Where is my DC Power?

[Kaja]

Boat has been laid up for several months. When we laid her up, all electrics were ok except discharged batteries (see below). We are now back with the boat. I have 110 volts shore power delivering to the instrument panel. All relevant switches and trips are set to ON. House batteries are discharged (awaiting replacement) and the engine battery is removed. Why is there no DC power? (although there is 110 volts power).

Help please.

[sarafina]

Batteries/switches/charger were wired in such a way as to leave a disconect at the site of the starter battery?

[senormechanico]

Charger might need to "see" some voltage, i.e. a battery before delivering juice.

[Sailmonkey]

Several types of battery chargers won't produce power with flat batteries. They need to have some voltage present to start charging.

[Ex-Calif]

Check if the engine battery is integral to the ground circuit for the boat/charger.

Also make sure the positive cable for the removed battery does not go live unless it is properly secured/removed.

Are any lights on on your charger?

[John A]

If there is no charge in the house batteries and yoir starter battery is removed, you have removed all DC power from your boat.
The 120 volts is AC current.

When you attach a Battery to your dc circut you'll have DC power..

[Vasco]

For Beneteaus there is a negative battery switch that has to be on. It is the black switch by the red ones. Make sure it is on.

Is your battery charger switched on? These might be simple but it's best to check the obvious things first.

[Wyoming pirate]

Could very well be a connection problem. I would clean all battery connections and disconnect all but one battery, you can maybe isolate one with switches, but clean all terminals because your circuitry may feed through. If all the batteries are down very low, the charger will not like it. It should handle one though if the circuit is clean and good. As stated above, the charger will want to see some voltage, so if they are completely flat maybe you could hook onto another (boats or whatever) battery with jumper cables for a minute or two to get some residual voltage. Just suggesting, good luck!

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by Kaja

Boat has been laid up for several months. When we laid her up, all electrics were ok except discharged batteries (see below).

there is nothing below

We are now back with the boat. I have 110 volts shore power delivering to the instrument panel.

I am assuming you mean the AC house panel...typically the instrument panel means the engine panel, which is Dc, not AC/shore.

All relevant switches and trips are set to ON. House batteries are discharged (awaiting replacement) and the engine battery is removed.

Unless it's a power supply, then you will not see DC on the bus unless there is a battery invoked into the circuit.

All modern chargers, as well as inverter/chargers won't turn on the DC minus a battery at the rated voltage, absent a battery.

It's a safety issue.

Why is there no DC power? (although there is 110 volts power).

Help please.

A completely dead battery is the same thing as no battery.

It's a safety issue......

For what it's worth I think you need a competent marine electrician aboard, before it's to late.

Lloyd

[Kaja]

Thanks to you all for your assistance. We have power now. We took out the "dead" battery, moved the bow thruster into its place, reconnected everything and all is working.