60 Amp breaker keeps tripping. help

[steveburger]

I have a 95 super sport and 3 weeks ago I put in a second battery and a perko switch. I checked the voltage and it metered okay. When I put it in the water and starting driving I noticed the voltage meter spiked and the perfect pass reset itself so then I shut the engine off and it wouldn't start because there was no power.

I figured out that the 60 amp breaker had tripped so I waited for it to cool and reset it then I tried different settings on the perko switch (battery 1, both, battery2) and every time after about a minute of running the breaker would trip. So I pulled the boat in and left it overnight.

The next day I took out the switch and went back to just running off of one battery. Everything worked and it was fine for a week.

Took it to my mechanic to check things out and he replaced all the spark plugs and the distributer cap (which was pretty corroded I guess) and said it was running good.

Took it out on the lake last night and after about half an hour the breaker trips. I switch batteries and disconnect the amp for the stereo and power to ballast pumps. The boat runs for another 15 minutes and the breaker trips again so I pulled the boat out and here I am.

Sorry about the long story

[Ultimanta]

RE: 60 Amp breaker keeps tripping. help

Too many variables. If this circuit breaker problem started just after you installed the second battery and Perko, then I suspect there may have been a problem with the Perko switch, battery or the wiring. You started troubleshooting by returning the system wiring back to its original state. The system performed ok, so the problem can be attributed to one/some of the cahnges you made.
You say it was fine for a week: Did you change it back to dual battery with Perko switch?
Amps should have their own dedicated (heavy gauge) wire connected directly to the battery posts and an in-line fuse sized to protect the connecting wire to the amp(AWG size).

99 Air

[steveburger]

No i didn't change it back to a 2 battery setup. It has been running off one since i took out the switch after the first breaker issues.
My amp is set up like you describe.

I'm going to change out that breaker today and see if that might be the culprit.

any other suggestions?
thanks

[Ultimanta]

A clip on ammeter will help to troubleshoot the source of possible overcurrent. Take a reading before breaker trips and try to trace back to branch circuit, ie. several devices or sub-circuits are powered from this one 60A CB. A wiring diagram is helpfull.
Alternately, if you have been running the 60A CB close to its limit and have tripped it several times, you may have weakened the CB. A faulty/weak CB is also a possibility. Good luck!

99 Air

[Sbt3]

I had the 60 amp breaker on mine trip everyday at the end as I was putting it on the lift. I couldn't explain it. I hadn't changed anything. Put a new breaker in and it has been fine ever since. That was about 2 months ago. I think the breaker was just bad. I couldn't figure out why it would just do it at the end of the day when going back on the lift, still not sure why but it's fixed so I'm happy.

[WakeSlayer]

How did you ground the second battery?

[mrbobolina]

I had a similar problem when I added my second battery. Check th ground that is running to the block. It should be on the back of the motor on the drivers side. Also upgrade the thickness of the the cable going from your alternator to the sylinoid. THe stock one is like 10 guage which is fine when you not demanding anything from that alternator. The line in my boat was just tired and scorched, which I could not tell untill I cut into it. Finally Upgrade the ground from the alternator as well. CC uses like a 14 guage line, and mine was also scorched.

If youa re going to upgrade the breaker you hve to do what I just said anyway.

Also check the starter (mine was actually tired and shorting out causing an issue. Finally check the main sylinoide all of this stuff runs thorugh. It is in the back of the motor under your ECU. The part is $15 at any auto store. Does not have to be marine specific. I called Nautique to verify.

Mine just so happened to have a hairline crack.

Hope this stuff helps. Oh and if you are not be sure to use a lock washer on everything.