Using your outboard as an alternateur! or charger...
- Thread starter yugnoir
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Maybe
Some small outboards have an alternator, some don't. Read the owners manual and it should tell you. If it does, you should have a red and a black wire coming from under the flywheel, probably with some kind of plug. Alternator, if you have one, is small enough shouldn't need to worry about a regulator, and don't expect much charging from it. More than likely only puts out 3 to 5 amps if that much.
Some small outboards have an alternator, some don't. Read the owners manual and it should tell you. If it does, you should have a red and a black wire coming from under the flywheel, probably with some kind of plug. Alternator, if you have one, is small enough shouldn't need to worry about a regulator, and don't expect much charging from it. More than likely only puts out 3 to 5 amps if that much.
My 1985 Evinrude 9.9HP has a 6 amp alternator on it.
What is the brand and model number of your motor, we can tell you real quick if it has the alternator. I think most of the 9.9's did.
Jack
What is the brand and model number of your motor, we can tell you real quick if it has the alternator. I think most of the 9.9's did.
Jack
Newb, perhaps, as in Eric Newby
I my experience, outboards charge so little for sailors (limited hours and amps), it barely counts at all. Sorry.
Eric Newby, the writer of "A Brief Walk in the Hindu Cush" and other tales of novice adventure, is the origin of the word.
I my experience, outboards charge so little for sailors (limited hours and amps), it barely counts at all. Sorry.
I have a 9.9HP with alternator. I have it connected to 2 internal batteries with battery switch and they charge just fine with 2 or 3 hours of running the engine. If I do not get a chance to go out on the water for a month so that the batteries have a chance to charge, I plug in a $ 40.00 tricle charger that produces about 1 AMP at about 13.8 VDC for about 3 days and it is fully charged. My 9.9 has an electric starter but I never us it since it also has a pull cord.
So I think you can use your 9.9 to charge your batties just fine.
So I think you can use your 9.9 to charge your batties just fine.
Charging batteries has two meanings; keep them at a charge level so they won't die, and charging them up after a night of lights, stereo, TV, etc. An outboard won't do the latter, it just doesn't have the beans. Do you want to sit on a mooring or at anchor with your outboard running for 3 hours evey afternoon on a four or five day trip? Your anchoring or mooring mates wouldn't. Get a Honda 1000 genny instead. One hour a day running a quiet generator.
add a battery and charge at the dock. But hooking up the outboard should help a little. I usually end up motoring an hour or two a day while cruising. Finding an anchorage or going to a marina ...through a narrow spot so you can pick up a few amp hours just by incidental motoring. But unless you motor a lot it won't keep your batteries charged.
Guy, there was a thread started on the 19th if you go back to the Ask All Sailors page. You'll notice Joe hooked up a 13.8 charger to do his charging.
Also not wanting to rain on your parade, but outboards I've seen have only a 12-volt output (at your ? amps in this case). You can't charge at that voltage unless your batteries are less than that. Even my Honda 2000 generator only puts out 12 volts- barely a maintenance charge.
Also not wanting to rain on your parade, but outboards I've seen have only a 12-volt output (at your ? amps in this case). You can't charge at that voltage unless your batteries are less than that. Even my Honda 2000 generator only puts out 12 volts- barely a maintenance charge.
Ron you might want to check the actual DC voltage. I would bet that it is close to 14.4 volts as they recommend that the output only be used for battery charging. It appears that the DC voltage is not regulated on some models and could overheat your battery. Again I suggest that you use a volt meter to check exactly how many volts the honda is putting out.
When I said to to get a Honda 1000, I assumed you had a shorepower plug. That's where you'd plug in a generator. The gen puts out 120 v. to the built-in charger. If you don't, disregard that, then. I've seen guys hook small engines to externally regulated automotive alternators, mount the whole thing on a piece of plywood. Puts out 60-80 amps, take an hour to charge up.
Thanks for all the info... I'll have to get out there and see what my consumption is like... Probably not that much after all... Running lights, cabin lights (4) at the most and Nav aids... Depth finder, auto-tiller, speed indicator, compass light. I have two batteries and charging them now. I think I should be good for weekend expeditions.
regards
regards
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