battery management

[cerro]

I bought a Beneteau 361 from westwater yacht sales at titchmarsh marina. with no help what so ever from the brokers I managed to work out what every thing was for including putting the in mast reefing on as I had never seen one before. But the only thing I could not sort out was the engine management system I had to have the engine running all the way to Scotland nothing works unless the engine is running and I mean nothing even the gas stove only lights if I start the engine first no instruments work no auto pilot no gps even the heater webasco will only work if I increase the revs to a 1000. The meter is called a link 10.can anyone help please. cerro

 

[Talbot]

sounds like there is a connection not made to the domestic system, and the engine is providing the power only, or the batteries powering the domestics are not functioning. get a meter on them and see what they read.

 

[nigelhudson]

The symptoms are consistent with the main batteries not being switched on. I had similar symptoms when one of the crew turned the battery switch from both to off whilst we were motoring - everything electrical died the moment I turned off the engine!
The only inconsistency is that you can obviously start the engine - do you have a separate starter battery that is permanently connected? Have you traced the wiring from the house battery(ies)? Is there a main switch which you are not using?

 

[Norman_E]

It sounds as if the engine start battery is OK, because you could start the engine. It also sounds as if your domestic battery is not holding a charge, so that you only have enough voltage for anything else when the alternator is putting out enough. I have assumed that you have checked that there is a domestic battery connected, and that the rotary isolator switches are all in the on position.
The reason the gas stove needs electricity may be that you have an electric valve fitted at the cylinder.

 

[ccscott49]

You have probably two main switches, 1 for the engine batteries, 1 for the domestics, I think you havent switched them both on or the switch is in the wrong position, there is no way this is a normal state of affairs, something simple I'm sure. I doubt the main batteries are that stuffed.

 

[Genie]

Yep, all good advice - check that there isn't a battery isolator switch on the aux battery as well.
Bestaluck

 

[boguing]

Troll, surely?

Leaves the harbour (having expected a broker to put his mainsail up) and safely navigates to 'Scotland'.

Without checking the electrics?

I don't think so. Unless he had a delivery skip who doesn't get Ohm/Faraday/Voltere et al.