Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:34pm

I'm out on my narrow boat at the moment and the alternator seems to have stopped charging my leisure batteries. Can i charge them temporarily from my starter battery with jump leads whilst I'm moving?

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:49am

If its a twin alternator engine then yes, but remember to remove the lead when you stop and also take great care not to allow the clips tot ouch any metal parts of the boat. If you have normal wiring just connect a thickish lead between the engine battery positive and domestic battery positive. The negatives shoudl already be joined by the boat's wiring. If this is a single alternator engine then its vital that you get the problem resolved today and on no account join the two banks. If you do you will end up being unable to start the engine because you have flattened the engine battery. I can not provider any more help with the fault without some detailed symptoms and the make and model of the alternator.

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:28pm

Thank you, Tony. I've since found out (embarrisngly) that when I installed 4 new leisure batteries recently, there was a negative lead which had dropped down the back of the bank of batteries and therefore I didn't connect it. This lead also meant the alternator wasn't grounded. All in all, its amazing how something so small can become much more serious. Still at least I know there is a quick fix from the starter battery to the leisure batteries whilst the engine is running. Thanks again

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:34am

Well done for finding it. These things happen to all of us from time to time so just be grateful that you have one more little bit of experience to fall back on in the future.