Overcharging??

[Hugh]

I'm not sure whether I have a problem. When I'm charging the batteries off the alternator, the voltage read at either of the batteries seems to go too high. Running my Vetus 20HP at just under hull speed, ( I don't have a tach), the voltage read across either battery quickly rises to over 16 volts ( at which time I cut off the field disconnect). I can charge better with the engine idling, or at slower speeds, but the voltage still rises eventually. Is this indicative of a bad regulator? I have a dual output alternator feeding both batteries directly.

 

[Benny]

bad regulator or bad voltmeter.

If your batteries gets hot and require water to be added frequently chances are it is the regulator. If the batteries seems OK I would suspect the voltmeter or the way it is being used.

 

[Landsend]

You need a new voltage regulator.

You should be charging at 14.6 volts.

 

[Hugh]

Thanks Guys

The batteries are not getting hot, but probably only because I don't let them charge any more as the volts go up. The meter sure is a mystery, but I'm pretty confident its OK. I just figured a bad regulator would cause undercharging and not overcharging. Anyway, when I go down this weekend I'm going to check out the sensing wire real good and then get a new regulator. Do you have any idea how a three stage regulator would work for a dual output alternator like mine? It seems to me there should be a regulator for each output, but what I have is original eqpt, and there's only one. The experts at Vetus or Westmarine havn't been any help so far.