Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

[Rovernaut]

My Battery cold reads 12 Volts, I start the motor and it volt meter shows 13.8 to 14.2 volts.<br /> After a little while it start to make its way up and reached 17.5 volts and then flucuated between 16.8 -17.2 volts.<br />stator or rectifier problem?<br />classic 50 -1986<br />Any recomendations please

 

[Laddies]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Your 50 has no voltage regulator, you may have a storage battery with little capacity or one that is going bad or a bad connection. the only real fix to the over charging if it is a problem would to install a regulater--Bob

 

[Rovernaut]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Thanks for the quick reply Bob.<br />From what I read it must be normal, as long as my battery is up to scratch?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Yes

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Since the 50 is unregulated it's just going to keep charging to a higher level; by putting a load on it you can control this somewhat.<br /><br />If you have running lights, just leave them on while you're operating, and it'll keep the voltage to a reasonable level.<br /><br />A very Low Tech and Zero-Cost way of managing the problem!<br /><br />HTH...........ed

 

[achris]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Originally posted by Rovernaut:<br />After a little while it start to make its way up and reached 17.5 volts and then flucuated between 16.8 -17.2 volts.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we know why it is so important to use only MARINE batteries in a boat. They are designed to cope with this very situation.<br /><br />Chris..............

 

[Rovernaut]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Thanks all. It puts me more at ease now.

 

[Scali]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Check the water level often, my 1994 40 also has no regulator & puts out 17.5 volts & I've added water twice this season allready

 

[Rovernaut]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Can a regulator be retro fitted?????

 

[Scali]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

I was givin a price @ over $ 200 US dollars.<br />{ cant remember the exact amount but it was up there & made me decide to live with it } but yes they can be added.<br />Maybe one can go with a " non Mercury " product & save $, I never invistigated it much further.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

I have heard that radioshack has inexpensive high capacity 3 terminal regulators that can be jury-rigged to work OK. Not worth the effort for me so I've never investigated further. You will also require a heatsink if you go this route. <br /><br />If you want simple, (simple is best in my opinion) just be sure and use a good quality MARINE battery as achris pointed out above and forget about the regulator.

 

[Rovernaut]

Re: Charge slowly moves up to 17.5 volts????

Thanks guys. Yep I'll live with it if it is supposed to be as designed by Mercury.<br />I was just relating to a car , if the voltage exeeds the given level then you had a problem.