Force 125 Rectifier

[pnwboat]

I have a 1988 Force 125 S/N 1254X8C on a 1988 Bayliner Cobra open bow. The charging system is not regulated. It has a rectifier P/N 152-9209. At WOT the volt meter is pegged at 16+ volts. At idle it reads 13.5 - 14 volts. Seems normal for a non-regulated system. I want to add a fish finder/depth gauge. Specs for most of the units state that they will operate in a voltage range from 10 - 20 volts. Will the difference in running WOT (16+ volts) as opposed to idle (13.5 volts) have any effect on the accuracy of the fish/depth finder?

I noticed that there is a Rectifier/Regulator P/N 18-5742 for the later model 4 cylinder Force engines. Would replacing the original Rectifier with the newer Rectifier/Regulator have any affect on the voltage variance between WOT and idle? Would this have any negative effect on the stator windings?

Does anyone with the newer 4 cylinder Force engines with the Rectifier/Regulator set up notice much of a difference in voltage between WOT and idle?

 

[Nate3172]

Re: Force 125 Rectifier

No need to worry about the system not being regulated. My boat is a 1984 and has done just fine with the unregulated system. It's not voltage you need to be concerned about as much as you do the amperage. The amp output from the stator is low even though it is putting out 16 volts. If I'm not mistaken it is under a 15 amp output so it puts out just enough to maintain the battery with lights and some electronics. My fish finder see's no difference unless the voltages go outside the specified voltages of the unit itself. Too many electronics however, may be too much of a draw on a system of this sort and it will not be able to keep up. Even some car alternators that put out up to 65 amps have trouble keeping up with newer stereos and the big amplifiers that go with them. Try not to go overboard with electronic items or you could start having problems with the system not being able to keep the battery charged. One final thing, keep good maintenance on the battery, I.E. water.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Force 125 Rectifier

Appreciate your input Nate3172. I guess I'm just overly concerned. I just purchased this boat at the end of the summer and don't have a lot of experience with the outboard electrical systems.