Charging Voltage

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 13:49

Just an observation but in the last couple of months I've noticed the Voltage go up to 16/17 volts on the gauge whilst the outboard's running. Is this a normal voltage or a tad on the high side. Everything seems to be in good working order etc. Just thought it should be around the 15/15.5v range? What voltage does everyone elses outboards run at?

Nos4r2 · 28 December 2009, 13:57

Mine runs at 14.8 max, starting around 12.8 at tickover.

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 14:13

Mines a pretty constant voltage and is about the same at tickover as it is at WOT.

Top banana · 28 December 2009, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just an observation but in the last couple of months I've noticed the Voltage go up to 16/17 volts on the gauge whilst the outboard's running. Is this a normal voltage or a tad on the high side. Everything seems to be in good working order etc. Just thought it should be around the 15/15.5v range? What voltage does everyone elses outboards run at?

Andy what does the voltage on your plotter read, 17v sounds high to me,
mine used to show 14.8, and 12+ withengine off.

PeterM · 28 December 2009, 15:50

12.5 off & 14.2 running on the ,and 13 & 15.2 on the Yamaha.

jwalker · 28 December 2009, 16:34

16-17v is battery frying if the electrics are in proper order. Put a multimeter on there Andy to be sure of the correct voltage. Start checking at the battery terminals.

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 17:33

Each Battery is showing 12.6v when everythings turned off.

I'll run up the outboard tomorrow and do some checks. The Chartplotter and Depthfinder have voltage displayed so this will be my first check and see if everything matches in terms of voltage readings. If I'm showing 16 volts on everything then I'll run a meter across the positive and earth on the engine and see what I get.

It's certainly been this voltage for about 5 of my last trips and have probably covered about 200miles in total since I first noticed the reading. I just assumed that the plotters, engine management etc would have put up an alarm if there was a serious problem.

Bam Bam · 28 December 2009, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Each Battery is showing 12.6v when everythings turned off.

I'll run up the outboard tomorrow and do some checks. The Chartplotter and Depthfinder have voltage displayed so this will be my first check and see if everything matches in terms of voltage readings. If I'm showing 16 volts on everything then I'll run a meter across the positive and earth on the engine and see what I get.

It's certainly been this voltage for about 5 of my last trips and have probably covered about 200miles in total since I first noticed the reading. I just assumed that the plotters, engine management etc would have put up an alarm if there was a serious problem.

You need to be careful if the charge voltage reading is much above 15V as this could lead to gassing of the battery which should, on a modern battery be vented by a small valve. 16V to 17V is too high in my book. But that just my opinion and I may be proved wrong... but I doubt it. However, when a battery is over charged the gas released is a mixture of Hydrogen and Oxygen which is very explosive and if over charging is happening you should be able to smell a acid smell in the proximity of the battery if it has a valve. If you can smell acid near the battery while the engine is running at revs then turn everything off and have a qualified (auto) electrician diagnose the problem. If the battery does not have a valve then you could release one of the filler bungs, start the engine, and then see if there is a strong smell of acid I don't want to seem like a scare monger but over charged batteries can and do explode. Get it looked at mate, we don't want anything to go bad for you. On a lighter note... Change the elastic band... She might go faster!

Chris · 28 December 2009, 20:02

If you are getting 16-17 volts it will be due to a gradually failing regulator. You will eventually fry the electronics at that voltage and the battery will fail as well.

14.8 Volts is the norm when the engine is running (regardless of RPM) then 12-13 volts when the engine is off.

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 20:48

Batteries are SFL type and as far as I can tell there is no facility to refill, but as I understand it there is a vent. But I've never had any funny acidy smells in the console.

Perhaps the gauge is out of calibration. I'm going to give it a once over tomorrow and will let you all know how it goes.

Chris · 28 December 2009, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Batteries are SFL type and as far as I can tell there is no facility to refill, but as I understand it there is a vent. But I've never had any funny acidy smells in the console.

