Voltage Problem duracell battery and minkota mk440

[V Max]

When on charge my voltage gauge reads 13.4 when i take it off charge it drops to 12.0 or lower with in a couple of minutes I had the battery load tested and they said it was a good battery

[bobcoy]

What do the led's on the charger do? Blinking green before you check the voltages? Where are you reading the voltages? Bob

[V Max]

the leds are blinking green and the voltage is on my ranger smart gauge on my dash board

[bobcoy]

If your batteries show 13.4 and as soon as the charger is turned off you go below 12 volts you have a problem with 1 or more of your batteries. You must take a reading at each battery to see where the problem is. I am assuming there is nothing still turned on while you are getting less than 12 volts. Also how old are your batteries. Bob
I looked over you original post, what battery is your smart gauge hooked to? The starter?

[V Max]

Battery is one year old and it is the only battery hooked up to the smart gauge which is my cranking battery

[bobcoy]

If you can get a meter to check right at the battery and see if the reading is the same as your Smart gauge. What all is running off that battery. Finders, livewells and pumps I would think. Batteries will normally have a float voltage of 13.x if they are charged to 100% till you shut the charger down then the battery should read in the high 12's till you turn something on or after 8 hours or so should read 12.7 or so. That is if you don't have something running. If it goes to 12.0 or lower there is some kind of a problem. You should get a load test somewhere different from the last time if the battery does the same again.

[CatFan]

If you can get a meter to check right at the battery and see if the reading is the same as your Smart gauge. What all is running off that battery. Finders, livewells and pumps I would think. Batteries will normally have a float voltage of 13.x if they are charged to 100% till you shut the charger down then the battery should read in the high 12's till you turn something on or after 8 hours or so should read 12.7 or so. That is if you don't have something running. If it goes to 12.0 or lower there is some kind of a problem. You should get a load test somewhere different from the last time if the battery does the same again.

Yep. Before chasing a problem that isn’t real, measure at the battery terminals.

[V Max]

well put a fresh interstate battery in my ranger and my voltage is still dipping down below 12.0 from 13.7 when taken off charge

[CatFan]

well put a fresh interstate battery in my ranger and my voltage is still dipping down below 12.0 from 13.7 when taken off charge

Measured with what and connected where?

[V Max]

my cranking battery voltage. measured at the smart craft gauge on the dash board

[CatFan]

my cranking battery voltage. measured at the smart craft gauge on the dash board

Measure with a meter on the battery posts.

[Jonestrollingmotor]

Don't you have to have the key on to read the smart craft. If so, there is probably a load as the fuel pump energizes, or as other equipement comes no. The battery should be measured at the battery post with the key and any accessory on/off switches turned to off. Loads on the battery will show a decrease or distorted reading.
John

[V Max]

yes and that makes sense never thought of that

[wmitch2]

Don't you have to have the key on to read the smart craft. If so, there is probably a load as the fuel pump energizes, or as other equipement comes no. The battery should be measured at the battery post with the key and any accessory on/off switches turned to off. Loads on the battery will show a decrease or distorted reading.
John

The "Wizard" has spoken !! ^^^^^^^ (LOLOLOLOL)

[billnorman1]

Still, if your battery reads below 12 volts with the key on initially, you have a problem. Since you have changed the battery, it probably is not the battery. Get a good digital volt/ohmmeter.