Battery drain

[slalomdude]

after leaving the boat for 10 days, the battery went flat. I checked the amp draw with everthing off and the keypad locked. The draw was 0.176 amps. this is obviously too much and was looking for ideas where to start looking ,or any usual culprits. I have a 2000 ski with stock cassette radio, no amps etc.
Thanks

[AirTool]

RE: Battery drain

Maybe start taking fuses out one-by-one with your ammeter hooked up.

[Andrew]

RE: Battery drain

or just check the draw at the fusebox

[Rick]

RE: Battery drain

Perfect pass, the back lighting on the stereo, and your bilge pump may run every 2 minutes for 2 seconds to check for water. You need to put a shutoff switch on the battery or get a trickle charger from Pep boys and leave it plugged in.

[Jubers]

RE: Battery drain

I have the same issue. Happens even with the bilge turned off. I suspect it is another defect associated with the "Smart Pod". I just disconnect my battery when I pull my boat.

[skiswm]

RE: Battery drain

My drain has always been the stereo, I finally just started to undo the cable to the battery for it. No matter what I did, it'd always drain.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

RE: Battery drain

All I have a 2004 STOCK 216 LE. With the the switch in off the batter lasted over six months last winter (yeah I know, dont leave the battery connected over the winter, but I got busy and forgot). She started first try this spring....So she did not have much of a drain.

[Andrew]

Re: RE: Battery drain

My drain has always been the stereo, I finally just started to undo the cable to the battery for it. No matter what I did, it'd always drain.

yeah, the headunit will always pull power so that it can keep the preset stations and the clock up to date.......

slalomdude, this is most likely ur problem. i woulda mentioned it sooner, but i didn't even think about it.....

the easiest solution is a switch.... whether it be on the radios power circuit or at the battery...............

[dwsa]

RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

Does the 176 mA drop if you remove the output of the alternator?? If so, its your alternator, usually the rectifier leaking.

[slalomdude]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

Does the 176 mA drop if you remove the output of the alternator?? If so, its your alternator, usually the rectifier leaking.

Thanks, I will check it. Although the amp draw is measured across the inline fuse on the #12 wire that only feeds up to the dash and accesories. All power to the alternator goes thru the main powerlead from the battery, doesnt it?

[M3Fan]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

The later smartpod boats had a switch which has 3 positions- all off, all on, or autobilge only. This is because the smartpod always draws power. It's a 3 way toggle under the dash. My boat had it added as a retrofit and I couldn't imagine going without it.

[Jubers]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

Who did your retrofit? I'd like to add that to mine. My stereo has been disconnected for years so I knew that wasn't my issue.

[jmo]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

slalomdude - how old is your battery? If its the original its probably time to replace it. Batteries live in cars is 4-5 years, not sure what effect the marine usage does to the lifespan, my guess is with all the starting and stopping it's harder on it.

I've left mine in the garage with just the auto-bilge only on for several weeks without an issue.

jmo

[slalomdude]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

The battery was replaced last year. That retrofit for the 3 position switch looks like a great idea. Anyone know where they are available?

[dwsa]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Battery drain

The orange wire from the alternator output connects directly to the battery, so if your alternator is bad or partly bad (leaky diodes) it will drain the battery. You can try disconnecting the battery while the engine is running, it should keep going, if it dies then the alternator is putting out nothing. If it still runs you could still have a partially shorted rectifier pack, only way to be sure is to measure the inline current in that orange wire on alternator, engine off, there should be zero current. Or measure the current draw from the battery. I have noticed a small spark when I connect my battery, I can only think this is the keyless ignition cct, as nothing else is on. Good luck.