New battery problem help

[loughderg]

Hello

I have a 5m Avon with a 60hp Honda four stroke engine. I replaced the battery in June because they old one appeared to be dead (I went out in May and the batter died while on the water) and have taken the boat out a few times since then without issue

Yesterday I was out on the water and started to get a beeping and the battery alarm light was on so I headed straight to the marina. I switched the engine off and when I tried to start the engine again it wouldn't start

I don't have nav lights or built in radio or bilge pump on the boat, I do have some instruments on the console but don't think any of them work so I think the only thing the battery is powering is the starter motor (bear in mind I don't know a lot about outboard motors). It seems like something is drawing on the battery maybe? But I don't know what that could be

Any advice please?

Many thanks
Bob

[neil.mccrirrick]

Sounds like your battery isn’t charging

[loughderg]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Sounds like your battery isn’t charging

Would that be a problem with the alternator?

[User name]

The beeping and battery light is an indicator for charge system fault. Your battery is probably still fine but you'll need the outboard looked at.

[Fenlander]

I'd be checking all the connections in the circuit are clean and tight plus putting a voltmeter across the battery, static and running, to see what's going on.

[smallribber]

Outboards have a Stator that generates AC Current. Ones with a Charge circuit then have a Rectifier/Regulator that converts that AC into approx 13.5V DC. This then charges your battery when the engine is running.

If you test your battery with a simple volt meter when at rest with the engine off it should read about 12.2 - 12.6 Volts. If you then start the engine and test the voltage again it should read above 13 volts if it is charging. If there is no increase in the voltage when the engine is runing you have one or more of the following

1) Failed Stator
2) Failed Rectifier/Regulator
3) Loose Connections/Dirty Connections

Look up how does an outboard motor charge a Battery and you will get some understanding on how it works

[jeffstevens763@g]

Faulty instruments could be the source of drain assuming the engine is charging the battery of course

[loughderg]

Thanks all

Something occurred to me - the key is slightly loose in the ignition and falls out frequently. On Friday I left it out because it fell out a few times, I think it was about an hour or two later when the battery alarm went off. I only put it back in when we got to the marina because I always kill the engine with the key and not the kill cord

Could that be the cause?

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by loughderg

Thanks all

Something occurred to me - the key is slightly loose in the ignition and falls out frequently. On Friday I left it out because it fell out a few times, I think it was about an hour or two later when the battery alarm went off. I only put it back in when we got to the marina because I always kill the engine with the key and not the kill cord

Could that be the cause?

Could it be that although the key was out it was actually clicked into the first position.