Dying Voltmeter?
 

"Tim" wrote in message
oups.com...

Jim wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:38:52 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Jack Goff" wrote in message
. ..
A couple of years ago, the voltmeter on my boat began to read high.
Over a few weeks time, it ended up reading 16 volts at idle and
nearly
18 volts at cruise. The motor is a 1999 model Johnson 150 outboard.

It was due for service, and I mentioned it to the dealer. They said
the voltmeter was bad, replaced it, and it again read correctly.

Now it doing it again. This time the battery was going bad, so I
thought maybe that could ahve something to do with it. I replaced
the
battery last weekend, and it still read high, just like before.

I'll be doing some investigating with a multimeter next time I'm out
to make sure it's really the meter, but I was just wondering... is
this fairly common? The boat stays covered in a slip except when
we're using it, so its not like it sits out in the weather and is
abused. It just seems that these factory installed voltmeters are
dying.

!6 to 19 volts sounds like an open battery circuit. Clean and tighten
the
battery cable terminals at both ends, then do a voltage drop test on
both
battery cables. Replace wing nuts with hex nuts.

Now there is a discussion worthy of some debate.

Why?
Here's my theory. Outboards have a coil that produces AC when it passes a
magnet. The AC is converted to DC by a bridge rectifier. That's pretty
much
the complete charging system. Any regulation that is done, is done by the
battery. No connection to the battery allows the charging system to
produce
maximum volts and no amps. A fully charged battery connected to a running
engine shouldn't be showing any more than 14 to 14.5 volts. Any more will
boil the water out.

You're correct, Jim. But why would it ruin a guage?

Maybe the meter pegged and damaged the movement while you weren't looking.

Dying Voltmeter?
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:46:24 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:38:52 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Jack Goff" wrote in message
m...
A couple of years ago, the voltmeter on my boat began to read high.
Over a few weeks time, it ended up reading 16 volts at idle and nearly
18 volts at cruise. The motor is a 1999 model Johnson 150 outboard.

It was due for service, and I mentioned it to the dealer. They said
the voltmeter was bad, replaced it, and it again read correctly.

Now it doing it again. This time the battery was going bad, so I
thought maybe that could ahve something to do with it. I replaced the
battery last weekend, and it still read high, just like before.

I'll be doing some investigating with a multimeter next time I'm out
to make sure it's really the meter, but I was just wondering... is
this fairly common? The boat stays covered in a slip except when
we're using it, so its not like it sits out in the weather and is
abused. It just seems that these factory installed voltmeters are
dying.

!6 to 19 volts sounds like an open battery circuit. Clean and tighten
the
battery cable terminals at both ends, then do a voltage drop test on
both
battery cables. Replace wing nuts with hex nuts.

Now there is a discussion worthy of some debate.

Why?
Here's my theory. Outboards have a coil that produces AC when it passes a
magnet. The AC is converted to DC by a bridge rectifier. That's pretty
much
the complete charging system. Any regulation that is done, is done by the
battery. No connection to the battery allows the charging system to
produce
maximum volts and no amps. A fully charged battery connected to a running
engine shouldn't be showing any more than 14 to 14.5 volts. Any more will
boil the water out.

Um....sorry - I meant the wing nut vs hex nut situation. :)

Finger tight isn't tight enough.

Dying Voltmeter?
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 10 Jan 2007 12:01:43 -0800, "Tim" wrote:

Same way with his IH 434.

Diesel or gas?


made in England, sold in Canada, and somehow made it down here. It's a
4 cyl. diesel.

We've found it hard to get parts for because the local IH dealer
doesn't even show a listing for it. It was made for the Canadian market

Dying Voltmeter?
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

made in England, sold in Canada, and somehow made it down here. It's a
4 cyl. diesel.

We've found it hard to get parts for because the local IH dealer
doesn't even show a listing for it. It was made for the Canadian market

What does he need? I know people who have them and they get parts all
the time.

Well, not much of anything, really. Granted it's not a "perfect"
tractor, and eventually it will need overhauled, but it runs and shifts
and I love the hydrolics.

But it is good to know that stuff is more available than what I've
found out locally.

Thanks Tim!

Dying Voltmeter?
 

Tim wrote:


Thanks Tim!

