Battery Charge

[charlie_p]

Hi, could anyone explain to me why my engine has decided not to charge my batteries when on tick over ,

[nicknorman]

You will really need to give us some more information to go on. If it charges when running faster, it could be the drive belt is loose. It could be the alternator brushes are worn, or a faulty alternator.

[charlie_p]

hi nick, thanks for the quick response, the batteries will charge ok when im out cruising so ill look at the drive belt first

[nicknorman]

I presume its just started doing this? Because on some engine installations, the alternator isn't spinning fast enough to charge when at idle. If its always done this, its a feature of the design.

[BargeeSpud]

With a bit of luck, it will be a slack fan belt.

[Tony Brooks]

You do give it a bit of a rev after starting, don't you. Some installations need this to get them going but will then charge on tickover. Sometimes an alternator seems to lose the little residual magnetism it had so needs a higher rev - especially after a long layup.

[matty40s]

Hi, could anyone explain to me why my engine has decided not to charge my batteries when on tick over ,

you don't give the name of your boat...

this is massively important as, if a lady,

 

It just doesn't.

[Starcoaster]

My boat won't charge in tickover or neutral initially, I have to put some revs on at first just til the 'charging' light flicks off, then go back into neutral and they continue to charge.

Have you tried this?

[MtB]

Hey, Coastie starts answering the techie questions with accuracy and authority!!

 

MtB

[bottle]

Well, Star has had some good teachers.

[system 4-50]

My boat won't charge in tickover or neutral initially, I have to put some revs on at first just til the 'charging' light flicks off, then go back into neutral and they continue to charge.

Have you tried this?

I'm confused by the terms used as to the particular requirements for the engine and for the gearbox?

[charlie_p]

Good morning to you all, thank you for your advice and comments it was a relive to find the solution was only my inexperience in not getting the revs sorted , any thoughts abut the RCR Boat & Engine Maintenance course

[Tony Brooks]

Good morning to you all, thank you for your advice and comments it was a relive to find the solution was only my inexperience in not getting the revs sorted , any thoughts abut the RCR Boat & Engine Maintenance course

 

Had several good feedbacks on here when I ran them. I understand that they are using my course plan and notes and it is being delivered by their foreman engineer. I have seen good comments about his courses as well. See the course notes and other stuff on my website, you are free to print them out for your own use.

[blodger]

To cure no charge when starting or on tickover increasing the wattage of the charge warning light often fixes.

 

There will be threads on here about putting a resistor in parallel with the charge lamp to do the same.

 

Wiring in another light does the same and seeing whether it works for your alt and speeds