Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

[redeye1962]

I am having some electical problems and may be draining my batteries. I have a hunch it may be a similar problem like a car engine and could be the starter solinoid.
I bought a new battery and traded in another so I will be starting off with fresh batteries. Any ideas how to ts this problem?

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

...sure do!!!

Review this thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=426268​

 

[redeye1962]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

Will do this weekend. I will install the new batteries and start testing. My neighbor at the marina is an electrician and he said he would help.

 

[steveb454]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

Some good ideas on those posts, but the correct way to detirmine an IOD is the following. Disconnect the cables from the negative post on the battery. Connect an ammeter between the negative post of the battery and the cable or cables. This will give you a reading in amps, or preferably milli amps. General rule of thumb on accessory draws should never exceed 25ma if the boat is going to sit for awhile. Just start pulling fuses or cables until the draw is gone. Just a thought.

 

[6meter]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

Some good ideas on those posts, but the correct way to detirmine an IOD is the following. Disconnect the cables from the negative post on the battery. Connect an ammeter between the negative post of the battery and the cable or cables. This will give you a reading in amps, or preferably milli amps. General rule of thumb on accessory draws should never exceed 25ma if the boat is going to sit for awhile. Just start pulling fuses or cables until the draw is gone. Just a thought.

I was thinking the same except not as technical. My thoughts, old school analog meters, were if it had even a 1 amp draw, start pulling fuses.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

Quote:
Originally Posted by steveb454
Some good ideas on those posts, but the correct way to detirmine an IOD is the following. Disconnect the cables from the negative post on the battery. Connect an ammeter between the negative post of the battery and the cable or cables. This will give you a reading in amps, or preferably milli amps. General rule of thumb on accessory draws should never exceed 25ma if the boat is going to sit for awhile. Just start pulling fuses or cables until the draw is gone. Just a thought.
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I was thinking the same except not as technical. My thoughts, old school analog meters, were if it had even a 1 amp draw, start pulling fuses.

Ayuh,.... I do the same thing with a plain ole Test Light....

 

[redeye1962]

Re: Mercruiser 260 I/O battery drain

Ayuh,.... I do the same thing with a plain ole Test Light....

Thats all I got Bondo. My marina neighbor may have something we could use. Thanks for everyone's help. I will let you know what I find out.