I have a 2GM20F. Whenever I am motoring the charge light stays on. I have checked the belts and they seem secure enough and I always charge on shore power when docked. The charge light comes on almost instantly. Battery meter appears to be at full charge also.
Charge light stays on??????
- Thread starter bigsick
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I take it you are talking about the warning light on the control panel. If it is on, it is advising you of a failure in the charging circuit. Take a voltmeter and check the voltage going into the batteries. Voltage should be between 13.3V and 14.4V depending on the state of charge of the batteries and the temperature. If your voltage is below or above the range have the alternator bench tested. If voltage in range and batteries stay charged then the problem is in the warning lamp circuit or wiring. Diodes in the alternator are sensitive to broken circuits. Make sure your battery switch features "make before break "connectors so when switching between batteries while the engine is running the circuit is never broken. Also make a habit of not turning the key Switch off until the buzzer goes on indicating the engine is no longer running.
Not a real electronic genius. Where do I check the voltage going into the battery. Do I put a volt meter on the battery terminals when the engine is running?I take it you are talking about the warning light on the control panel. If it is on, it is advising you of a failure in the charging circuit. Take a voltmeter and check the voltage going into the batteries. Voltage should be between 13.3V and 14.4V depending on the state of charge of the batteries and the temperature. If your voltage is below or above the range have the alternator bench tested.
Yes, take a multimeter to the 20V Scale and touch leads to the battery terminals. Turn off the inboard charger. Let the batteries rest with no charge whatsoever until you attain steady battery voltage of less than 13V. Then turn the engine on and take a reading. A fully charged battery will show a reading of 12.6V after a few hours of rest but you need not wait that long as all you are testing is for the alternator output to be over 13V and in range.
Thanks. When I start up engine, I still put volt meter on the battery leads correct?Yes, take a multimeter to the 20V Scale and touch leads to the battery terminals. Turn off the inboard charger. Let the batteries rest with no charge whatsoever until you attain steady battery voltage of less than 13V. Then turn the engine on and take a reading. A fully charged battery will show a reading of 12.6V after a few hours of rest but you need not wait that long as all you are testing is for the alternator output to be over 13V and in range.
Saile today. My voltmeter has a 10 volt and 50 volt scale. So on the 50 volt it was pretty much on 12 volts with shore power unplugged and engine running. Sailed for several hours with radio and instruments on and battery still registered 12 volts. Maybe alternator brushes need to be cleaned or their is something loose behind gauge panel.Yes. + to + and - to - while the engine is running.
Your multimeter is dealing with two sources of power, the battery output and the alternator output. It will give you a reading of the stronger of the two. I n your case I was hoping for a reading of 13+V but it seems you may be getting a reading just from the battery. Your batteries are charged because of the inboard charger connected to shorepower but I see no evidence the alternator is putting out adequate voltage. I would remove the alternator and have it bench tested. It could be many things but it is best to start by checking out the alternator and the internal voltage regulator.
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