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#11
posted to rec.boats
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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 news 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. |
#12
posted to rec.boats
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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 news 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. |
#13
posted to rec.boats
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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 |
#14
posted to rec.boats
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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! |
#15
posted to rec.boats
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Dying Voltmeter?
Tim wrote: Thanks Tim! Er..."Tom" |
#16
posted to rec.boats
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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. :-) |
#17
posted to rec.boats
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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 news7i8q21hv85vg5bh4lhn2ekq0vekgp1jtr@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? |
#18
posted to rec.boats
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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? |
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