Hello folks-
I am new to boat ownership, so apologies if this is obvious. It's not to me, and thread searching turns up an immensity of boat electrical information that makes troubleshooting this appear a bit daunting:
Over the past couple of weeks, my AGM batteries have stopped charging to 100%, slipping to 75%, and now 50% (percentage based on the four bars (4 = 100% full) on my Xantrex 1000 display.
Investigating, I find Bank 1 seems to charge fine, and Bank 2 does not charge at all (zero amps go in). Best I can figure, Xantrex thinks this equates to 50%, though one of the banks has two car-sized batteries and the other a single (larger) one. All are AGM; I normally use these only to start the engine/run running lights for a sail once a week -- no heavy loads, and connected to shore power/recharge within 8 hours every time.
My question(s) are as follows:
1. Is it normal for batteries to crap out so quickly? (age is unknown; boat new to me. By quickly I mean "charging 100% less than 3 weeks ago, and now down to 50% with little use or drain") If so, I probably need to get new batteries. If not, I may need to look elsewhere -- e.g., maybe the master switch is just bad.
If I replace batteries, do I get different battery types for the start and house banks, due to their different usages? I will get AGM unless it is recommended to do otherwise.
Follow-up:
I don't really want to do any of the items below -- unless they are highly recommended. For me, it is all a much bigger job than new batteries (the electrical stuff on a boat all requires new tools I don't have, must get, and then must learn to use.)
2. New Charger? I see the negative comments re Xantrex, which in fact I have heard elsewhere too (though this is a pretty old Xantrex). Given that I have a 1998 Xantrex, before getting new batteries (assuming they are the issue -- planning to take them to a battery store to get them tested) is it highly recommended I put in a new charger? New AGM batteries are not cheap, so if a new charger is the way to protect them, then...
3. Battery switch: Is it important/normal to replace the master battery switch (this one dates to 1998) before/while doing the above? I see comments about making sure one has a make-before-break one.
4. Inverter: If replacing the charger I suspect I would need to address the inverter at the same time. Practically everything can run off of 12V these days... is there some important reason I should be planning to replace the inverter, rather than just remove it and have some portable one for those occasional times I need one (e.g. recharging some electric tool battery far from home)? I assume there must be 12V direct-connect inverters one can use in a pinch.
Thanks for any comments/suggestions-
Neil
PS: For anyone else running across this thread later, some reference are:
https://marinehowto.com/installing-a-marine-battery-charger/ (This site is really helpful, FYI, as is the proprietor)
I am new to boat ownership, so apologies if this is obvious. It's not to me, and thread searching turns up an immensity of boat electrical information that makes troubleshooting this appear a bit daunting:
Over the past couple of weeks, my AGM batteries have stopped charging to 100%, slipping to 75%, and now 50% (percentage based on the four bars (4 = 100% full) on my Xantrex 1000 display.
Investigating, I find Bank 1 seems to charge fine, and Bank 2 does not charge at all (zero amps go in). Best I can figure, Xantrex thinks this equates to 50%, though one of the banks has two car-sized batteries and the other a single (larger) one. All are AGM; I normally use these only to start the engine/run running lights for a sail once a week -- no heavy loads, and connected to shore power/recharge within 8 hours every time.
My question(s) are as follows:
1. Is it normal for batteries to crap out so quickly? (age is unknown; boat new to me. By quickly I mean "charging 100% less than 3 weeks ago, and now down to 50% with little use or drain") If so, I probably need to get new batteries. If not, I may need to look elsewhere -- e.g., maybe the master switch is just bad.
If I replace batteries, do I get different battery types for the start and house banks, due to their different usages? I will get AGM unless it is recommended to do otherwise.
Follow-up:
I don't really want to do any of the items below -- unless they are highly recommended. For me, it is all a much bigger job than new batteries (the electrical stuff on a boat all requires new tools I don't have, must get, and then must learn to use.)
2. New Charger? I see the negative comments re Xantrex, which in fact I have heard elsewhere too (though this is a pretty old Xantrex). Given that I have a 1998 Xantrex, before getting new batteries (assuming they are the issue -- planning to take them to a battery store to get them tested) is it highly recommended I put in a new charger? New AGM batteries are not cheap, so if a new charger is the way to protect them, then...
3. Battery switch: Is it important/normal to replace the master battery switch (this one dates to 1998) before/while doing the above? I see comments about making sure one has a make-before-break one.
4. Inverter: If replacing the charger I suspect I would need to address the inverter at the same time. Practically everything can run off of 12V these days... is there some important reason I should be planning to replace the inverter, rather than just remove it and have some portable one for those occasional times I need one (e.g. recharging some electric tool battery far from home)? I assume there must be 12V direct-connect inverters one can use in a pinch.
Thanks for any comments/suggestions-
Neil
PS: For anyone else running across this thread later, some reference are:
https://marinehowto.com/installing-a-marine-battery-charger/ (This site is really helpful, FYI, as is the proprietor)
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