SmartCraft Reads 2 volts low – worry about it?

[Bob Odell]

I have twin QSB5.9’s of 2005 vintage, with Smartcraft and integrated DTS/joystick (gen 1).

While underway, my actual battery voltage is usually around 13.1-13.5, both engines, read via DVM. SmartCraft shows 10.4 (port) – 11.1 (starboard). No alarms are ever thrown to the display.

Other than it is annoying, should I worry about it? If I should worry, where should I start looking?

Topic

[Corey Schmidt]

Welcome to the world of a very complicated MERCURY Outboard ( not Cummins) SmartCRAP system that somehow was adapted to a great Diesel engine made by Cummins………..It’s basically impossible to deal with and getting worse day by day as the system ages,,…

Start with the ECM power connections that go direct to the battery fused… check the battery side and then the engine side.

If you have black or white VIP boxes in your engine room, then check the power connections from that box direct to the battery…

[Bob Odell]

I read all of the SmartCraft documentation I could find, and, it doesn’t really tell me where the “sense” line is for voltage as there are numerous connections where it *could* be.

I’ll try to go back over it again, nothing is easy!

[Corey Schmidt]

You probably have a loose or partially corroded connection somewhere in the tangled mess of SmartCraft wiring/harnessing that could be causing voltage drop. Start at the engine power studs (ECM power) and work your way up to the keys & buttons at the dash and make sure all is tight and clean…

[Author]

Replies