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Author	Topic:   Charging Voltage
memmorymaker	posted 05-04-2003 03:49 PM ET (US)         Maybe someone can help. I have 1985 Evinrude 70hp on my Whaler. Boat has 2 new batteries, selector switch, and all new cables. My charging voltage with this is running what I consider extremely high, 15.5-16.9 volts at 1000 rpm. With the old single battery, original cables I charged around 13.5-14.5 volts. All battery connections are new and tight. I replaced the rectifier but have not been able to achieve a reduction in the charging voltage. I know there is no voltage regulator on this motor, and am concerned that I could damage the batteries or worse. Any suggestions where to look or is this charging voltage normal?
Sal DiMercurio	posted 05-05-2003 12:36 AM ET (US)             If i'm not mistaken, that engine only has a 6 amp charge system & you would have to run that engine at minimum 3,500 rpms to get 6 amps. Theres no way that charging system can over charge your battery at 1,000 rpms, i'd check the voltmeter to see if it's reading correctly, which I doubt. Sal
memmorymaker	posted 05-05-2003 08:16 AM ET (US)             Thanks for your reply. Yes it is 6 amp unit. I too suspected the gauge, but started fishfinder in diagonistic mode and found voltage was reading the same as gauge. I know amperage is low, but have never experienced such high charging voltage, even with a twin outboard boat I had in the past. Repair manual has no voltage specification for charging. I just don't want to cook the batteries. Do you know what the correct voltage is?
jimh	posted 05-05-2003 09:18 AM ET (US)             The charging circuit on your c.1985 outboard is, as you mention, unregulated. The voltage that it produces is likely to be as high as you observe, 16-volts, when the load on the circuit is minimal. Since you have recently replaced your batteries, they are probably fully charged, and thus they do not require much charging current from the engine. As the charging current needed increases, I am sure the output voltage will decrease. Whether or not constantly maintaining such a high charging voltage on your new batteries is harmful depends on the type of battery you have chosen. My guess is that the current flow into the battery is probably not very high, and you are just trickle-charging them at this point.
memmorymaker	posted 05-05-2003 07:36 PM ET (US)             Thanks so much for your input. I'll monitor them and hopefully the voltage will come down. In any event, I'm glad to have a kicker in case of failure. Last time I tried to rope start it was unsuccessful, hence the insurance policy on the transom.
memmorymaker	posted 05-05-2003 07:36 PM ET (US)             Thanks so much for your input. I'll monitor them and hopefully the voltage will come down. In any event, I'm glad to have a kicker in case of failure. Last time I tried to rope start it was unsuccessful, hence the insurance policy on the transom.
memmorymaker	posted 05-05-2003 07:38 PM ET (US)             Sorry for the double post reply

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