Just a bit of information for those of you out there. My Vega #1472
uses the starter/generator as a generator only. It was outfitted
with a Bosch alternator. This is a 3 wire system which uses an
external voltage regulator. When we put the boat in this year, I
noticed the yellow charging light was not coming on with the key.
Did not think much about it, would be one of those things I
would "get to".
As time went on, we discovered the batteries were not charging. I
didn't put 2 and 2 together, so I pulled the alternator and regulator
and fortunately took them to an honest rebuilder. He tested them out
and said there wasn't a problem with either one.
It turns out that the stator is energized through the circuit with
the light. If the light is burnt out, the circuit is open and 12
volts never reaches the stator. When the lamp is working, 12 volts
reaches the stator. When the engine is started, and the alternator
is making voltage, the light goes out because you have +12 v on both
sides of the light.
In our case, the light just fell out of the socket. Putting it back
in fixed everything. So, if your alternator light goes out, attend
to it and it will save you some work!!
Jeff Noland
a'Bientot
#1472
uses the starter/generator as a generator only. It was outfitted
with a Bosch alternator. This is a 3 wire system which uses an
external voltage regulator. When we put the boat in this year, I
noticed the yellow charging light was not coming on with the key.
Did not think much about it, would be one of those things I
would "get to".
As time went on, we discovered the batteries were not charging. I
didn't put 2 and 2 together, so I pulled the alternator and regulator
and fortunately took them to an honest rebuilder. He tested them out
and said there wasn't a problem with either one.
It turns out that the stator is energized through the circuit with
the light. If the light is burnt out, the circuit is open and 12
volts never reaches the stator. When the lamp is working, 12 volts
reaches the stator. When the engine is started, and the alternator
is making voltage, the light goes out because you have +12 v on both
sides of the light.
In our case, the light just fell out of the socket. Putting it back
in fixed everything. So, if your alternator light goes out, attend
to it and it will save you some work!!
Jeff Noland
a'Bientot
#1472