Starter Battery Depleting

[Casablanca1942]

My starter battery (lead acid) charges normally when the engine is not running. However, when the engine is running my starter battery is run down. It can get very low.

In my setup the Yanmar stock alternator and the Balmar MC-614 regulator charges the house bank (Lithium Ion). The Xantrex Echo Charge DC-DC charger then charges the starter battery.

I believe the charging system is not working correctly as the starter battery should be charging whether the engine is running or not. What is likely to be the issue?

[Fuss]

how many amps drawn from the starter battery when the engine is running, not running , ign on, ign off?

[smac999]

does the green light on the echo charger come on with the engine running?


those units are getting pretty old. may have failed. easily determined with a volt meter and clamp meter.

maybe time to upgrade to an orion.

[Morgan Sailor]

The Echo charger is designed for use with identical battery types and charge profiles only. Time to upgrade your dc to dc charger.

[cram]

Is this a new to you boat or a boat you've had for many years?

When was it last working? Has anything been changed anywhere in the electrical system since charging last worked properly under engine power?

Do you have a clamp ON DC ampmeter? and a DC voltmeter? Identifying where there is and isn't power is step one.

Is there any fuses between the 2 banks?

Are both banks negative wires joined anywhere?

Is it possible the lithium battery BMS shut down the charge MOSFET, thus causing unregulated high voltage (for a split second) and likely damaging some 12VDC equipment?

Do you have a DC power monitor for the house bank? Ie: Victron smartshunt or similar...

Remote electrical troubleshooting is like predicting the stock market 2 years from now....

Assuming everything worked, nothing was changed, now it stopped, I would bet the DC charger has failed... time to upgrade. Victron makes a good programmable DC-DC charger. Avoid Renogy, and cheap amazon stuff, they usually lack conformal coatings on the electrical boards.

https://www.fnirsi.com/products/dmc-...NqYeld94Is0wOI

[Iron E]

My hunch is the MC-614 is detuned to prevent cooking the alternator on the LFP. That keeps house voltage too low to wake the Xantrex (Xantrex says it wakes at 13.0 on 12V) so key-on loads eat the start battery.

Many here at CF go the other way. Alt to Start (FLA/AGM) to DC/DC to House (LFP) with a Victron or Sterling.
The alternator sees lead-acid; the DC-DC takes care of lithium.

[Casablanca1942]

Hello All, thanks for your feedback.

This is a new to me boat, although I have had it for about 18 months. This issue seems to have been present since purchase.

While I have a multimeter, I don't have a clamp-on meter. So, unable to measure currents at this time.

The Xantrex Echo Charger has a green light on when the engine is running and when it is off.

As far as monitoring the battery status I only have a Victron BMV-702 which provides the house battery voltage, starter battery voltage, current (to house bank), state of charge (house bank), and consumed Ah (house bank).

Thanks for your advice. I'll get a clamp-on meter and check the currents.

[cram]

Does the light sometime blink and other times go solid?

[Casablanca1942]

Originally Posted by cram

Does the light sometime blink and other times go solid?

The light has been a solid Green every time I check.

[cram]

Originally Posted by Casablanca1942

The light has been a solid Green every time I check.

OK, did you confirm what that means in the owner manual?

[Casablanca1942]

Solid GREEN means it is "ON". Blinking means the house battery voltage is below 13.0 V or above 17 V.

[Tin Tin]

Does the echo charge only charge at 15A? This may be too low if your start battery also runs other electrical equipment when engine is runnings such as electric fuel pump or lift pump, engine room blower, electronic sensors and so on. I would replace with a configurable Victron smart Orion DC DC that will allow manipulation of input and output current and volts and can be monitored by bluetooth to you phone. Your start battery may also be stuffed.

[Casablanca1942]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

Does the echo charge only charge at 15A?

According to the specifications, 15A is the maximum. The exact amount is dependent on the voltage differential between the house and starter. So, looking at the graph, the charging current would generally be 10A or less.

I'm not sure what else the starter battery is running, but you have a good point and that may be the ultimate cause.

[neflier]

Originally Posted by Casablanca1942

Hello All, thanks for your feedback.

This is a new to me boat, although I have had it for about 18 months. This issue seems to have been present since purchase.

While I have a multimeter, I don't have a clamp-on meter. So, unable to measure currents at this time.

The Xantrex Echo Charger has a green light on when the engine is running and when it is off.

As far as monitoring the battery status I only have a Victron BMV-702 which provides the house battery voltage, starter battery voltage, current (to house bank), state of charge (house bank), and consumed Ah (house bank).

Thanks for your advice. I'll get a clamp-on meter and check the currents.

I would start with the battery voltages, using both a multimeter and the BMV-702. You need to ensure the BMV-702 is wired correctly, the multimeter will confirm that. Measuring currents is nice, but voltages will answer the important question; am I charging or discharging?

Engine off- What are the house and start battery voltages?
Engine running- What are the house and start battery voltages?

From there it should be easy to narrow down the problem.

[AndyOz]

Originally Posted by Casablanca1942

Hello All, thanks for your feedback.

This is a new to me boat, although I have had it for about 18 months. This issue seems to have been present since purchase.

While I have a multimeter, I don't have a clamp-on meter. So, unable to measure currents at this time.

The Xantrex Echo Charger has a green light on when the engine is running and when it is off.

As far as monitoring the battery status I only have a Victron BMV-702 which provides the house battery voltage, starter battery voltage, current (to house bank), state of charge (house bank), and consumed Ah (house bank).

Thanks for your advice. I'll get a clamp-on meter and check the currents.

DC clamp meters are often a bit dodgy.

If the LA battery voltage is rising, then you can assume it is being charged. Especially if over 13V.