I have a 2000 34' Sundancer. Upon...
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-27-2019 12:58 PM
I have a 2000 34' Sundancer. Upon returning to FL., being away 2 months, I discovered the engine hatch will not lift. Each battery solenoid was turned off when I left. The port battery solenoid clicked on and shows 12+ volts. The starboard battery solenoid will not engage (no clicking sound) and the volt meter does not move. Turned on battery charger for 24 hours and still the same. The emergency start switch does not activate the hatch lift. So, I have to get in the engine room and check the batteries and solenoid. Advice is needed: the hatch is very heavy so once it is pulled up, will it stay up and or need a support to hold it. Common sense says to prop it up. Any suggestions how to proceed. Thanks
- Labels:
-
Maintenance
-
Operation
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-27-2019 02:43 PM
Yes the hatch is VERY heavy.
On my 2000 380DA the factory provided a prop rod that is useful when servicing the hatch lift.
Searches on-line did not reveal if that prop rod also exists on your boat.
My suggestions are to have 2x4 boards on-hand of various lengths to use as prop rods. It would also be handy to have board scraps to prevent full closure if the hatch closes suddenly.
The local dealership might be able to provide guidance. Examination of similar local boats might also be useful.
It might be possible to back feed w/ a good battery injected onto an accessible bus bar, to drive up the lift under power. Note there are two banks, so injection onto one might not access the bank powering the lift.
Please be careful and please report on progress.
https://images0.boattrader.com/resize/1/91/87/7129187_20190626103307194_1_LARGE.jpg?t=1307361
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-27-2019 05:38 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-27-2019 06:30 PM
It was not possible for me to locate the wiring diagram for your boat.
My boat has multiple bus bars throughout the boat, including those in the engine compartment.
My boat has a bus bar set under the helm and another set behind the salon breaker panel, the helm connected to the port bank, the salon connected to the starboard bank.
Doesn't your boat also have these power distribution bus bars that would permit back feeding power into each bank?
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-27-2019 07:11 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 04:08 AM
The Owner's Manual Supplement has the wiring diagram pages.
Correct, proper / safe injection of power at those remote bus bars to provide sufficient current to raise the hatch. Note that a good battery will provide MUCH more current than any portable battery charger.
Assuming our boats have similar wiring layout, my boat has bus bars for positive, negative and "Earth" ground at the helm and behind the salon breaker panel.
Those positive bus bars are on the Load side of the battery disconnect contactors, so sufficient power must exist to toggle those contactors to the ON position, if required. It might help to try the emergency start switch if toggling the disconnect contactors is difficult.
Note, the design of my boat doesn't have this potential problem, because I can manually remove the port floor panel, exposing the batteries and exposing the hatch lift disconnect clevis pin. All boats should have been designed w/ these features.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 07:39 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 08:10 AM
Remember that a battery may provide almost infinite current when shorted, so safety first.
When I was performing diagnosis on my refrigerator one step was bypassing the boat wiring, using a battery adjacent to the refrigerator.
During that step I used an in-line fuse for protection and used extreme care.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47943257146_cfa3703baa_b.jpg
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f115/wingless-danfoss-bd50f-101n0500-refrigerator-problems-218711.html
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 08:33 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 03:50 PM
For my application the most important aspect of the batteries are engine-off ampere-hour capacity. The biggest almost continuous current draw is the refrigerator at about 10A DC. Other loads kick on and off, but other than my ear bleeding loud stereo (I run the generator for that while on hook), the 'fridge is the biggest load.
The factory built my boat w/ five group 27 flooded cell batteries. When those got old I replaced them w/ five group 31 flooded cell. The group 31 tapers to smaller at the bottom, so they fit in the existing group 27 trays. I got REALLY tired of maintaining the electrolyte level, so I switched to AGM. I upgraded to six Lifeline GPL-31XT batteries, for more on-hook run time.
The Lifeline GPL-31XT is the only group 31 battery w/ the greatest ampere-hour capacity, at 125Ah. Every other battery is 100Ah or 105Ah.
There is zero reservation w/ me recommending this battery for the listed reasons.
https://lifelinebatteries.com/products/marine-batteries/gpl-31xt/
Also, check the on-board battery charger, it might not be performing properly.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-28-2019 10:43 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-29-2019 05:12 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-29-2019 07:05 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-30-2019 04:32 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
09-30-2019 03:44 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-08-2019 11:02 AM
If going that route, then ensure ABYC is followed and the end result is safe.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-14-2019 08:53 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-22-2019 05:17 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-22-2019 05:45 PM
It is always rewarding when things work.
Glad to help.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-23-2019 01:55 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
10-23-2019 05:17 PM