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07-21-2015, 10:55 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Charge light coming on
The charge light came on after about three hours of running. Checked voltage. 13v.
Turned off the engine. Belt tight. Fired it back up and no charge light. 14v.
Any ideas?
Ps. The light is not on in this pic. Just showing what panel looks like.
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07-21-2015, 11:09 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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Sounds like an alternator getting ready to give us the ghost. 13V is probably your battery voltage with residual voltage remaining from charging. Can you remove the alternator for bench testing?
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07-21-2015, 11:19 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Not very easily removable.
I'm 11-12 days from home, where I would like to work on it. Wonder if it will last that long?
Why would shutting the engine down cause it to charge again?
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07-21-2015, 11:55 AM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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Not sure, but maybe restarting the alternator re-excites the field.
Can you turn off your key switch while the engine is running without stopping the engine or harm to your equipment? On my old Perkins, I can turn off the key which removes current from the start circuit and stops the alternator charge. Turning the key back on (not to the momentary start position) re-energizes the circuit and restarts the alternator.
If yours is similar, it might help diagnose the issue by selecting OFF, then ON with the key when the alternator drops off line.
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07-21-2015, 01:15 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
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Agree with Al.
You didn't say if it was an internal or external regulator, but there are so many things it could be. Be sure an eliminate all the obvious ones first. Check all the connectors from the alternator and battery, loosen, clean and retighten.
But as Al pointed out the alternator could be on it's last legs. They can get flakey before they finally die. Looks like you're a single engine, so If you're going to be out of touch with civilization during the next 12 days on your trip, I would want to fix the problem before going on.
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
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07-21-2015, 01:33 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: UMR MM283
Vessel Name: Northern Lights II
Vessel Model: Bayliner 3870
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,357
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On my system the Hino manual says not to shutoff the ignition switch with the engine running or damage to the alternator will result.
Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum
__________________
Ron on Northern Lights II
I don't like making plans for the day because the word "premeditated" gets thrown around in the courtroom.
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07-21-2015, 01:46 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Charge light coming on
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edelweiss
Agree with Al.
You didn't say if it was an internal or external regulator, but there are so many things it could be. Be sure an eliminate all the obvious ones first. Check all the connectors from the alternator and battery, loosen, clean and retighten.
But as Al pointed out the alternator could be on it's last legs. They can get flakey before they finally die. Looks like you're a single engine, so If you're going to be out of touch with civilization during the next 12 days on your trip, I would want to fix the problem before going on.
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It is a Balmer alternator and there is a Balmar duo charge before the batteries, but that's a splitter and not an regulator I think.
I guess it has an internal regulator.
I haven't had this boat long enough to figure out the charging system obviously.
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07-21-2015, 01:51 PM
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#8
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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CD, didn't you recently have a battery failure and replacement? That might also point toward an alternator/charging problem...
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07-21-2015, 02:01 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Charge light coming on
I did recently replace the house bank and start battery, but never did any diagnosis on why they went bad.
I was just figuring age since they 6-7 years old, but maybe the alternator killed them?
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07-21-2015, 02:14 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by River Cruiser
On my system the Hino manual says not to shutoff the ignition switch with the engine running or damage to the alternator will result.
Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum
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I shut the engine down and then turned the key off. Mine Yanmar book says the same thing.
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07-21-2015, 03:49 PM
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#11
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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On many setups the charge light just shows a difference between the batts V and the alt V.
With a long run , good batts and no DC load , many will not see a charge light, its too dim..
Next time it happens turn on a big user , the windlass or a bunch of DC items and see if it does not get brighter.
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07-21-2015, 04:57 PM
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#12
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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It could be that your alternator is entering the float stage of charging and the light is not smart enough to know the difference. My Balmar alt with the Balmar external regulator is set to enter float after 4 hrs.
Perhaps you have a smart regulator on that alternator and a dumb "idiot" light?
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07-21-2015, 05:26 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FF
On many setups the charge light just shows a difference between the batts V and the alt V.
With a long run , good batts and no DC load , many will not see a charge light, its too dim..
Next time it happens turn on a big user , the windlass or a bunch of DC items and see if it does not get brighter.
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Ok. Will do. Thanks.
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