13 replies to this topic

[thumper]

when is it safe to charge the battery - ie do you have to disconnect evrything or will just switching batt off be ok
and when can you jump start these boats with a portable power pack as i have just noticed after a four week spell of bad weather that the engine took a few goes to turn over which may indicate a defficient charge in battery, as these boats dont have alternators fitted???

any ideas

[rickster]

when is it safe to charge the battery - ie do you have to disconnect evrything or will just switching batt off be ok
and when can you jump start these boats with a portable power pack as i have just noticed after a four week spell of bad weather that the engine took a few goes to turn over which may indicate a defficient charge in battery, as these boats dont have alternators fitted???

any ideas

Always take the battery out of the boat and charge it in an open space. When charging Deep Cycle batteries that use battery liquid, you need to open the little tabs where you put the liquid and leave them open. This will allow gases to escape the battery container. If you do not do this, then the container or casing will expand and may cause a breakage. You need to take the battery out in order to avoid having these gases on your bilge.

As for jump starting, and even though I always carry a pack, I've never had the displeasure, but I guess the normal car procedure should work...get the negative on some metal part of the boat and the positive on the battery!

[keviseeb]

First of all, ALL Seadoo sport boats have alternators, the Mercury has more amperage than the Rotax engines but either will recharge the battery just fine. I agree with rickster to remove the battery, that is the only safe way to recharge a battery. I'm not saying that everybody does that..........

[thumper]

my dealer said that they havent - now i really confused

ok is it actually a alternator or called something else - then i shall ask him again

i get really p****d when dealers get it wrong

thanks keviseeb for the info - graetly appreciated

[keviseeb]

Ok, to be EXACTLY correct the magneto charges the battery through a rectifier. In either case and no matter how you say it the battery gets recharged with the engine running.

[tiggerman]

First of all, ALL Seadoo sport boats have alternators, the Mercury has more amperage than the Rotax engines but either will recharge the battery just fine. I agree with rickster to remove the battery, that is the only safe way to recharge a battery. I'm not saying that everybody does that..........

Agreed- remove the battery. Safety first ALWAYS. Doesn't matter if it is your Doo, or your car. I have seen shops burn down because someone was too lazy to remove the battery from a vehicle while charging it. Doesn't matter if you have a lead-acid or gel-cell either.

[thumper]

thank you for your input fellas its very much appreciated.

[rickster]

Tiggerman is right! Almost 100% of batteries that explote do so while charging. Talk to your local Golf Course cart maintenance guy, he'll have his stories. I as a Claims Adjuster also have mine. I was trying to post some pictures of a Sea Doo that exploted on a carport, and the extensive damages it caused to a Dwelling, but seems I lost them on a computer crash!!!

[tiggerman]

Tiggerman is right!  Almost 100% of batteries that explote do so while charging.  Talk to your local Golf Course cart maintenance guy, he'll have his stories.  I as a Claims Adjuster also have mine.  I was trying to post some pictures of a Sea Doo that exploted on a carport, and the extensive damages it caused to a Dwelling, but seems I lost them on a computer crash!!!

A claims adjuster? Computer crash?? Where was yer backup (read "insurance")?

[rickster]

Tiggerman is right!  Almost 100% of batteries that explote do so while charging.  Talk to your local Golf Course cart maintenance guy, he'll have his stories.  I as a Claims Adjuster also have mine.  I was trying to post some pictures of a Sea Doo that exploted on a carport, and the extensive damages it caused to a Dwelling, but seems I lost them on a computer crash!!!

A claims adjuster? Computer crash?? Where was yer backup (read "insurance")?

Well, you know how it is! As a rule of thumb, psychiatrics are crazy...There is a saying in spanish that goes something like this: "In a steel maker's house you will find wooden knives"!!!

[thumper]

what about the portable power pack i mentioned to jump the battery - obviously you cany remove the battery to do this is it ok to connect the power pack and start the engine then disconnect the power pack?

how many volts should you get across the terminals on a good battery?

[rickster]

what about the portable power pack i mentioned to jump the battery - obviously you cany remove the battery to do this is it ok to connect the power pack and start the engine then disconnect the power pack?

how many volts should you get across the terminals on a good battery?

I always carry a power pack too, but have never used it. I guess the same procedure of start jumping should work...But to be safe, and since these engines have some kind of generator or alternator, I would disconect the poles from the battery and connect them to the pack, turn the engine on, and then disconnetc the pack and connect the battery!

[rickster]

what about the portable power pack i mentioned to jump the battery - obviously you cany remove the battery to do this is it ok to connect the power pack and start the engine then disconnect the power pack?

how many volts should you get across the terminals on a good battery?

I always carry a power pack too, but have never used it. I guess the same procedure of start jumping should work...But to be safe, and since these engines have some kind of generator or alternator, I would disconect the poles from the battery and connect them to the pack, turn the engine on, and then disconnetc the pack and connect the battery!

Now that I remember, the day I went to pick up my boat @ the dealer, they forgot the battery, and had no spare batteries (It was almost 6:00 pm), so we did turn it on with a power pack and no battery in order to test the motor! So that procedure would be just fine!!!

[thumper]

thanks for that