Honda Charging System Help

[kkoval]

I need help trouble shooting the charging system in my 9.9HP 4 stroke Honda outboard. I am getting 13v AC out of the charging coil into the Regulator/rectifier but no DC out. I replaced the regulator/rectifier with a new one from Boats.net and got the same results. The regulator/rectifier has only four leads, two for AC in and two for DC out. Do I have a second bad regulator/rectifier or am I missing something? Please HELP. Thanks...Ken

 

[Boatist]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

13 volts seems a little low to me for the AC as by the time you foward bias the diode your down to 12.3 volts and it will not charge the 12.6 volt battery battery unless it is below 12.3 volts. To charge a battery to 13.8 volts need at least 14.5 volts AC. Could it be your battery has a bad cell and it is loading the ac down to that voltage.

I should point out I do not know the Honda circuit but if it is a standard bridge circuit needs at least 14.5 volts. Also the minus side need to be grounded. If it not a bridge then would be different but 13 volts is still too low.

Before your start your motor what is the battery voltage??
After you start what is the battery voltage??

 

[kkoval]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

Thanks for your thoughts. However, I removed the regulator/rectifier from the motor and brought it into the shop. I connected the AC input to a variable 60 Hz power supply and raised the input voltage to 15v while observing the output on a DC voltmeter. Both the old and "new" regulator/rectifier showed no DC output. I assume I should see some DC output under these conditions. However, both the old and "new" units performed the same. I may have received a bad regulator/rectifier from Boats.net but I would like to be certain. At $126 I'm reluctant to buy a second regulator/rectifier until I have confidence I'm going to fix the problem. Is the Honda regulator/rectifier simply a bridge circuit or is it more complex with some current or voltage regulation circuitry? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...Ken

 

[Boatist]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

As I stated in my first reply I do not know the Honda Circuit. When you brought it in the shop did you connect a load form the PLUS output to the Negitive output??

I have been considering buying a new honda 20 HP as a Kicker and one of the thing I could not find any information on is the alternator output. The books give you the amps out but nowhere does it say if it is regulated or not. My consern was it might over charge battery. Most of the dealer had no idea but had not heard of a over charging problem. Finally I found one factory rep that said it was regulated. I ask if he had any printed information on it but he did not.

Have you called a Honda Dealer and see if they know of any problems. For sure call the supplier of the new regulater. Many regulater will blow up if the postive or negitive batteries cables are loose or corroded.

Good Luck and please come back with the sulution when you find it. I Hope someone that knows the regulator will post it type or wireing diagram.

 

[eipeldau]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

As I stated in my first reply I do not know the Honda Circuit. When you brought it in the shop did you connect a load form the PLUS output to the Negitive output??

I have been considering buying a new honda 20 HP as a Kicker and one of the thing I could not find any information on is the alternator output. The books give you the amps out but nowhere does it say if it is regulated or not. My consern was it might over charge battery. Most of the dealer had no idea but had not heard of a over charging problem. Finally I found one factory rep that said it was regulated. I ask if he had any printed information on it but he did not.

Have you called a Honda Dealer and see if they know of any problems. For sure call the supplier of the new regulater. Many regulater will blow up if the postive or negitive batteries cables are loose or corroded.

Good Luck and please come back with the sulution when you find it. I Hope someone that knows the regulator will post it type or wireing diagram.

Honda 20hp charging system is regulated. Mine is connected to a 200Ah battery bank and the voltage never rises above 14.8V when fully charged. The amperage performance seems pretty good to me: At around 1500rpm you already have something like 6A and you can reach the top 12A at around 2500rpm. I've never taken any measurements at the coil, but I hope this info can help you guys a little bit.

 

[kkoval]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

I have the system working now. My error was trying to measure DC out of the rectifier/regulator without a battery connected. With the battery connected and 18 VAC into the unit, I am measuring 13.5 VDC on the battery. I confirmed my fix by connecting the old rectifier/regulator in a similar manner and got no increase in the battery voltage with 18 VAC input. I'm convinced the old rectifier/regulator is bad and the new one I purchased is good. My guess would be there is a regulator inside the package and it is powered by the battery DC.

Ken

 

[lexi]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

I blew the rectifier on an early engine by conecting lights up straight to engine without battery.I was only a youngun

Alex

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

alright you are not foing the test right

do you have electric start?

 

[kkoval]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

Justintime -

I do not have electric start. Please explain the correct method of test. Thanks...Ken

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Honda Charging System Help

start the motor up
put the volt meter on the battery what are the volts
rev it up what are the volts