Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

[jamesbirmingham]

I just bought a 2000 Stratos 19SS and the starting battery drains down. Anyone have any ideas what may be pulling it down?? I turn the key switch off and a main accessory switch off but am I missing something else?
Thanks

 

[cgast123]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

I haven't been workign on boats too terribly long but have been a auto&desiel mechanic for ten years and any time you have a battery going dead there are a few things you do. If it isn't a brand new battery but a load testing battery tester on the battery and see what it checks out to if it passes of course the battery is good if it fails put it on a battery charger for a few hours and try again. If it fails a second time get a new battery. Once you are certain the battery is good dissconnect only the negative battery cable and put a test light inbetween the negative battery post and the negative battery cable(make sure everything is turned off). If you have a short the test light will light up. If the test light isn't lit then you most likely just have a bad battery, If the test light is lit which I suspect it will be pull fuses out and see which one makes the light go out. If you pull a fuse out and the light goes out then that is the circuit that is pulling down your battery.

If no fuses make the light go out disconnect the power wire off your starter and the stator or alternator which ever your motor has. If either of these make the light go out then you need to replace that part.

best of luck,

Chris

 

[jamesbirmingham]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

Thanks I will try all that and see where I end up.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

It doesn't need to be a short to cause the battery to run down. Anything being left on or anything that is not connected to the battery switch can cause it. Bad diodes in the rectifier/regulator can also be the culprit.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

I have a battery switch and cut mine off when not in use..but you do need to find out what is draining your battery..maybe the battery is not holding a charge..start disconnecting stuff until you isolate it

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

If the large battery cables going to the engine are connected to the battery rather than the switch turning the switch off does nothing to prevent battery run down if there is a problem in the rectifier/regulator or at the helm since the intruments and panel lights are normally powered through the engine harness -- not the boat harness. How you troubleshoot depends on how the switch is wired.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Stratos 19 SS / Battery draining down problem

I run all my accessory power and engine power through the switch also so I do not get dead batteries...i am talking about the 3 way perko battery selector switch..as I always use 2 batteries anyway. but it would work with one to prevent leakage. How long does it take to drain battery?? I would try disconnecting wiring harness under the cowl and see if it is still draining..then go from there.