Trip Breaker Problem

[Prostreet66]

Hi, Have an 03 Malibu LXI, set up with 2 new batteries, 50 amp main breaker, and selector switch from right to left-- off, 1, all, 2

Seems as though it is not charging, but replace alternator end of last season for same reason, always dead battery

Taken to small town local boat mechanic, he is now scratching his head, after cking voltage at alternator, and connections

We can take boat out on lake, without shutting it off, and all gauges read fine and runs fine

We trailer and while in the water, try to start get a very weak engine turn over and breaker trips, 50 amp switch after the batteries, before selector switch, switch over to 2 nd battery and starts, barely, try a couple more times and then it flips the 50 amp switch

Is it possible a short in starter can feed back through batteries and trip this switch?

Thanks

[shawndoggy]

what if starter is going bad and pulling more than 50A?

[MLA]

A good starter pulls pull 200A. That breaker is for the helm BUS not the main battery cable.

[Malibuguru0515]

Hi, Have an 03 Malibu LXI, set up with 2 new batteries, 50 amp main breaker, and selector switch from right to left-- off, 1, all, 2

Seems as though it is not charging, but replace alternator end of last season for same reason, always dead battery

Taken to small town local boat mechanic, he is now scratching his head, after cking voltage at alternator, and connections

We can take boat out on lake, without shutting it off, and all gauges read fine and runs fine

We trailer and while in the water, try to start get a very weak engine turn over and breaker trips, 50 amp switch after the batteries, before selector switch, switch over to 2 nd battery and starts, barely, try a couple more times and then it flips the 50 amp switch

Is it possible a short in starter can feed back through batteries and trip this switch?

Thanks

I don't get on here much, but are you calling main breaker the one mounted on the motor? if you are, there is a good chance the breaker was wired wrong from factory Indmar. if it is wired wrong, the alternator charging current will pass through the breaker and that is not correct. best thing to do is remove the breaker from the ECM bracket and chase wires to know where they are going and coming from. alternator charging wire should run over to starter terminal with 2 ga red wire. and not run though any breaker. hope this helps.

[JasonK]

A starter can "hang up" and keep drawing a lot of Amps because the armature is still spinning or something.

[Prostreet66]

Thanks, guys

I have been leaning towards starter, as that is the only thing not fused, but hard to spring for a new one if not the case, so hoping some one knows of any other problems could be

Ballast Buddy, the 50 amp breaker, I was referring to was just ahead of batteries, before selector switch, thanks

The 50 AMP trips, only after running a while and then trying to restart with a very low battery

Acts just like a hot starter from the old big block chevy cars, especially if you were running headers, barely tuning over

Thanks again for the info guys

[MLA]

If you have a 50A breaker in line on the main battery cable between the battery and switch, then its doing its job by tripping. That breaker is A) in the wrong spot, and B) too smaller to carry the load of a starter, see post #3.

Can you post a pic of this breaker and maybe a simple schematic?

[justgary]

It's not hard to pull your starter and have a look inside.

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/topic/55238-how-to-rebuild-your-starter/?hl=starter

[oldjeep]

Starter shouldn't be running through the breaker. Should have a wire on the output side of the perko.

[Prostreet66]

Chuck, right about one post bypassing perko and going straight to starter, just not sure where to go from here, not sure what else could be draining system when running for an hour, unless mechanic miss diagnosed replace alternator

Not a huge fan of mechanical electrical problems, thanks

Edited August 31, 2015 by Prostreet66