Batt Gauge

[Sirovc2]

So, I launched my new to me Bayliner 185 today for the first time and after 3 cranks of the engine battery dead. OK, so load it up on the trailer, get the battery tested and it's no good. Buy a new one, put it in, and it fires right up. My question is: What should the battery gauge on the boat read while operating??? It seems to float between 13-14... Is that normal range??

 

[Splat]

Re: Batt Gauge

13-14 volts indicates a charging system that is working correctly. If you question whether its working correctly you'll need to place a multi meter on the battery with the engine running.

An amp meter would be a better indicator of how effectively the chatging system is working, however a battery gauge will tell you of how much charge the battery has left with the engine off.

Bill

 

[Bondo]

Re: Batt Gauge

What should the battery gauge on the boat read while operating??? It seems to float between 13-14... Is that normal range??

Ayuh,... That is Correct...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Batt Gauge

Let's not confuse "battery gauge", "voltmeter" and "ammeter". A battery gauge is nothing more than a voltmeter disguised as a gas gauge for the battery. It's scale is merely calibrated in "good (green), getting down there (yellow), and dead (read). That, by the way, is not a battery condition gauge -- It is a state of charge gauge. Unless there is a load on the system at the time the reading is taken the meter tells you nothing about the state of charge and tells you absolutely zip about the actual "condition" of the battery. A voltmeter will do exactly the same thing. An ammeter on the other hand is valuable only if the scale is proportional to the alternator output. In other words the needle on a -30/0/+30 ammeter will likely never move or move very little if the alternator on the engine can only deliver 6 or 8 amps at wide open throttle. Not very useful and sort of like having a 140 MPH speedometer in your car when the speed limit in this country is 70 - 75 on the interstate system -- not to mention that most cars can't reach that speed anyway.