Radio clicks on and off

[boatuser99]

Hi,

I have a 2003 18ft Grew with a 4.3 Merc Alpha 1.

My problem lies in the radio (AM/FM CD). The radio doesn't go on without the key in the ignition (which is good). It will go on when i turn it the opposite way of starting the engine - to use if I am in the boat but do not have the engine on.

When the engine is on, the radio will only 'click in' when voltmeter reaches a certain point (I believe it is 10, or when the needle is in the middle of the voltmeter ). When it goes below this, the radio cuts out.

I have tried to replace the alternator, but that did nothing.

I thought the radio ran off the battery regardless if the engine was running, and that the alternator charged the battery without having to 'power' the electrics in the boat.

While running, there is no other electric drain going on - i.e. no lights, gps, or depth finder.

I just put in a new battery a month ago.

Any sugggestions on why this is happening? and how i can fix this?

Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Radio clicks on and off

The electrical system in your boat has an issue. Most electronics have high and low voltage cut-off to protect them. 10 volts is below the cut-off point because the engine is drawing power (and I bet it doesn't run well either). You have a charging issue. Your boat has a 12 volt battery (12.6 volts to be more precise). So doesn't 10 volts seem like something isn't right? With the engine running the battery should be seeing 13.5 - 14.8 volts at about 2000 rpm. If the voltage never gets over 12.6 the battery isn't charging and is actually being discharged. Fix your charging sytem.

 

[boatuser99]

Re: Radio clicks on and off

The electrical system in your boat has an issue. Most electronics have high and low voltage cut-off to protect them. 10 volts is below the cut-off point because the engine is drawing power (and I bet it doesn't run well either). You have a charging issue. Your boat has a 12 volt battery (12.6 volts to be more precise). So doesn't 10 volts seem like something isn't right? With the engine running the battery should be seeing 13.5 - 14.8 volts at about 2000 rpm. If the voltage never gets over 12.6 the battery isn't charging and is actually being discharged. Fix your charging sytem.

Thank you for the quick response -

When I am below 1000 rpm (at the lowest speed in forward), volt meter is below 10, - As soon as i increase the RPM (above 1000), then the meter goes up and the radio kicks in

Is my charging system my alternator? I have replaced it, but it didn't help.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Radio clicks on and off

The alternator is just part of the charging system. Current needs to get FROM the alternator TO the battery. If that's not happening the battery is not getting charged. Have you looked at the battery cables and inspected them for corrosion (at both ends). Inspection does not mean "lloking". Disconnect them, clean them (shiny bright) and reconnect. Again - each cable has two ends. Doing one end does nothing if the other end is bad as well.