So I went to start my boat after sitting for a couple weeks. *Click click* Crap. Pull out the charger and throw it on my 2 batteries. After a little charge the boat starts up fine. I notice something inside the hull under the engine, and while trying to grab it my arm is sitting on the negative cable from the battery to the engine. It's HOT after 2 minutes of idling. I let the boat run some more and examine my cable. I can see the sheething melted in one spot, but decide to keep running the engine and change it out afterwards. Kill the engine, and I try to restart it immediately to make sure the batteries were getting charged. *Click click* Crap. *Click click Pop Smoke* Haha, a puff of smoke shot up from the batteries. I let the engine cool down and pull the negative cable off for a better look. The picture shows how bad it is. I was able to pull the terminal off the end by hand.
I'm unsure if the cable was so hot from the bad terminal, or from one negative ran to one battery and jumped to the second from the first battery. To play it safe I snagged two brand new cables and ran one from each battery to the negative post on the engine block. I ran it again for a while and so far so good, the cables weren't heating up this time. I'm hoping that the bad ground caused the batteries to drain as well, but we will see soon if this is the case.
Just wanted to share the story. If you have starting problems, or any electrical issues at all, always check and double check your cables. A lot of problems pop up from a bad ground.
I'm unsure if the cable was so hot from the bad terminal, or from one negative ran to one battery and jumped to the second from the first battery. To play it safe I snagged two brand new cables and ran one from each battery to the negative post on the engine block. I ran it again for a while and so far so good, the cables weren't heating up this time. I'm hoping that the bad ground caused the batteries to drain as well, but we will see soon if this is the case.
Just wanted to share the story. If you have starting problems, or any electrical issues at all, always check and double check your cables. A lot of problems pop up from a bad ground.
