Frustrating day..

Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Just put a new Beta 35 engine in the boat. Ordered a 120a Balmar alternator as an option. Everything worked fine on the sea trial (except a mal adjusted J prop). I have a Balmar 614 regulator from the previous engine so I hooked it up to the new Balmar disconnecting power to the internal regulator. Fired it up and no charging and alarms beeping. Nudged throttle and got 14V still with alarms. Smelled something getting hot and figured it was the fiberglass wrapping around the exhaust riser. Still I felt the alternator case and it was HOT! Reviewed all wiring and found nothing wrong. Beta dealer came down and confirmed nothing wrong. Removed all wiring to the external regulator and restored to internal regulator config. Fired it up and no charge, lots of alarms and, again, very hot alternator. A little smoke..So, now what? Batteries are 4 brand new GC2s fully charged. How does an alternator get so hot with little or no current flow? Alternator spins freely. Time for a beer..Called Balmar and asked if I could show up with everything and get it tested so that is tomorrow....I somehow suspect an $800 alternator got smoked somehow..Time for another beer..
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,521
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
That sounds like such a bummer of a day. You deserve a treat.
Go down town to Adrift.
Dungeness Crab Cake Appetizer and a Porter
9228791E-0649-4DEB-8557-7C603D22EDC4.jpeg
Then for real decadance, finish with desert and coffee.
0174E3F2-0FFC-4059-BA1C-7AAC840E20E8.jpeg
Sailor's Sundae
Lopez Island Creamery Ice Cream, spicy candied pecans, and our own hot fudge made with Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout.

After a meal like this you’ll be ready to tackle the completion of that engine install with a smile.
 
Will Gilmore

Will Gilmore

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Oct 19, 2017
8,119
O'Day Mariner 19 3444 Littleton, NH
Mark Maulden said:
How does an alternator get so hot with little or no current flow?
Click to expand
How do you know there's little to no current? You measured 14v when the engine revved. Across what part of the circuit was that measured?
Anyhow, it sounds like you'll have it worked out soon enough. I'm interested in hearing the results.
- Will (Dragonfly)
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,330
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Mark Maulden said:
Called Balmar and asked if I could show up with everything and get it tested so that is tomorrow....I somehow suspect an $800 alternator got smoked somehow..
Click to expand
"Somehow" may include internal issues with the brand new alternator. Which, as I read your post, came with the Beta. What's Beta doing about helping you out, if anything? Beware the chains of interconnection from suppliers, vendors and you, and who may be "responsible" for failures of any piece of equipment out of the box. Rare, but lemons do exist. If the wiring is correct, the batteries fully charged (monitor?) so no amperage load, the regulator working properly, then all that's left is... Would Balmar service the alternator or send you to a local alternator shop? Other than being a wise skipper who is aware of what's going on, you should be careful of making sure you wear the "I am the customer here, guys" hat. Sometimes it is altogether too easy to become a participant in the solution (good idea) and take the lead away from those responsible (not so good). You can "guide" them, though. Maybe not as efficient, but don't take ownership of a problem that may be some one elses. As much as you want it fixed and to work.
Sorry to hear, Mark, good luck.
 
Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

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Jul 27, 2011
5,180
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
What do those "alarms" mean? That is, is there something specific an alarm is trying to tell you?
 
Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

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Jul 27, 2011
5,180
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
An engine alarm is usually tied to something. Low oil pressure, overheating, etc. A guy puts on a new alternator and an engine alarm goes off, almost from the git-go according to him, what does it indicate? If it were me, I'd find out what.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,521
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
My thoughts as well. And they say, replace the engine what could be simpler.
I like what Stu said about not taking the problem away for the engine dealer in the effort to get the boat back in the water and running.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
The alarms are loss of charging alarms...Actually, its singular.. kinda hard to troubleshoot as the alternator gets really hot very fast. The low current is a supposition on my part as the batts are already fully charged via good shore power charger..
 
LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
does it still get hot if you turn off the field (12v input to the regulator) ?? if so it is a mechanical issue and not wiring.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Took the alternator, 614 regulator, and harness to Balmar today. The regulator tested good and the alternator was fried. All diodes in the rectifier assembly were shorted. The gasket between the rectifier and case had some weird markings which are not normal. Perhaps some foreign debris that got clamped up. They replaced the rectifier assembly and gasket at no charge. They were very nice to deal with. There were also some strange manufacturing issues that were also fixed. Like twisted winding ends that get clamped into a little squeeze clamp on the diode assembly. We untwisted them so the clamp has more contact area and then soldered. So we got also got some personal love. Things are back together on the boat and after some questions to Beta tomorrow we"ll fire it up. Assuming it works, finish with wire ties etc. Nobody has any answers as to why this alternator failed. I coulda gotten the one in a thousand which wouldn't be the first time..
 
NYSail

NYSail

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Jan 6, 2006
3,178
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Great alt and a great company to deal with. Just a question, when you were running alt previously... what were the codes reading on the external regulator?? They seem to cover all aspects of charging.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
The external regulator has no error codes that I'm aware of. None seen in the manual..
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Another frustrating day..fast forward to the last step as i put the alternator on the internal regulator and it charges the start battery. Took the start battery off the B+ and installed the house bank. Fired up and right up to 13.8V. So, the alternator works and the external regulator was checked out as good. Continuity checks on every wire. 11.4V on the field wire. Regulator switches on as evidenced by display..evidently, there are some error codes. The ones read were temp sensors not connected. That's later. Beta os not being very responsive either. The only thing I have not done is put the tacho through the regulator. Next step. I did not have to do this on the ol Volvo...
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Oh ya, as I was closing up and exiting the boat, I noticed the 2hp Honda no longer sitting on the stern pulpit...
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
I'm not following this. Is the alternator wired for internal or external regulation? I didn't think you could have both.
 
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