1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

[Toonah]

We have replaced the item that is to regulate the charge from the outboard eng. to the battery it is still registering in the red, change 2 times thinking 1st was bad any other ideas of what to try? Based on the posts I read from Cricket too, it looks like I may need a new battery since I do have a rectifier that we replaced and we are checking the charge from the battery terminals. Any other ideas if the battery is fine?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

We need a little more info.

Is this motor new to you?

Is this a new problem, or has it done it all the time?

You should have an unregulated charging system on this motor and with only a rectifier it will possibly reach a higher voltage when charging (17 v), this may be in the red zone on some guages.

 

[Toonah]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

Yes this outboard is new to me. Not sure if it's a new problem as I don't know the history on the engine. We also had a meter on the battery to see what it was doing and that was I think reading 1585 not sure what the norm is. Odd the first thing that was regulating it only had it go in the red when moving at a higher speed then when changed due to thinking it was faulty the next one was going in the red from just slightly above idol and the meter on the battery was also high that 1585. Any ideas of what to try...new battery or that is not the issue. If this stays red does the battery boil & blow?

 

[Toonah]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

Is there a certain guage that is compatable with this engine and would you know what a normal voltage at idol & high speed would be? It sounds like the 1585 number I saw on the meter could be ok and the guage could be the issue though at 1 point the meter stayed high even at idol. thanks for your help on this.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

If the gauge read 15.85V then it would be fine for an unregulated system, but high for regulated one.

At low speed it should be in the 13.something range, as the RPMs build it may climb to almost 17. Using a large battery or leaving something on that will drain off some of the charge may help keep it from overcharging the battery when running it for a long time at speed.

 

[Toonah]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

Thanks you have been quite a big help to understand what I don't at all get.

From your last note I should have an unregulated then and 15.85 would be normal, though the guage is in the red. Thanks

 

[aclmvh]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

My '98 115SPL (unregulated 6amp/rectifier) does the same thing. After a while on plane I've seen the voltmeter tickle the 16v mark. I've done what others suggest....when you see it climb, put a load on the battery- turn lights on, run an aerator pump...anything to reduce the charge on the battery. No problems after several years.

 

[Toonah]

Re: 1989 Evenrude SPL 88hp charging in red

Thanks for the information I feel better hearing others have see this issue. I will turn on the lights and see if that brings it down if it's not solved.