Alternator Not Charging

[Foss62]

This happened to me yesterday,all was fine then alarm went off and volt dropped from 14.4 to 12.6 so had stopped charging,have taken it off but wondered if a fuse could have gone but couldn't find one.seems weird as been fine

[Naughty Cal]

Id make space! It could even be stored in the engine room. Given how vital the job it does is especially on a sea going boat it seems madness not to carry one!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

I will get you a picture of the engine bay tomorrow.

 

As I said there really isn't room to carry a spare alternator.

 

If we are at sea and the alternator stops working it really isn't the end of the world. It will get us where we are going.

Especially if the engine has an engine stop solenoid on the pump wired so that it shuts the engine down when there's no electric to it, like if the batteries go flat.

The batteries are unlikely to go flat in the two or so hours we would be away at most from a harbour/port!

Yes speed boats like that are ''wind-rode'', so if the engine stops out at sea it will be blown before the wind like a paper bag and perhaps get blown all the way to Oslo or at the very least Dunkirk. But of course the worst that could happen is to get driven onto a lee shore and get smashed to bits on rocks, or the least that might happen is to strand on a mud bank miles from nowhere with no water or victuals and a full up toilet. If on a canal it most likely just get blown into some reeds, but even that has it's hazards, there might be a savage swan on the nest in there that will launch an attack. I think Naughty Cal should go cap in hand and ask Tonk Dunkley for further advice on the subject.

No.

[ditchcrawler]

 

 

If we are at sea and the alternator stops working it really isn't the end of the world. It will get us where we are going.

 

 

It could be if it seizes up. You dont have to keep it in the engine bay.

[Naughty Cal]

It could be if it seizes up. You dont have to keep it in the engine bay.

The anchor locker is full, the engine bay is full and the cupboards in the cabin are full.

 

This is a small cruiser, not a big boat.

 

Where do you draw the line at what spares you carry?

 

In this case it just isn't viable to carry a spare alternator.

[bizzard]

The anchor locker is full, the engine bay is full and the cupboards in the cabin are full.

 

This is a small cruiser, not a big boat.

 

Where do you draw the line at what spares you carry?

 

In this case it just isn't viable to carry a spare alternator.

It could be worn on a necklace or bracelet as a lucky charm.

[Naughty Cal]

It could be worn on a necklace or bracelet as a lucky charm.

It would have to be!

[bizzard]

It would have to be!

I reckon it'd look grand and quite chic, you'd be the envy of everyone for far and wide, especially if they'd just broken down with a busted alternator. I also think it would help to remind you to alternate between different pubs during pub crawls.

[Naughty Cal]

Oh dear.

[Naughty Cal]

We have just got the alternator back just having a coffee before we fit it.

 

Can thoroughly recommend Motor Electrix on Newark Road in Lincoln. £68 for the repair and a quick turnaround. Dropped it off Saturday dinnertime and ready to pick up at 10am on Monday morning.

 

Can't fault that service.

[ditchcrawler]

We have just got the alternator back just having a coffee before we fit it.

 

Can thoroughly recommend Motor Electrix on Newark Road in Lincoln. £68 for the repair and a quick turnaround. Dropped it off Saturday dinnertime and ready to pick up at 10am on Monday morning.

 

Can't fault that service.

Goo service, did they say whet was wrong with it

[Naughty Cal]

We might be taking it back yet.

 

We either have a whole new electrical fault or what they have done isn't right

 

Waiting for the sparky to get back to us with when he can have a look.

[alan_fincher]

An alternator only takes up about as much space as a pint glass...

 

I've a feeling that on Naughty Cal the La*ers may simply be consumed straight from the bottle?

[Naughty Cal]

 

I've a feeling that on Naughty Cal the La*ers may simply be consumed straight from the bottle?

Sometimes.

 

We do have a couple of pint pots onboard though if the need arises.

[Alan de Enfield]

The anchor locker is full, the engine bay is full and the cupboards in the cabin are full.

 

This is a small cruiser, not a big boat.

 

Where do you draw the line at what spares you carry?

 

In this case it just isn't viable to carry a spare alternator.

 

We have :-

Spare Oil Filter(s)

Spare Oil (20 litres)

Spare Air Filter(s)

Spare fuel filter(s)

Spare raw-water strainers.

Spare starter motor

Spare Alternator

Spare battery terminal (screw type)

Spare CQR anchor

Spare anchor chain ( 100 feet + 100 feet 16mm rope)

Spare bilge pump

Spare pump-out pump

Spare fuses - dozens - all sizes and types.

Spare wiring (single core and twin, from 5 amp to 200 amp)

Set of spare hoses for engine(s)

Spare water pump

Spare GPS (duplicate of main set)

Spare VHF (fixed) set

2x Spare VHF Hand held sets

Spare bulbs for all lights (LED & Halogen)

Sundries - light switches, sockets, lighter sockets, lighter plugs.

