I had a Balmar 165 amp with an external Balmar 615 installed about a year and a bit ago. It was fine but we motored just to get out of the marina. This year we went on a long trip for our vacation and did not always have much wind, so we motored for long hours. On the 1st day after 3-4 hrs of motoring, I noticed none of of the engine gages at the helm were not working (temp, tach, pressure) the engine ventilation blower was not working as well. I went to the nav station and found that none of the batteries were charging, I opened the engine compartment and there were no lights on the regulator. Then I checked the breaker at the battery and it was tripped so I reset it and no improvement. So then I ran the generator until we got to our next port.
The next day everything was fine again?
A few days later I was about to leave the dock and my wife smelled something burning. I opened the engine compartment and the alternator was very very hot and burning. The wires were melting and the smoke alarms went off. My batteries were reading 11 volts and dropping. So I disconnected everything and it cooled off.
I took the alternator into an alternator shop and they said that the alternator was completely melted inside. Windings, bearings, everything.
I went back to the installer but they seem elusive. So I don’t know if this is an installation problem or a defect in the alternator or the regulator.
Has anyone had this problem before? What did you find?
murray
The next day everything was fine again?
A few days later I was about to leave the dock and my wife smelled something burning. I opened the engine compartment and the alternator was very very hot and burning. The wires were melting and the smoke alarms went off. My batteries were reading 11 volts and dropping. So I disconnected everything and it cooled off.
I took the alternator into an alternator shop and they said that the alternator was completely melted inside. Windings, bearings, everything.
I went back to the installer but they seem elusive. So I don’t know if this is an installation problem or a defect in the alternator or the regulator.
Has anyone had this problem before? What did you find?
murray