On Sun, 23 May 2004 13:54:06 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...

I shall try again.
My boat's gauge and my garmin 220 fishfinder both read 14.8. Is this too
high and should I be concerned?

When does it read 14.8?

When the alternator is running?

Your voltmeter will read at a higher number
than the battery's state of charge when there is current from the
alternator
present.
You won't get a reading that reflects only the battery voltage until you
have
discoed the charger or alternator current.



Now wait a minute there Gould!

First of all - if the poster is talking about an outboard - particularly an
older outboard, and he is talking about voltage when the engine is running,
the 14.8 volts might be very typical. Not ideal, but common with outboard
charging systems. Voltage regulation is often very loosey -goosey on some
outboards.

Not that this has anything to do with charging via a small outboard, but
if we change the topic to a battery charger or regulator with remote
sensing, it could be entirely fine and normal that a fish finder or the
boat's voltmeter reads 14.8. It all depends on where the readings are
taking place (closer in the circuit to the charger or to the battery)
and how much voltage drop there is betweent the charger/regulator and
the battery.

Steve