Yesterday the family and I sailed from HHI to Beaufort, SC where we spent the night at the downtown Marina. Barbequed some shrimp, drank lots of beer and wine, played monopoly with the kids, the little ones watched a movie. We all had a great time. We went to bed with two lights on -- the nav desk and the head.
This morning, however, I awoke to very dim lights. We were plugged into a 30 amp shore power port, so I assumed the battery charger would keep the batteries topped off. The battery charger, however, was out of order. It took some futzing with the dock staff, but I finally got a battery in there, got the engine started, switched the batteries out, and recharged my dead batteries. The engine recharged them just fine, and so we sailed home. Being that I was in a hurry to make the tides down the river, I discovered that I had no 12 volt after we were underway -- no GPS, no depth. We decided to go on, and sailed right up to our dock. Started the engine, and parked it.
So... the 12 doesn't work -- no cabin lights, depth sounder, etc. I had some 12v current first thing this morning, but no more. I checked a couple of the fuses while underway, but they were fine. However, I did not check them all. So my question for the learned panel is: Where do you suppose the problem is? I don't have a breaker box, but a fuse box. I have two batteries -- one of which is a dedidicated starter. Could my shuffling batteries around this morning have done something? Are 12v fuse systems like Christmas tree lights in that if one is out none will work? I appreciate your help.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all,
Sailhog
This morning, however, I awoke to very dim lights. We were plugged into a 30 amp shore power port, so I assumed the battery charger would keep the batteries topped off. The battery charger, however, was out of order. It took some futzing with the dock staff, but I finally got a battery in there, got the engine started, switched the batteries out, and recharged my dead batteries. The engine recharged them just fine, and so we sailed home. Being that I was in a hurry to make the tides down the river, I discovered that I had no 12 volt after we were underway -- no GPS, no depth. We decided to go on, and sailed right up to our dock. Started the engine, and parked it.
So... the 12 doesn't work -- no cabin lights, depth sounder, etc. I had some 12v current first thing this morning, but no more. I checked a couple of the fuses while underway, but they were fine. However, I did not check them all. So my question for the learned panel is: Where do you suppose the problem is? I don't have a breaker box, but a fuse box. I have two batteries -- one of which is a dedidicated starter. Could my shuffling batteries around this morning have done something? Are 12v fuse systems like Christmas tree lights in that if one is out none will work? I appreciate your help.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all,
Sailhog
