key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

[thesweetrelease]

I asked my 12 year old son to turn the boat off the other day and I guess he didnt turn it all the way. it was left on for two days.today I go to start it and I have no power. I put the charger on the batteries and it came up charged. took out batteries and tested them and both are charged. funny thing was non of the gauges work but the tach gauge was showing 7000 rpms. when I went to start the engine the gauge went back to 0. at one point the engine test lights and horn sounded and did a test but only one time. I have power to nothing not even to aftermarket switches I put in for my baitwell and washdown pumps. I checked all the fuses in the fuse box and the 20amp inline fuse to engine. my engine is a 1999 ficht 115. any help would be great.at this point I don't know where to look.thanks guys

 

[thesweetrelease]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

well I found out what I think it is. I have a duel battery system and think the one battery is bad even though it lights up a 12volt test light. I used my jeep to jump start the boat and it worked. let the boat run for maybe 15 minutes and shut it off and tried to start it and I had nothing not even gauges.. so I put the switch to the battery I know is a new one and I had juice everywhere.boat started right up .put the switch to the other battery and I have nothing, put the switch to "all " and I have nothing. gonna go get a new battery even though it still lights up a 12 volt test light ,it has something wrong with it if it's shutting down my whole system.

 

[keefallan]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

The battery probably took a dump when it was discharged........been there and done that. The gauges etc will take the battery past its recovery point.....especially if it's not a deep cycle. I've ruined at least one(but I think 2) doing this very thing............leaving the key switch on. Just telling ya from experience. That battery won't hold a charge anymore....you can count on it. I'm not saying that it will always be that way, but your battery doesn't work immediately after a charging.......bad sign.................same sign I had. Just chalk it up to a lesson on batteries.........unexpectedly. Sorry you had to lose one, they aren't cheap anymore.

 

[boobie]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

Throw that test light away. The only way to properly test a battery is with a load test.

 

[thesweetrelease]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

thanks guys.. yes toasted the battery.. I bought a new one and all is well . funny thing is I blamed my son .but I ran a check on the engine with the computer a couple days ago and I must have left the key on. .. my son was like dad you did the test after I turned the key off... whoops... got told by a 12 year old lmao...

 

[daselbee]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

Just to throw in a monkey wrench.....

On an older, non Ficht engine, leaving the key ON does nothing. There is no current draw, there is no load on any battery.
(This is NOT referring to a points ignition motor.) Too old for this discussion.

On the newer Ficht engines, with EMM, the main relay picks at key on, and the EMM is powered until the batts die.

Big difference.

WELL EDIT:

OK, maybe, if there is a tach, the tach is powered when key on....other than that, the engine itself does not draw power when key is on.

 

[thesweetrelease]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

Just to throw in a monkey wrench.....

On an older, non Ficht engine, leaving the key ON does nothing. There is no current draw, there is no load on any battery.
(This is NOT referring to a points ignition motor.) Too old for this discussion.

On the newer Ficht engines, with EMM, the main relay picks at key on, and the EMM is powered until the batts die.

Big difference.

WELL EDIT:

OK, maybe, if there is a tach, the tach is powered when key on....other than that, the engine itself does not draw power when key is on.

yes I now know this ...hahahahaha.. you can be sure the last thing I look at when getting off the boat will be the key ;-) thanks again guys!

 

[boobie]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

Good point Dasel on the Ficht. I forgot it was battery ignition.

 

[Outsider]

Re: key switch was left on for two days,now no power at all

gonna go get a new battery even though it still lights up a 12 volt test light

A 12v test light illuminating means it's not connected to a stump, and not much else ... :facepalm: