Brooksie
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2007
- Messages
- 1,310
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Island Seeker
- Vessel Make
- Willard 36 Sedan
Noticing that my alternator seldom puts out more than 25A even after running my small, 6" foam insulated, danfoss, reefer overnight. I began to wonder if the alternator had lost it's ability to put out it's rated 100A at all. The ammeter does jump up and up as I turn on more loads and the voltage is 13-14.2 while running. The battery is nicely charged after a days run, still it would be impossible, at this rate, to recharge on the hook.
I decided to put my battery load tester on the alternator (200A) on the alternator to force it to put out full amperage and naturally I connected it after the ammeter shunt so it would register on the ammeter. It only went to 50A... Altho I didn't expect 100A I did expect better than 50A.
I have a smart regulator on this which I originally set for 90A because I only have a single belt to drive the alternator.
Could this regulator have "reset" itself?
Could the regulator have been in some other mode (other than bulk) which reduced the amperage output?
Can an alternator be 1/2 gone (not working)?
Ideas?
I decided to put my battery load tester on the alternator (200A) on the alternator to force it to put out full amperage and naturally I connected it after the ammeter shunt so it would register on the ammeter. It only went to 50A... Altho I didn't expect 100A I did expect better than 50A.
I have a smart regulator on this which I originally set for 90A because I only have a single belt to drive the alternator.
Could this regulator have "reset" itself?
Could the regulator have been in some other mode (other than bulk) which reduced the amperage output?
Can an alternator be 1/2 gone (not working)?
Ideas?