Boat engine problems: electrical installation

Electrical installation

In this blog we describe the electrical installation around the engine. Additional electrical installation for the on-board network (for lighting, refrigerator, inverters and the like) will be covered in a separate blog.

Engines need power. To start, and nowadays often to keep running. Power is consumed from a battery. When the engine is running, the alternator keeps the battery topped up. When the battery is not being recharged, it becomes dead.

Warning light

When the alternator stops recharging, a warning light comes on while the engine is running. On older engines it is sometimes just a red light, with no symbol. When this light comes on, you can assume that the battery is no longer being recharged. This becomes a problem! Especially when the engine is turned off, there is a chance that it will not want to start afterwards.

Symptoms

A common description of an engine problem is "the engine won't start." However, it is important to differentiate in this. Does the engine go around on the starter motor, but won't start? Then it is probably not an electrical problem, but a problem with the fuel supply. Do you turn the key but hear nothing, or only a few clicks at the engine? Then chances are you are dealing with an electrical problem.

Solutions for boat engine trouble

To solve your boat's engine problems, do the following:

Recharging the boat's battery

When the starter battery is dead, in some cases it can be easily recharged. Does your boat have a battery charger and are you moored off shore? Plug in the battery charger and wait an hour, then try starting again. Perhaps you still have a full battery on board, you can then swap batteries or use jumper cables to start the engine. Our mechanics can also take care of this with a battery booster.

Replacing a broken alternator

The alternator itself may be broken, or a wire may have broken or become loose. Also, the V-belt may have broken, causing the alternator to stop spinning. Taking alternator measurements is not easy for a layman, other than a simple check of the volt meter on the dashboard. When the engine is running, the voltmeter should indicate more than 13 volts, ideally around 14 volts. If that is only 12 volts with the engine running, then the alternator is not charging properly. In that case, have a mechanic check the system.

Broken battery replacement

Batteries do not have eternal life. After 5 to 8 years, batteries depreciate and lose capacity. Some batteries have an indicator, a small looking glass, which should be green. If it is not, the battery may be broken. Also, if the battery is recharged and the engine still has trouble starting, the battery may need replacement.

Breakdown on the water?

Having unexpected problems with your battery on the water? The boat watch from Vaarzeker is at your service. Do you own a boat and go boating regularly? Take a look at our breakdown service package. So you can get out on the water without any worries.