gps & overcharging

[a.d.mobile]

Have a gps that turns off when motor rms go up it beeps and shuts off due to high voltage. it is a merc 50 i have replaced the rectifer still does it. i have no experience here and i'm preaty sure this must be common with todays elec goodies.

 

[JB]

Re: gps & overcharging

Electronics objecting to high or low voltage is fairly common, AD.<br /><br />I don't know what your Merc does to regulate voltage output from the alternator, but a good twidget can put together a Zener diode regulator to protect your GPS from over-voltage.<br /><br />I am moving this to Electronics, where it will get better response.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: gps & overcharging

How high is the voltage reaching when the thing shuts off? Most electronics accept a really wide range and use a silicon based regulator internally to give a good constant 12V and 5V internally. <br /><br />I'd be concerened your altenator/regulator is gone. If so, you stand a chance of causing some real damage.

 

[a.d.mobile]

Re: gps & overcharging

this is a merc o/b has new stator and rectifor, it does not use a tru blue voltage reg. i will check for max voltage at battery tonite. I am fixing this for someone and i do not do a lot of gps stuff, did not know how sensitive they were. the cust said it has done this since he installed it. i just went to radio shack and got a regulator that will take 32v make it a constant 12 but only 1 amp draw do gps units draw more that 1 amp?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: gps & overcharging

I doubt it draws more than an amp but you can go to the webiste of the maker and find out easy enough...<br /><br />I'm just really ocncerend that it is shutting down. It could be defective. <br /><br />If it's not, my concern is that you've got some very high volatge on the 12V bus - If the GPS is shutting down becuase it is too high it's not long before that high volatge is going to start frying other things like the battery, guages and other electronics....

 

[Boatist]

Re: gps & overcharging

a.d.mobile<br />I think your 1 amp voltage regulator will do fine if it is just a GPS but if it also has a high watt sonar in it then could be very close to max for the 1 amp voltage regulator.<br /><br />Still you may be over charging your battery. This will cause it to need water often and shorten it life. Voltage should not go over 14.4 volts for best battery life.

 

[a.d.mobile]

Re: gps & overcharging

Thanks for the replys!!! battery voltage does not go over 14V and the zener diode/regulator did the trick $1.49 at radio shack. I did a draw check on the unit only .5amp. thanks again!