Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

[muswell_hillbilly]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

I just bought my first boat and am experiencing similar behavior on a 1997 90 HP. This thread has definitely helped me understand the system better - thanks!

Is there a long term affect on the batteries/electronics to be charging/running at these elevated voltages? Is it possible to convert to a regulated output?

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

I don't see anything that looks like the above attached picture on my engine, starboard, port side or anywhere else.

What would a reg/rec look like?

 

[iwombat]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Not familiar with the '97 so your mileage may vary . . .

But, on the older motors the regulator replaces the water passage cover between the v's. Should be right next to the lifting eye.

 

[muswell_hillbilly]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

On my '97 90 HP, the rectifier shown in the diagram is on starboard side, right next to the vertical terminal strip where stator, rectifier, tach, batt & SW batt wires are landed. Mine is the unregulated, 6 amp rectifier.

Attached is picture from my motor...

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

iwombat...I will take a look and try to post a pic.

muswell hillbilly....Thanks for that pic, that's exactly where I looked, I saw the empty holes where I thought it would be mounted, and now I see that's exactly where it would be if it were there, thanks.

 

[muswell_hillbilly]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

So if the rectifier is not there, must be regulated output? From the exploded parts view, the rect/reg should look something like the image below:

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

My '98 90HP spl has the unregulated system and will climb to 16v+ at times, I'll check the manual and see if it says yours is regulated or not.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

OK took some pics, definitely no rectifier by the terminal strip, or anywhere I can see, but take a look on top of the Port cylinder head, is this a reg/rec that I have circled?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

You have circled your powerpack.

Regulated Rectifier is center rear under the flywheel.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Ahh OK, thanks ezeke.

So I guess I have a regulated system then huh? Good to know, I will keep my eye on it and see what it does. It's been holding steady right at 15v at cruising RPM, so may have just been me being overly cautious.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Boblester40]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Normally the regulated systems will not creep as they are as named , it would be worth gettting a multimeter across the battery just to double check its not your gauge , otherwise it is most likely a regulator problem. Is the tacho working correctly ? if you start to get problems with the tacho its a sure sign the regulator is on its way out .

rgds
bob

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

I have already put a meter across the battery and it reads exactly as the gauge shows, so I know the gauge is good/accurate.

I've been out the last two day's and put about 4 hours on it, and have kept my eye on it, and it seems to now be at about 14.8v at cruising RPM of about 4300 RPM, I've done a couple of WOT runs while out too and it seems to stay just under 15 at 14.8 or so, which is normal.

Could have just been me being paranoid at first, but it did creep up to about 15.2 or so at one point back when I started this thread, hasn't done it since, so who knows.

My tach works fine, except that the face is warped from the sun beating on it and the previous owner never having the top up to protect the gauges, so the tach sticks at around 2K on it's way up and down for a few seconds and then pops free. Annoying, but not a real problem.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

OK it's been a while, but this issue has changed a bit and is doing something different recently.

So I cleaned all of the battery connections and both the block ground and positive lead on the solenoid. Still had the same issue with it sometimes slowly creeping up above 15V.

Now it's started to hunt around, from betweeen 14.8 to about 16.5. It will hold at say 15 or so, and then it will creep up to 16 and then fall back down to 14.5 or so. This is all at the same RPM, crusing along at like 4300.

I had a friend drive the boat and put a meter at the battery to rule out a bad gauge, and the meter did the same thing, hunted around.

Also I was out at night last night and every time I would hit the trim on the engine, up or down, the running and dash lights dim pretty badly, and then come back after I let off the trim switch. Noticed the volatge drop down to like 13 or so when trimming too, even at cruising speeds.

So, is my regulator shot here?

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Anybody? Bueller....Bueller???

 

[Big Rush]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

That sounds more like your battery is not able to buffer the extra load of your accessories.
I would load check the battery, and in addition to cleaning the terminals, would look for resistance in the connectors, and corrosion creeping under the insulation.
Just my $.02

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

That sounds more like your battery is not able to buffer the extra load of your accessories.
I would load check the battery, and in addition to cleaning the terminals, would look for resistance in the connectors, and corrosion creeping under the insulation.
Just my $.02

I'd bet he's figured it out sometime during the 13 months since his last post.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

I'd still say that you have a defective regulator/rectifier.

Double check all the connections on the wiring associated with it.

If the battery holds its charge and cranks the engine easily I dont think there can be much wrong with it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Yup -- it's going bad so you MUST replace it. When that turns out not to be the problem then I'm a no good ### that --- well, see where this goes?? The question I have for you is -- "is there a problem other than the slight rise in voltage?" Unregulated systems could typically go to 17 volts and unless one ran wide open for hours that didn't pose a problem. I can't see the inside of the regulator and nobody else can either unless they happened to be part of the design team. Electronic components can have 1%, 5% and even 10% tolerance on them as individual parts. There is a little complication when designing things called "build up of tolerances". In this case it would be component values. Age could cause slight degradation of the components yet they still perform their duties just fine. A 0.3 volt rise in voltage is 0.9% change (less than 1% which is for all practical purposes insignificant). Weather alone can mess with these tolerances and operation of the regulator. Lastly, if you look at the voltage output of a battery charger for example, it may or not show anywhere near 12.6 volts when NOT connected to a battery. It may actually show 20 volts or so unloaded. So check your battery cables (both ends) for corrosion and ensure they are tight. If those are ok, you probably do not have a problem.
Happy Now???