4 person Liferaft

 

4mm - 13mm 1/4" drive socket set

8mm - 32mm 1/2" drive socket set

Open ended spanner set 8mm - 22mm

Ring spanner set 8mm - 22mm

Various pliers, wire cutter, mole grips, adjustable spanners, etc etc

Assorted flat and phillips screwdrivers

Filter removal tool

Junior and full size hacksaw

Wood saw

Electric drill

Drill bits (HSS metal) 1mm - 12mm

Drill bits (wood) 10mm - 32mm

Electricity extension lead (10 metres)

Assorted bits of wire, jubilee clips, cable connectors, scotch-loks, chocolate blocks, insulating tape, duck-tape.

Assorted thru hull fittings (water and electrical)

Can of WD40

Can of Easy-Start

Spare Gas cylinder

Spare (20 litre) Jerry can of diesel.

[Naughty Cal]

That lot wouldn't fit in our boat!

[Wanderer Vagabond]

 

We have :-

Spare Oil Filter(s)

Spare Oil (20 litres)

Spare Air Filter(s)

Spare fuel filter(s)

Spare raw-water strainers.

Spare starter motor

Spare Alternator

Spare battery terminal (screw type)

Spare CQR anchor

Spare anchor chain ( 100 feet + 100 feet 16mm rope)

Spare bilge pump

Spare pump-out pump

Spare fuses - dozens - all sizes and types.

Spare wiring (single core and twin, from 5 amp to 200 amp)

Set of spare hoses for engine(s)

Spare water pump

Spare GPS (duplicate of main set)

Spare VHF (fixed) set

2x Spare VHF Hand held sets

Spare bulbs for all lights (LED & Halogen)

Sundries - light switches, sockets, lighter sockets, lighter plugs.

4 person Liferaft

 

4mm - 13mm 1/4" drive socket set

8mm - 32mm 1/2" drive socket set

Open ended spanner set 8mm - 22mm

Ring spanner set 8mm - 22mm

Various pliers, wire cutter, mole grips, adjustable spanners, etc etc

Assorted flat and phillips screwdrivers

Filter removal tool

Junior and full size hacksaw

Wood saw

Electric drill

Drill bits (HSS metal) 1mm - 12mm

Drill bits (wood) 10mm - 32mm

Electricity extension lead (10 metres)

Assorted bits of wire, jubilee clips, cable connectors, scotch-loks, chocolate blocks, insulating tape, duck-tape.

Assorted thru hull fittings (water and electrical)

Can of WD40

Can of Easy-Start

Spare Gas cylinder

Spare (20 litre) Jerry can of diesel.

I carry the phone number of a marine engineer (J for ----!)

[Naughty Cal]

I carry the phone number of a marine engineer (J for ----!)

Can we have it

 

Seriously does anybody have the number of a sparky who might be available at short notice.

 

Next Tuesday is the earliest we have got so far!

[FORTUNATA]

Not the best start to our holiday. Got to the boat and the alternator is not Charging the batteries.

 

Fire the engine up and the warning light comes on and the alarm sounds. Gauge is showing 13v so not Charging.

 

We have checked the wiring and connections and all seems good. Also checked the belt.

 

It did get a soaking last week when the raw water pump seals failed. It has dried out now.

 

So is there anything else we can check?

There is a trick to re-magnetize the field control voltage by energising either a positive excitation or negative excitation voltage. It's quite simple to do and I have the instruction written down somewhere.

 

The rectifier diodes have been known to fail as well.

 

Funnily enough I discovered the other day my own alternator wasn't charging. It's the first time it happened. I do have a spare but I think it's the dummy lamp so will check that out first,

 

 

 

 

[Wanderer Vagabond]

Can we have it

 

Seriously does anybody have the number of a sparky who might be available at short notice.

 

Next Tuesday is the earliest we have got so far!

I take it you've gone through the list on Canal Junction?

http://www.canaljunction.com/boat/electrics.htm

[Naughty Cal]

Some of the local ones yes.

 

Got a number for one in Sheffield we will try tomorrow.

 

We are coming around to the idea we probably won't be mobile this week, but there are worse places to be stranded.

 

Didn't plan on having a week in the marina, however, it's not so far that bad.

[Alan de Enfield]

I carry the phone number of a marine engineer (J for ----!)

 

Does he come out to the middle of the North Sea ?

Does he carry spare parts for marinised 7.5 litre, 6-cylinder Ford engines ?

 

(I forgot to mention the spare impellors and fan belts.)

[Naughty Cal]

We have a sparky coming out tonight.

 

Will be here at 7.30!

[ditchcrawler]

We have a sparky coming out tonight.

 

Will be here at 7.30!

Good luck

[Naughty Cal]

Good luck

I think we are due some!

[Alan de Enfield]

I have got another spare alternator at home (its only a 70 amp I think) Its sat in the container with the spare engine

I will be home Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (am)

I am only about 15 miles from Burton Waters.

 

Pm, me if you would like to borrow it for your holidays (you can return it anytime in the next couple of months)