Er..."Tom"

Dying Voltmeter?
 

On 10 Jan 2007 12:06:10 -0800, "Tim" wrote:


Jack Goff wrote:
A couple of years ago, the voltmeter on my boat began to read high.
Over a few weeks time, it ended up reading 16 volts at idle and nearly
18 volts at cruise. The motor is a 1999 model Johnson 150 outboard.

It was due for service, and I mentioned it to the dealer. They said
the voltmeter was bad, replaced it, and it again read correctly.

Now it doing it again. This time the battery was going bad, so I
thought maybe that could ahve something to do with it. I replaced the
battery last weekend, and it still read high, just like before.

I'll be doing some investigating with a multimeter next time I'm out
to make sure it's really the meter, but I was just wondering... is
this fairly common? The boat stays covered in a slip except when
we're using it, so its not like it sits out in the weather and is
abused. It just seems that these factory installed voltmeters are
dying.

One thing I forgot to ask, Jack.

Are these mechanical guages? or digital?

They're mechanical... whatever the Bennington factory installs. FWIW,
I've been through everything but checking things out with my
multimeter. Hex nuts, new battery, starts strongly (so good
electrical connections), charges battery when running.

I've got a feeling that Tom is on the money... my big Johnson is
overwhelming the voltmeter. :-)

Dying Voltmeter?
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:43:31 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:46:24 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
m...
On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:38:52 GMT, "Jim" wrote:


"Jack Goff" wrote in message
news:p7i8q21hv85vg5bh4lhn2ekq0vekgp1jtr@4ax. com...
A couple of years ago, the voltmeter on my boat began to read high.
Over a few weeks time, it ended up reading 16 volts at idle and
nearly
18 volts at cruise. The motor is a 1999 model Johnson 150 outboard.

It was due for service, and I mentioned it to the dealer. They said
the voltmeter was bad, replaced it, and it again read correctly.

Now it doing it again. This time the battery was going bad, so I
thought maybe that could ahve something to do with it. I replaced
the
battery last weekend, and it still read high, just like before.

I'll be doing some investigating with a multimeter next time I'm out
to make sure it's really the meter, but I was just wondering... is
this fairly common? The boat stays covered in a slip except when
we're using it, so its not like it sits out in the weather and is
abused. It just seems that these factory installed voltmeters are
dying.

!6 to 19 volts sounds like an open battery circuit. Clean and tighten
the
battery cable terminals at both ends, then do a voltage drop test on
both
battery cables. Replace wing nuts with hex nuts.

Now there is a discussion worthy of some debate.

Why?
Here's my theory. Outboards have a coil that produces AC when it passes
a
magnet. The AC is converted to DC by a bridge rectifier. That's pretty
much
the complete charging system. Any regulation that is done, is done by
the
battery. No connection to the battery allows the charging system to
produce
maximum volts and no amps. A fully charged battery connected to a
running
engine shouldn't be showing any more than 14 to 14.5 volts. Any more
will
boil the water out.

Um....sorry - I meant the wing nut vs hex nut situation. :)

Finger tight isn't tight enough.

That's why star washers and Leatherman's were invented.

Some of us old timers don't stay up late enough to watch Leatherman's. Do we
really need celebrity washers to keep our nuts tight?

Dying Voltmeter?
 

Jack Goff wrote:
A couple of years ago, the voltmeter on my boat began to read high.
Over a few weeks time, it ended up reading 16 volts at idle and nearly
18 volts at cruise. The motor is a 1999 model Johnson 150 outboard.

It was due for service, and I mentioned it to the dealer. They said
the voltmeter was bad, replaced it, and it again read correctly.

Now it doing it again. This time the battery was going bad, so I
thought maybe that could ahve something to do with it. I replaced the
battery last weekend, and it still read high, just like before.

I'll be doing some investigating with a multimeter next time I'm out
to make sure it's really the meter, but I was just wondering... is
this fairly common? The boat stays covered in a slip except when
we're using it, so its not like it sits out in the weather and is
abused. It just seems that these factory installed voltmeters are
dying.

Hmm, my volt meter looks original to the boat, I don't think it's ever
been replaced. And same as you, I checked with a voltmeter one time,
and it seemed as if it read correctly. Wonder if you are getting some
spikes of some sort?