Battery fault and Volvo EVC

[bobgarrett]

Yesterday my engine suddenly, just 30mins after it had been used, would not start. This is a Volvo Penta D1-30 with the electronic control. Pressing the start button showed the start symbol briefly then the display went out so the EVC had turned off.
Eventually I started the engine with a jump lead from the domestic batteries to the engine battery so assume my engine battery has died.
However, the engine battery shows a good voltage 12.65v under no load. When trying to start there is a dip in voltage but the gauge is slow to move to not possible to measure.
What I don't understand is why the EVC seems so sensitive to a voltage drop that it turns itself off. Surely it should do something more useful like say "low voltage" or at least stay on so the engine turns slowly and you have a clue it's a battery problem not a failed starter motor.
Any comments?

 

[Rafiki]

There was a long thread on almost the same issue about six weeks or so ago. Suggest you research it.

After two weeks without the battery on charge I too have had virtually the same problem on a D2-40 with EVC. Previously on the one week delivery trip the engine started perfectly. In my case the engine started if the battery was paralleled with the house batteries, or the engine battery was put on shore power charger for a few hours. I have now replaced the start battery ( though the specialist supplier I bought it from said that the old battery appeared OK on their tester) and beefed up the cabling from the battery to the starter. Not had a chance to thoroughly test everything yet though.

Regards