Topic: HB 1197c Draining battery

[George]

Folks I need some help.

For the past month(s) I have had a problem with my battery going dead in 2 to 3 hrs.

My battery is almost new purchased in April, warranty is for 2 years. 

It is an Optima Blue Top N9934 Blue 24 M.  MCA 1000  CCA 800  AH 50  RC 100

I took the battery back to Napa where I purchased it and it check out good.

On the battery is is the Outboard motor, HB 1197c, and the on-board charging system, (tachometer, and hour meter are on the key switch).

I have a 25 HP Tohatsu, which charges the battery at appx.  14V when the motor is running.

I have charged the battery via the on-board charger and again via a 10 amp charger.

I have removed all of the battery connections (after charging) except for the 1197c unit.  Both times the HB unit totally shut down because of low battery in appx. 2 hours.

When the HB shuts down the voltage reading is appx. 9.4 volts or less. 

Any time the batter is less then 12 volts the outboard starter does not work, and I use he pull start and it starts on the 1st or 2nd pull.

1.  How much power does the 1197c pull?

2.  How long should the battery last?

3.  Any thoughts on what I should try?

4.  Is there a way to test the battery to determine if there is a problem with it, other then taking it to someone?

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

George

[Del]

All i can tell you is that a 1197 doesnt drain an 50 AH Battery in 2h if its good. I've had mine running for something like 12 houres on an 60AH and the Voltage level didnt even drop below 11,5V. 2h is way too less time. I would assume you to have the battery checked somewhere else.


Greetings,
Del

[ITGEEK]

George,
I think any person that has a boat with batteries needs to buy themselves a battery load tester so they can quickly determine if their batteries are bad.  It will be difficult to keep taking a battery somewhere to have it tested.  Also, who's testing it?  A kid with no experience that doesn't know how to test it properly?

Here is one on Amazon with free shipping:
http://www.amazon.com/3181-Heavy-Duty-Battery-Load-Tester/dp/B000O3U2UQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320319549&sr=8-3
There are lots out there.  I'd would shop around and read the reviews before purchasing.
Make sure it will work with 12 volt batteries.

The way these things work is that they place a load (draw power
from the battery), and measure how much the voltage drops.
A good battery will sustain a voltage of 10.5 or more under a load.
You can tell very quickly if you have a bad battery.
The voltage will drop like a brick once you place a load on it.

Another thing you should invest in is a 12-volt test light.
These are inexpensive.
Your 1197 may be drawing current when it's supposed to be off.
To test for this.
Clip the test light to the negative post on the battery.
Using the pointed test light probe, stick it into the positive (red) wire
of your Humminbird, or if you can, touch it to the positive connecter
in the back of the Humminbird (while it's still hooked up).  The test light
point must touch a positive feed wire while the wires are hooked
to the Humminbird.
If the test light lights up, then you have a current draw.
You would then need to send your 1197 back to Humminbird.

Another problem I see with your rig is that you have too much
connected to one battery.
Even if your unit was working OK, you are most likely going to get
a lot of interference from your gas motor.

I suspect your problem is a bad battery or you have something
on your boat continually drawing current.
You also could have some badly corroded wires
that are creating heat which causes more
current draw.

My recommendation would be to buy a brand new
small 12-volt battery that will only be for your Humminbird.
You may need to buy a small marine onboard battery charger
for it also, but you don't need to keep the charger in your boat.
The battery should allow your 1197 to work all day long.
Hook that battery to your battery charger and charge it up
when you get home.  Also, don't buy a cheap battery charger.
Guest chargers are really good.  I hear people have had problems
with Bass Pro Shops chargers.  Maybe someone else can
chime in with other recommendations for you.

I have a very small battery hooked to my 1197.
I usually fish half a day and that battery re-charges up
very quickly when I get home, so the 1197 doesn't draw
much current at all.

I hope you figure it out George.
Good Luck.

[George]

ITGEEK

Thanks for your suggestions, I am going to purchase a battery load tester.

On the battery is my outboard motor, 1197c and the on-board charger.  The only thing pulling power is the 1197c.

I did check for current draw, I used a 12 volt test light and a good multimeter with a clamp.

I cannot find anything discharging. 

I charged the batteries with with the on-board charger and used an independent 10 amp charger another time.  All the wires connected to the battery were removed except for the 1197, it discharges the battery to less then 10.7 volts (it shut down for low voltage) in appx. 2 hours.

So, I think that the new Blue Top Optima battery may be bad, it is the only thing that makes sense.  I have another new Optima Yellow Top battery on the front of my boat, (for the trolling motor) and I am going to set it up to see how long it will take to drain the battery.

George

 

[Bob B]

Do you have the 1197 power fused with the recommended 3amp fuse?

If you have the fuse, the math says that without blowing the fuse, the most power you could use in 2 hours is 6 AH.

[George]

Thanks Bob

Yes my unit is fused as recommended.

Today, I am going to try my other battery to see what happens.

George

[sonar2000]

It does sound like the battery....Batteries are multi celled devices and occasionally a cell will short out internally and although the battery checks at 12 volts it will drain internally...

Chuck

[George]

I ran the 1197c unit on a yellow top optima battery, which is used for my trolling motor.  I shut it down after running for more then 22 hours, the voltage reading before shutting down the 1197c was 11.9 volts and 12.1 volts on my multimeter.  I would expect it to run for at least another 4 hours.

I have ordered a battery load test which will confirm that the blue top battery is bad.

George

[George]

Spent some time communicating with Optima Battery, it turns out that they did not sell me a deep cycle battery and that is the issue.

It turns out that Optima has one Blue top marine battery that is not a deep cycle battery.  Blue Top 34m is for cranking only and D34M is the Deep Cycle Version.  Just to be safe I ordered the largest blue top battery (do not want to do this again). 

The supplier took the battery back and I am replacing it with a Optimax D31M battery which is larger. 

I paid the difference between the two batteries.  Hopefully this will put this issue behind me.

Thanks for all of your help.

George

[Bob B]

Glad to hear you are getting the problem nailed down.

Have you used the Optima batteries long enough to know if their life expectancy makes them worth the price?  I like to buy good quality that will last.

The price on the D31M seem awfully high for a 75AH battery.  I have primarily used 115AH batteries in the past, but they are all getting expensive, and not sure where the best bang for the buck is anymore.

[George]

Bob B

No I have not used them very long.  In the past I have only used a acid batteries which were a lot cheaper, but got tired of the acid holes in my shirts.  I did find that purchasing through Amazon, the shipping is free and a bit cheaper.  And you are right they are way too expensive, I can only hope they out live the warranty period of 2 years free replacement.

George

[ITGEEK]

It's great you are making progress George.
Keep us posted on the outcome.

[George]

ITGEEK

I am pretty much done with the battery draining issue, by replacing the Optima 34M with a Deep Cycle D31M battery. 

This is the kind of issue that is not recognized until it fails, now I know a bit more about batteries.

Compared to the 34M the deep cycle D31M is a huge battery and do not expect any further issues. 

George