My Merc. 170 Voltage Reg. smoked.

[steveoh2222]

After launching my boat and heading out I smelled smoke. I noticed a pin hole from my voltage reg. shooting out smoke, so I shut the engine off, but it got worse and eventually glowing red with a little flame (with a lot of smoke I might add ). I unhooked my battery and it eventually stopped. What caused this??...short somewhere?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: My Merc. 170 Voltage Reg. smoked.

Welcome to iboats.<br /><br />Loose or corroded battery connections. Or a corroded ground or red wire on the voltage regulator. Early regulators had see-thru potting and had no ground wire. Replacements and newer models have black potting and a ground wire.

 

[steveoh2222]

Re: My Merc. 170 Voltage Reg. smoked.

Could it have damaged anything else? It was hot for a while. Does anyone know of a place that sells the alternator concersion kit cheap? I might not have the room in the dog house, but I am willing to alter it to install the kit and avoid future problems.