vacation need alternator help

[Jceclipse01]

Ok when i'm on the boat just once in while I will see the gauge reading 13 amps most of the time its reading 11or less. I have a perko switch so I have two batterys.so I hope I will not be left floating I'm on my droid and have very little service. There is a wallmart near by so if you guys thing I should by a battery charger to get me through the week which one should I buy

[newty]

A 2amp to 10amp trickle charger should work fine. A jumper box would be better because you can use it all the timeand keep it on the boat but its a little more money. Good luck.

[Jceclipse01]

Does anyone know anything I can check to start looking for my alternator problem?

[DOCDRS]

Ok when i'm on the boat just once in while I will see the gauge reading 13 amps most of the time its reading 11or less. I have a perko switch so I have two batterys.so I hope I will not be left floating I'm on my droid and have very little service. There is a wallmart near by so if you guys thing I should by a battery charger to get me through the week which one should I buy

maybe its your gauge, get a digital multimeter and check the amperage that is going to the batteries when the boat is running. You can also use it to check what your alternator is putting out ...volts and amps........14.4 volts i think you have a 70 amp alt at throttle not sure what the idle output is maybe 25 amps?

[AaronWhitt82]

My gauge has always read around 11 or so ever since I've owned mine. Obviously the gauge is wrong or it's the voltage regulator on the alternator.
I've been using a Optima blue top battery for 5 years and it's never gone dead on me...

[moombahighrider]

What gauge are you guys referring to? Mine has a volt gauge, I'm pretty sure, not an amp/ current gauge. If this is the case for you too, then 11-13 volts sounds right for the gauge to be reading.

hopefully I am not missing something here and sound like an idiot now. :D

[DOCDRS]

Its a volt meter gauge and it should read between 14 and 14.4 volts when the engine is running and the batteries are taking a charge. It should never be below 12 volts otherwise your battery is getting weak. The analog gauges may not be accurately reading what is really being put out. Just put a digital gauge on your battery 12.7-13.3v for fully charged motor off, and when running and caharging around 14.4v

[Jceclipse01]

It's reading 11 volts not 11 amps my bad. but every time I looked at the gauge in the past its been a little over 13

[Jceclipse01]

Ok the multi meter is reading 12.2 with the boat running thats after battery being on the charger all night I'm thinking something not working right any thoughts

[mmandley]

Ok the multi meter is reading 12.2 with the boat running thats after battery being on the charger all night I'm thinking something not working right any thoughts

Alternator is going bad friend. It should always read over 13 running and it should be 14.4 to 14.6 on the voltage side.

I be replacing that as soon as i hit shore.

[kaneboats]

You can probably get an alternator overnighted to you-- maybe even find one locally depending on where you are-- are you still on vacation?

[Jceclipse01]

You can probably get an alternator overnighted to you-- maybe even find one locally depending on where you are-- are you still on vacation?

I'm still on vacation have three more days on the water I'm on lake Norris in TN I'm 40 mins from anything i don't think I will be able to get one locally I hope my battery charger will get me through the week.

[kaneboats]

You could think about buying an extra battery and charging one during the day while you are out and the other one at night-- more or less.

[Jceclipse01]

I was thinking the same thing

[james yarosz]

since you already have a perko switch and two batteries just charge them both up and just run on one.Try not to use the radio or other accesories very much.If one goe dead switch to the other one and head for the dock.

[Mikes]

Did you check the belt? Mine was loose and I had the same symtoms,more so at low RPM.

[kaneboats]

How you doing so far? All ok?

[Jceclipse01]

Did you check the belt? Mine was loose and I had the same symtoms,more so at low RPM.

Well all this time it was just a lose belt. Thats why it would work in the morning for 5 mins and never again after the belt heats up. I fixed the belt and no more problems. Thanks so much you have saved my moomba and thanks to all on the forum

[DOCDRS]

Ok the multi meter is reading 12.2 with the boat running thats after battery being on the charger all night I'm thinking something not working right any thoughts

If thats the reading on the battery then it sounds like you need a new battery......battery should be at 12.7 for a full charge, 12.2 volts is maybe 50% charge.............

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/pdf.folder/Download%20folder/battery_maint.pdf


.

[Jceclipse01]

I hope not it only a few days old I got the belt fixed and all seems good now