Perhaps the gauge is out of calibration. I'm going to give it a once over tomorrow and will let you all know how it goes.

Its easy to check Andy just take a voltage reading using a multimeter across the battery terminals whenteh engine is running on muffs.

jwalker · 28 December 2009, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam Bam

You need to be careful if the charge voltage reading is much above 15V as this could lead to gassing of the battery .... over charged batteries can and do explode.

Yep, they do. The electrolyte boils off so the plates are exposed, when you crank the engine and require big current the gas will ignite.... Don't ask how I know... and it was less than 15volts at charging.

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 22:03

I've been reading some other forums and flicking though the manual. Seems there is an over voltage alarm that should put the engine into limp home mode 1500RPM should an overvoltage situation arise, there is something similar on the Chartplotter too. Well that hasn't happened, so I'm sure the gauge will be at fault.

I hate reading forums when looking at possible faults as you then have to seive though reams and reams of posts about other problems all relevent to your engine make and model, it's a rather unpleasant experience.

Ian M · 28 December 2009, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I've been reading some other forums and flicking though the manual. Seems there is an over voltage alarm that should put the engine into limp home mode 1500RPM should an overvoltage situation arise, there is something similar on the Chartplotter too. Well that hasn't happened, so I'm sure the gauge will be at fault.

I hate reading forums when looking at possible faults as you then have to seive though reams and reams of posts about other problems all relevent to your engine make and model, it's a rather unpleasant experience.

Just relax, forget about it, and tomorrow just check it at your leisure. As you say, it is probably just a faulty meter

Hightower · 28 December 2009, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

Just relax, forget about it, and tomorrow just check it at your leisure. As you say, it is probably just a faulty meter

That's OK I am totally relaxed, you get like that after a few

Hope you're feeling better. Fit for Wed or Thurs?

Hightower · 29 December 2009, 14:11

Just come in from the Cold and Rain (having problems typing with numb fingers) after doing some checks and it would appear that the gauge is out.

Checked voltage across both batteries one was 12.72 and the other was 12.65 so both very healthy.

Ran up the outboard and checked the voltage using the depth sounder and came in at 14.4v at tickover, backed up by the meter on the batteries. Couldn't find the battery indicator function on the Garmin but to be honest I already had the info I needed. I then ran the outboard at 3000 RPM (woke up the neighbours

) and voltage increased to 14.6v's so very happy!

I'll have the gauge out at some point and measure it on the bench mounted powersupply I've got just to confirm the gauge is out of Cal and that there isn't any other funny thing that's happening. But I'm confident that all is a OK!

Bam Bam · 29 December 2009, 18:06

I'll have the gauge out at some point and measure it on the bench mounted powersupply I've got just to confirm the gauge is out of Cal and that there isn't any other funny thing that's happening. But I'm confident that all is a OK! [/QUOTE]

Phew! Glad you got to the bottom of it. Bloody boats.... Who'd have one eh!

Hightower · 29 December 2009, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam Bam

I'll have the gauge out at some point and measure it on the bench mounted powersupply I've got just to confirm the gauge is out of Cal and that there isn't any other funny thing that's happening. But I'm confident that all is a OK!

Phew! Glad you got to the bottom of it. Bloody boats.... Who'd have one eh! [/QUOTE]

What baffles me is that it shows 12.6v's with the ignition on but engine not running

But hey I've covered over 200miles since first noticing this and was probably like it for a long time before.

Top banana · 29 December 2009, 19:49

glad all is ok, I find having the voltage show on the garmin data bar a usefull
indication as to the battery charging condition, with a low and high voltage alarm set.

Hightower · 29 December 2009, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top banana

glad all is ok, I find having the voltage show on the garmin data bar a usefull
indication as to the battery charging condition, with a low and high voltage alarm set.

I found a low voltage alarm on the Garmin I have, but couldn't for the life of me find the actual "live" voltage info. Just as well I had my meter to hand and the Navman Depthfinder.