Onboard Charger Woes

[jasone]

Hello all.  

I am looking for a little help from anyone knowledgeable about or owning any of the BPS onboard chargers.

My charger is a 5/5 2 bank 10amp total charger.  Up until about a week ago, it worked ok (it isn't new, I bought it with the boat).  The last few times I hooked it up, the green led just flashed steadily and I heard a clicking noise from the charger.  I checked my connections and the fuses at each wire and all looked ok.  I have taken the boat out since and everything ran fine.  I have ran the boat again since then and again, everything was fine.  I used the trolling motor pretty hard and it should need charge by now but nothing.

Is it possible it is fully charged still?  The batteries are pretty new.  Has anyone experienced anything like this?  I am afraid to take it out again for fear of the batteries dieing on me.

Please help.

Thanks

J

[RobDar]

I do not have alot of experience with this but I had a similar problem. Mine did not click and flash, but would go green and no charge...it was a failed voltage sensor. ( cheaper...at least more beneficial... to replace the charger than the relay by the way)

Dont you have a meter on the boat? that tells you the battery charge? If you do hook the battery you are worried about up as though it was your main starting battery and the volt meter will tell you what the charge is.

A cheapy DC volt/amp meter is always a good buy as well...I carry one on the boat ( about $30 at Harbor Frieght) in case I loose a switch, a fuse, want to check a battery...whatever...

Autozone also used to sell a battery jumper with a built in gauge you hook up on the battery that tells you the remaining charge. My father in law is religious about the 80% rule on his batteries so he uses these to watch his remainng charge.

[Madhouse27]

I'm wondering if there is a problem with a cell in one of the batteries? How old are the batteries? Is Ben in the house? Hopefully he'll show up and sort this thing out.

[jasone]

Thanks guys.  

I mulled over getting a meter just to check (now and later).  The batteries are less than three months old.  I did arc my trolling motor battery during install.  I shouldn't think that would damage it badly.  The charger has also been working up until now.  The batteries have never been drained or dead.  I don't quite understand it.

Thanks again.

J

[Glenn]

Sounds like the charger died.  I had it happen to me once.  It just flashed red, green, red, green, red.....  

No warning signs.  Just one day, poof.  It happens.

[x-trued]

The ideal way to check a battery imo is with a hydrometer.  You can pick one up at most any parts store for $5.00 or less.  This checks the specific gravity of each cell and will tell you the state of charge as well as if you have a bad cell.