It's a long story how I got here, but I'll get to the point. I am about 4 days from home and had to order a new alternator. It came in today and is exactly what I ordered. The problem is that, when ordering, we were looking at the parts catalog for my Universal M-35B. It listed two options for the alternator: one with an AC tap, and one without. The parts guy asked me which I had. Not entirely sure what an AC tap was for, I quickly came to the conclusion that I therefore must not have one, rather than just tell him I wasn't sure and going back to the boat and checking. My foolishness, but that's how I got the wrong alternator.
So, I realized I had the wrong alternator when I pulled the old one out and noticed the wire attached to a post labelled "AC tap". It was at this point that I decided to learn what an AC tap actually is. Now I know.
Here's my question. So far as I can tell, the only thing this tap is used for is for the tachometer. So, it seems that I should be able to simply leave the AC tap wire off of the new alternator and get home without a tachometer. Shouldn't affect anything else. Right?
The correct solution is to exchange the alternator for the correct one, but for reasons not germaine to the question, that isn't a great option. Better to eat the cost of an alternator that I will only use for a few days. I will mount it on my wall when I am done as a reminder of my mistake.
Is there any reason other than the tachometer that I should be concerned about using the new alternator? It does, indeed, fit and otherwise is identical to the one with the AC tap.
Part two is: I believe there is a way to keep the new alternator if I either replace the tachometer and/or use some sort of an adapter. I have just begun to look at these options, so don't know much about them, yet. I figured I would just end up asking my mechanic when I get home if it is better/easier/cheaper to keep the new alternator or exchange it for the correct one. In the meantime, thoughts?
So, I realized I had the wrong alternator when I pulled the old one out and noticed the wire attached to a post labelled "AC tap". It was at this point that I decided to learn what an AC tap actually is. Now I know.
Here's my question. So far as I can tell, the only thing this tap is used for is for the tachometer. So, it seems that I should be able to simply leave the AC tap wire off of the new alternator and get home without a tachometer. Shouldn't affect anything else. Right?
The correct solution is to exchange the alternator for the correct one, but for reasons not germaine to the question, that isn't a great option. Better to eat the cost of an alternator that I will only use for a few days. I will mount it on my wall when I am done as a reminder of my mistake.
Is there any reason other than the tachometer that I should be concerned about using the new alternator? It does, indeed, fit and otherwise is identical to the one with the AC tap.
Part two is: I believe there is a way to keep the new alternator if I either replace the tachometer and/or use some sort of an adapter. I have just begun to look at these options, so don't know much about them, yet. I figured I would just end up asking my mechanic when I get home if it is better/easier/cheaper to keep the new alternator or exchange it for the correct one. In the meantime, thoughts?
