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04-08-2016, 05:46 AM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: BURNHAM ON CROUCH ESSEX
Vessel Name: Sovereign GB
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 32
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 29
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alternater
My alternator on my Grand Banks ,fitted with a Sabre 90 lehman is not charging. Theres talk of a mega fuse fitted, has anybody got any ideas
what may be wrong with it. Many Thanks. David.
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04-08-2016, 06:51 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Rodney Bay Lagoon
Vessel Name: "Dragon Lady"
Vessel Model: DeFever 41
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by castellah22
My alternator on my Grand Banks ,fitted with a Sabre 90 lehman is not charging. Theres talk of a mega fuse fitted, has anybody got any ideas
what may be wrong with it. Many Thanks. David.
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What leads you to the conclusion that your alternator has stopped charging?
Your alt probably has two leads going to it: (i) a heavy one which carries the charge current. Probably goes to the starter motor and thence to the battery. (ii) A pair of smaller wires which plug into the back of the alt. One of these provides the current to make the alt work. Start by checking that the big wire is clean and tight at both ends. If there is a fuse, this is where it will probably be. Check that the plug on the little wire fits firmly in the alt. Check that there is 12 volts between one of the little wires and ground when the ignition switch is on and before starting the engine.
OK experts, over to you.!
__________________
Mike
If all else fails, read the instructions
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
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04-08-2016, 07:40 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,966
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Using a digital voltmeter, does the battery voltage rise at all above the pre-start voltage?
-Check the wiring as Mike said above. If you have a ammeter on the dash, the power out of the alternator goes all the way up to the dash and back to the engine. Lots of opportunity for a bad connections.
-Check the belt tension and condition. Slipping belts won't drive the alt to charge more than a couple amps but the voltage will rise a few tenths.
-Sometimes the alt or the internal voltage regulator just goes bad. A stock alt is cheap and easy to replace.
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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04-08-2016, 07:57 AM
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#4
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,566
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Greetings,
Mr. 22. I have no idea what the situation is across the pond but in NA most auto supply places have the facility to test alternators and starting motors, sometimes free. Unless you find the problem by following the above suggested steps you'll be taking it off anyway so...
__________________
RTF
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04-08-2016, 08:02 AM
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#5
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
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If you have or can get a copy of Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems by Nigel Calders. It has a good trouble shooting guide.
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04-08-2016, 11:27 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 8,050
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Not sure if you have a parts place that will test it for you. Disconnect your battery, remove and let the shop test it. Good luck! Go Arsenal!!!!
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04-08-2016, 01:44 PM
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#7
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TF Site Team
City: Seneca Lake NY
Vessel Name: Bacchus
Vessel Model: MS 34 HT Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,828
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Some Alts also have a ground wire vs a case ground - may be marked (E)
BE sure to check it as well as the others mentioned.
If you find a shop to test it they can confirm it is working and let you know what the output V is as well as the RPM that it "kicks in" and begins to charge.
A clamp on DC amp meter easiest way to confirm output and worth having for other troubleshooting aboard.
There are some reasonable $ ones out there - just be sure to check if it does DC as well as AC - some are AC Amp only
__________________
Don
2008 MS 34 HT Trawler
"Bacchus"
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04-08-2016, 03:04 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Rodney Bay Lagoon
Vessel Name: "Dragon Lady"
Vessel Model: DeFever 41
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bacchus
. . . . A clamp on DC amp meter easiest way to confirm output and worth having for other troubleshooting aboard.
There are some reasonable $ ones out there - just be sure to check if it does DC as well as AC - some are AC Amp only
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Agreed - excellent investment. Clamp it around the positive or negative charging cable and it tells you what's going on inside. Mine was around $145 from Amazon earlier this year. Klein make really nice stuff too. It is reading 5.2 amps in the pic below.
__________________
Mike
If all else fails, read the instructions
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
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04-08-2016, 08:11 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Brookline, NH
Vessel Name: Shalloway
Vessel Model: Defever 44, twin Perkins
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,260
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I have the same meter and use it often. Excellent meter.
Ken
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04-08-2016, 08:34 PM
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#10
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TF Site Team
City: Seneca Lake NY
Vessel Name: Bacchus
Vessel Model: MS 34 HT Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoalwaters
Agreed - excellent investment..... Mine was around $145 from Amazon .
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Sears has for about 1/3 of that+\-.
Satisfies most basic troubleshooting needs
__________________
Don
2008 MS 34 HT Trawler
"Bacchus"
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04-09-2016, 04:29 AM
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#11
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Veteran Member
City: BURNHAM ON CROUCH ESSEX
Vessel Name: Sovereign GB
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 32
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 29
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Thanks everyone for all your advice, will let you know if it cures it. Thanks again.
David.
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04-09-2016, 10:49 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: North Vancouver
Vessel Name: Phoenix Hunter
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 (1985)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,877
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Shoal: that's a spanky, shiny engine!
Jim
Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum
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04-11-2016, 06:16 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Rodney Bay Lagoon
Vessel Name: "Dragon Lady"
Vessel Model: DeFever 41
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 681
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Thanks Jim, polished every day!
__________________
Mike
If all else fails, read the instructions
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
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04-11-2016, 07:35 AM
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#14
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
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Measuring current is not veryinformative as it can be near zero when everything is working properly. Measure the voltage chnge as posted above. A cheap difital multimeter ($5 US) is all ypu really need. The expensive meter is nice but only if it also has a frequency meter. Then you have the whole works.
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