Motor draining battery

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor draining battery

You can also measure the output with the meter on AC. Anything greater than 200 mV or so means you have a bad rectifier.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: Motor draining battery

el_bany2005 have you replaced the rectifier and has it (LOL) rectified your problem, it seems to be over-whelming in favour that it is your rectifier/regulator.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

maybe mentioned previously, and I just missed it -- but it would be a good idea to bench test your starter. You may be due for a rebuild. Your thread seems to begin with an assumption that the charging system is an issue. It may be a problem, but might be secondary to the main problem -- a starter that is draining your battery. I had a 55 a number of years ago, and kept having battery problems -- turned out the starter was drawing too much. After a rebuild, the battery and starter issues went away, as did the numerous times I was at the launch ramp with what I assumed was a weak battery. I believe the Chrysler starters have a high torque (certainly have a characteristic whine), and need a strong starting battery. But a starter with a high draw will not perform well, and will be tough on a battery.

 

[el_bany2005]

Re: Motor draining battery

Well I was also suspicious about the starter so I took it to the shop and it has a couple of bad parts and it seems to be dragging. That for sure was drawing to much current from the battery and probably the cause of a dead battery after a few cranks. Then once the motor starts a bad rectifier/regulator would prevent the battery from recover and recharge, that's my theory here and based on your posts and test I have done sounds like a well supported theory.
I have done some bench testing of the rect/reg using a function generator (at my work lab) that confirmed the unit is bad, so I ordered a replacement and also a new starter since it was a better option price wise to buy a new one for $65 than repairing the old one. I should receive both by this week and hopefully by next weekend will post with results.I hope the battery charging system issues will away with these two replacements. Keep tuned.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

sounds to me like you are on track, el. Once you get the new starter and rectifier installed, think I would avoid any operation of the motor without the battery attached -- just no sense risking another rectifier. Put a full charge on that battery, and see how it goes (will stay tuned).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor draining battery

A bad starter is only going to drain the battery while you are cranking the motor. Even if it was drawing 4 times normal, its a pretty insignificant draw down of the battery.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

no larger drain than cranking the starter, right? cranking and recranking a worn or defective starter?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor draining battery

no larger drain than cranking the starter, right? cranking and recranking a worn or defective starter?

Depends on how long you are cranking. Takes me no more than 5 seconds to start my outboard or I/O engine.

Op said his motor starts fine and battery drains while engine is running.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

#44: new starter and rectifier on the way. may prove your point after he runs it after installed. will wait and see what he says. may solve his problems.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor draining battery

#44: new starter and rectifier on the way. may prove your point after he runs it after installed. will wait and see what he says. may solve his problems.

He already stated his rectifier had failed.

I have done some bench testing of the rect/reg using a function generator (at my work lab) that confirmed the unit is bad

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

will wait and see.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor draining battery

will wait and see.

Hopefully, he installs the rectifier first.

 

[el_bany2005]

Re: Motor draining battery

Now I have a new issue with the new 6 wires aftermarket regulator that I bought. I lost the tachometer signal, which I believe is being picked up from one of the two yellow wire at the input inside the regulator and then outputs by the gray wire which for the unit that I got its white instead of gray, I anyway connected it to the gray wire that goes to the tach on the console..The tachometer was working just before I replaced the regulator.Any thoughts?

 

[el_bany2005]

Re: Motor draining battery

Sorry this is the complete post, disregard my previous one:
past weekend took the boat to the water. New starter installed and new rectifier/regulator installed. With the new starter the motor starts faster, I could notice improvement there compared to how it was with the old starter. Once the motor is running and spinning at high enough rpms for the charge system, the voltage on the battery is over 14V meaning it is charging. Got to the fishing spot, turned the engine off for a couple of hrs and then it started right up when we were living, so appears there was a combination of issues here between the bad starter not engaging properly and dragging therefore demanding more amps and cranks attempts to start the engine and the battery not being charged while running.Now I have a new issue with the new 6 wires aftermarket regulator that I bought. I lost the tachometer signal, which I believe is being picked up from one of the two yellow wire at the input inside the regulator and then outputs by the gray wire which for the unit that I got its white instead of gray, I anyway connected it to the gray wire that goes to the tach on the console.The tachometer was working just before I replaced the regulator.Any thoughts?

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Motor draining battery

The tach input signal as you mentioned is taken from one of the two yellow wires off the stator. With some after market rec/reg, for some reasons the signal is lost when connected to one of the yellow wires but also regained when connected to the other yellow wires. Try this first and then repost your results.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Motor draining battery

el -- no offense to Jiggz, but is there a help line, phone or online, for the regulator you bought? It sounds like you are making an assumption or two about the tach input and output connection for the new regulator. If there is a tech helpline, maybe they can crosswalk between the old and new regulator/rectifier. Your are starting, running, and charging. just saying....

 

[MickLovin]

Re: Motor draining battery

Good to see you have fixed the original thread problem. The old combination starter motor and rectifier/regulator trick, oldest trick in the book wah wah wah. I think if you have a manual and you read the hell out of it, then you come here and read some more, you eventually find the problems. I thank all the guys here for what I have solved and I hope that all of what is said has helped. Ask the manufacturers about the reg/rect should be able to locate them or the supplier.