Originally Posted by Rhapsody #348
All I can think of for the capacitor use is to stop a high voltage arc and prevent burning contacts when the starter button is released. From EE terms it minimizes the dI/dt (change in current over change in time). Kind of like the old condenser across the points in a distributor on gas engines before electronic ignition. The capacitor should do nothing to help or hurt starting performance.

I haven't seen a Yanmar with a capacitor there. It's not shown in any of the service manual prints.

I'm on my 3rd year with a Walmart Group 24 set of car batteries 650 cranking amps that were $70 each when I bought them. No problems.


Apparently the purpose of the capacitor was to serve as an "alternator filter" to help prevent interference for an old MLX Loran the boat no longer has.

I took your advice and picked up a Wal-Mart Group 24 house brand (Energizer) starting battery. 1000 cca for $ 97. For the "house" battery I picked up a Lifeline deep cycle marine http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=1

I hope to get both installed today and see if my problems are now resolved. Also going to re-check my solenoid connections as well.

http://thej30manifesto.blogspot.com/