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.

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:16:18 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:10:34 -0500, 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.

Yep - been there done that. On my Ranger, I've gone through four of
them since 2000. On the Contender, I had to replace one. I even
replaced the entire Ranger wiring harness when I changed over to my
E-TEC and the meter went bad in two months.

I don't know what it is or what does it, but they last for a couple of
years and whammo - reading high.

Gene's advice is good though - go through the system with a good meter
and see if you might have something odd going on.

My bet based on personal experience is it's the meter.

Thanks, guys. I'll be checking it over, but it's good to know that
they do have a rep for not lasting long in some cases.

"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.

I think you're getting cheap-ass guages. Even though it's OEM , it
could still be a bad run or low quality.For example, I see this about
every day in Delco aftermarket products. just because the replacement
part says "Delco" doesn't mean it's worth having.

If you can find a Datcon brand guage, that is compatable, or a Stuart
Warner (Datcon is better, though) try one of those.



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.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Now, if I told you that I had a Datcon and it wasn't any better than
the Faria gauge, would you believe me? :)

no.

but you could be right.......

Datcon, is standard equipment on most of your heavy offroad (Cat), and
Ag (John Deere, Case-IH) equipment.

They rarely give trouble in the worst conditions on that stuff.
Especially 4 of them in a year or so?

But I suppose you could get a bummer occasionally.

"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.

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?

Jack said that the dealer replaced the guage, and it temporarily cured
the problem.

Speaking of outboards, that is , older ones. I've always wondered why
they had such a primitive charging system? very low amperage output,
with cheaply made and finicky stators. About like a Briggs & Stratton.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
But I suppose you could get a bummer occasionally.

So you do know your stuff - awright an expert!!!

Maybe in your world, but I've seen bad Datcon's too - in particular
with Case/IH tractors which have a failure rate similar to what we're
talking about on their smaller engine lines.

I use Faria gauges and on other boats, they seem to work fine. This
is a Johnson/Evinrude problem and it's pretty unique to them - I don't
know why, but it is.



So you do know your stuff - awright an expert!!!

LOL!

Well, I've been working with this stuff for about 27 years. And you
could be right about it being a J/E problem. The obvious solution, is
to trade for a Mercury! ?: 0

Maybe in your world, but I've seen bad Datcon's too

I like the disclaimer there, Tom.

Yes, my world is, well should I say more automotive minded.

When we rebuilt my dads 1950 8-N ford, I put a Datcon guage (amp guage,
though) on it,
and it's been service faithfully for better than 20 yrs. and it never
sees a shed, dial is faded, but still waterproof.
Same way with his IH 434. Of course they may blow up tomorrow, but if
so, i couldn't blame it for 10+ yrs of service.

Maybe I ought to get out more often.....

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 10 Jan 2007 09:34:27 -0800, "Tim" wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I use Faria gauges and on other boats, they seem to work fine. This
is a Johnson/Evinrude problem and it's pretty unique to them - I don't
know why, but it is.

Well, Tom. I'll just say, I've had better luck with Datcon brand then
SW's or anything else out there,

of course, YMMV.

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?