225 HP Intermittent Charging

Philn

Seaman
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
53
I have a 1995 225 HP Johnson.
For a few years now I have been experiencing intermittent charging.
Most of time I see the normal 14.2V but every now and then voltage will drop to below 12v.
When at this voltage, motor still runs normally and tach works.
Switch the battery to fully charged standby battery and same thing. Starts sucking juice.
Then a short while later voltage will go back to normal.
No isolator installed, checked for loose wires, none found.
Problem always seems to be ok by the time I get to the dock so cannot trouble shoot.
Its getting more frequent so now is the time to deal with it before I am stranded.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Phil
 

mekkamaz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
180
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

I will start for unplug and replug all connectors, seek for any dirty or loose connector. Also remove and reinstall, or better, change the 20 A fuse, maybe it has dirty connections. If problem still showing, then check for the regulator ground cable, see if this connection is clean and tight. Maybe you have a faulty voltage regulator.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

How old are the batteries ??
 

Philn

Seaman
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
53
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

One battery new within a year and the other a 4 year old gel cel.
When I switch from one to the other problem doesnt change.
 

Will Bark

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 1, 2010
Messages
1,470
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

Fuse should be around the solenoid and starter in a red connector.
 

Philn

Seaman
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
53
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

Here is what I did with the results:
Found an apparently loose connector in the engine harness, reconnected it solidily. My feeling is that this was the problem.
But also: checked 20 amp fuse, clean no corrosion.
Tightened negative battery that was a little loose.
Removed corroded, non-used terminal from main input of battery switch.
Removed two dangling hot wires previously used for on-board battery charger. These could have been intermittently touching to ground.
Took the boat out for long test run. Charged perfectly the whole time with no drop in voltage.
Thanks for the help.
 

Will Bark

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 1, 2010
Messages
1,470
Re: 225 HP Intermittent Charging

Great that you got it solved and thanks for reporting the results, this will probably help someone else.
 
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