Radio & FF losing power

[pnwguy]

Bear with me here as I am electrically illiterate. I am running one battery in a 94 Seaswirl Striper w/a. While fishing I am usually running the fishfinder,radio, and electric downrigger. Just recently I have been losing power to the radio and or ff while operating the downrigger. It seems the power surge required to operate the downrigger is pulling power from the other accesories.

The thing I can't figure out is I have run all three together all summer and only recently have had problems. It started with losing power to the radio for a minute or two and then it would come back on. Now I lose power to the radio for 15min before it powers back up. Any ideas / suggestions for an electrically challenged fisherman?

Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

You kind of have the idea, the downrigger turning on creates a current surge which is causing a voltage drop.

Not sure how you have things wired but you can keep the voltage drop to a minimum by making sure all battery connections including grounds are clean. This will minimize voltage drops there.

As a battery ages its internal resistance may increase slightly thereby causing more voltage drop when a large current demand hits.

I can't explain why the radio has changed its startup time. That is a little puzzling.

Is the downrigger wired straight to the battery? If it isn't and it shares a ground or power that feeds the other items, that could be your problem too. make sure the downrigger has its own dedicated power off the battery if you can do it. Make sure you put a circuit breaker at the battery or power bus bar before it feeds the downrigger.

 

[pnwguy]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

Thanks Bruce! Battery is only two weeks old.... but I will need to check the connections for corrosion. The downrigger is not wired straight to the battery. The battery only has one heavy gauge wire coming of the pos and similar off the neg. I bought the boat used and the wiring was already in. I suppose wiring the downrigger direct to battery will solve my problem.

Thanks

 

[jtexas]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

"Just recently I have been losing power..."

Something changed...the battery is only one part of the equation. Don't overlook the possibility that the downrigger motor is dragging, results in increased current draw. Could be due to aging motor, or some change in the equipment that causes the motor to work harder...sticking pully or heavier weight or something. If that's the case I expect it would heat up more than it used to.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

Jtexas...that is a good point.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

Hook up a volt meter to the battery and when you use the downrigger check the voltage or when the radio stops check the voltage. I suspect you will fine the voltage down around 9 volts. Loose and dirty connections will stop the battery from charging up correctly. A Dead of dry cell will due the same thing.

With the volt meter your will be able to see what the problem is. You could also check the voltage at the radio connection.

 

[--GQ--]

Re: Radio & FF losing power


Maybe ghosteses? Sorry just throwing an apple into pile of oranges. o

Posts above are all correct. 8)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Radio & FF losing power

if all else fail have the battery load tested, it wouldn't be the first battery to be bad.