal. Anything connected that is not the feed to the 1 terminal of the switch?
If there is, it is always on. remove it and see what doesn't work.
Look at the 1 terminal of the switch. Usually there is one bilge pump and possibly the "Memory". (Do stereos even need that anymore in the 21st century?)
It is possible there is a small cable to the motor directly on the battery?(My suzukis have one small cable of unswitched power. When you turn the key on and don't have battery switch on, it powers the digital gauges and alarms that you don't have sufficient power to start motors)
If there is anything else, remove it and see what doesn't work.
Nothing can be drawing power from bank1 that is not connected to the 1 terminal of the switch or the + of the bank1 battery.
It is possible the switch is bad, not probable..., but possible
You are on mooring so you are not using shore power charger.
How do you charge the Bank2 (port battery)? Do you run in position 2 ?
Do you have an Aux Charging cable from the motor to bank2 (port)?
One 1/both/2/off battery switch?
You turn switch Off when leave boat?
Use Position 1 when starting and running?
Everything is original config?
No ACR(Vsr)relay?
Stbd battery (bank1)connects to Motor and House when in position 1. Motor charges bank1.(We assume its charging....maybe its not)
Look at the stbd (bank1) battery + terminal. Anything connected that is not the feed to the 1 terminal of the switch?
If there is, it is always on. remove it and see what doesn't work.
Look at the 1 terminal of the switch. Usually there is one bilge pump and possibly the "Memory". (Do stereos even need that anymore in the 21st century?)
It is possible there is a small cable to the motor directly on the battery?(My suzukis have one small cable of unswitched power. When you turn the key on and don't have battery switch on, it powers the digital gauges and alarms that you don't have sufficient power to start motors)
If there is anything else, remove it and see what doesn't work.
Nothing can be drawing power from bank1 that is not connected to the 1 terminal of the switch or the + of the bank1 battery.
It is possible the switch is bad, not probable..., but possible
You are on mooring so you are not using shore power charger.
How do you charge the Bank2 (port battery)? Do you run in position 2 ?
Do you have an Aux Charging cable from the motor to bank2 (port)?
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