Dual Battery process....i hate electricity

[cptbraine40]

First off let me say that I am terrified electricity. I have a dual battery system which I need to remove the big black battery so I can take it home and charge. What are the steps to unhooking it and reinstalling it so I don't shock and kill myself.

Thank you in advance for any assistance and input you can give me, I truly do appreciate it.

 

[zellerj]

Just remove the battery cables being sure that your wrench does not touch both terminals, which will cause sparks to fly. Why does it need charged? After charging, get the battery load tested ( at a auto parts store if you don't have a load tester). This will tell you if the battery is good, or not. Hook the battery back up just as shown in your picture.

 

[hoowahfun]

Remove the black cable first, then the red. Install in reverse order.

 

[cptbraine40]

My boat has a huge stereo and a capacitor was installed on it. I think it is draining the battery even though I turn the battery switch off. The battery is only 3 months old

 

[Scott Danforth]

My boat has a huge stereo and a capacitor was installed on it. I think it is draining the battery even though I turn the battery switch off. The battery is only 3 months old

use a multi-meter to find out where your electrical drain is. if you dont have any parasitic loads, then get the battery load tested.

everything except the bilge pump should be wired after the big battery switch so that when you turn it off.....everything is off.

 

[achris]

The battery is 12 volts. As hard as it might try, it's not even remotely possible to kill you, and unless your hands are wet with sea water, won't even give you a tingle.

Why was a capacitor put in the stereo circuit? COMPLETELY pointless! The battery is the best 'capacitor' money can buy. . If the salesman said it was need to stop spikes, he/she is talking out of their .... Best thing you can do is to ditch it.

Chris. ....

 

[tank1949]

The battery is 12 volts. As hard as it might try, it's not even remotely possible to kill you, and unless your hands are wet with sea water, won't even give you a tingle.

Why was a capacitor put in the stereo circuit? COMPLETELY pointless! The battery is the best 'capacitor' money can buy. . If the salesman said it was need to stop spikes, he/she is talking out of their .... Best thing you can do is to ditch it.

Chris. ....

Fume detector will bring down a batter too. Trust me!

 

[achris]

Fume detector will bring down a battery too. Trust me!

Everything connected to a battery will drain it down, except a correctly functioning alternator, when it's running...

 

[cptbraine40]

When I bought this boat, it already had the stereo on it with the capacitor. I agree, i think it is pointless also but I have left it on there because, well, I just didn't know at the time. I am going to work on removing it in the next few weeks. The truth is, I have a huge system in my boat but I rarely ever crank it up. I bought this boat because the interior and exterior was in excellent condition, floor and stringers are solid, and the person that owned it before trading it into the dealership for a brand new Master Craft, had a brand new, 5.7 liter Mercruiser engine with a total of 20 hours on it (400 on the boat hull).

I appreciate all the feedback and assistance everyone has provided to me. Capacitor is going bye-bye

 

[H20Rat]

Everything connected to a battery will drain it down, except a correctly functioning alternator, when it's running...

Open circuits won't drain a battery... Most circuits in a boat are generally open, with the exception of fume detectors, SOME auto-bilge pumps, anything that maintains a clock or requires an IC to start.

Also, to the OP... Do NOT connect a multimeter inline to figure out what is drawing power without removing the capacitor. You will pop the fuse on your multimeter in .0001 seconds, and sometimes those are a pain to replace.

12v DC power is fairly safe, you have to really try and screw up for things to go bad. You won't electrocute yourself, the biggest risk is swinging a wrench into both terminals. Be very, very mindful where the end of your wrench is.

 

[Jcris]

Just remember when disconnecting a battery always remove the negative cable first and install it last. And don’t rely on the color of the cable to figure out which one is grounded. Visually check to see that the negative is connected to the engine block.

 

[Jcris]

Also, any capacitor will hold a charge. So if its been powered up recently check it with a volt meter to be sure it’s discharged.

 

[cptbraine40]

Just wanted to say thank you again for all your feedback and advice. I got rid of that stupid capacitor and everything is hooked up and and fine..................and I didn't kill my self or blow anything up