"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 13:52:03 -0400, thunder
wrote:

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 10:14:02 -0400, Harry Krause wrote:


Yeah, I mumbled something about that. I was told such were not unusual
on
inboard gas engines. I have no experience with modern gas inboards. When
I
pick up the boat, I'm going to stop at the parts department and ask to
see
of one. I'll post the drawing if I can get a copy of one.

I just did a search on "water cooled voltage regulator". I got quite a
few hits. Including:

http://www.mercstuff.com/regulator.htm

I don't quite understand the reasoning behind that one.

Really.


I can. The voltage regulator has to drop excess voltage (above the
12.8-13.5 volts) of the fully charged battery. The unregulated output of
the alternator is probably around 16-18 volts depending on engine rpm. So,
assuming the regulator has to drop, say, 4 volts, the wattage at 10 amps
would be 40 watts. How long can you hold a lit 40 watt light bulb in your
hand?

Unlike a car engine compartment where there is plenty of convective heat
transfer and the regulator electronic components can be mounted on air
cooled heat sinks, all the components inside the cowling on an outboard can
only get rid of excess heat via transfer to the water. Bolting the
regulator to a water cooled surface is one option, assuming the heat
transfer is adequate. Water cooling the regulator housing itself is
another.

Eisboch