High charge voltage

capri1600

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
150
I have installed the recommended voltage regulator sold by Sledparts.com to solve the 18.0volts I was seeing. I'm now getting a nice sedate 14.1 volts.

http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/01-090-1.html


Unfortunately, it messed up my tachometer. Regardless which stator wire I hook the tach to, it reads about 1000rpm at idle and about 1800rpm at full throttle. I do not suspect the tach because it is new and worked perfectly before installation of the regulator. I'm kind of wondering about a blocking diode?
 

jason32038

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
555
Re: High charge voltage

I've heard many problems like that on this forum. I was thinking about buying that also but after the tach problems people were complaining about I was having second thoughts. I dont have a tach yet but im installing one when I get my engine rebuilt and i'll be damned if that regulator messes up my tach reading. There is another option...throw that POS away or sell it on ebay for $35 and get an inline regulator. Hook one to the red that comes out of the rectifier. Or you can hook it up to the wire that leaves the battery that goes to the dash so you can atleast protect your electronics and guages if your system is set up like that. They make many voltage ranges usually 14.1-14.6. Some are 12.something. If you run your boat for long periods of time then you should hook up the regulator right after the rectifier to prevent overcharging and battery damage. If you ski periodically or fish your battery will be safe with the regulator hooked up to the dash that way your battery will always be well charged.
 

capri1600

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
150
Re: High charge voltage

Yeah, I never saw the complaints about tach readings but you can certainly add me to the pile as someone who is having a problem. I am considering puting the rectifier back in and adding a regulator inline as you mentioned. I am wondering if I can use a blocking diode to isolate the stator line/tach wire from the yellow wire of the regulator. I am definately disappointed about the tach as it is new and was providing expected readings allowing me to play with props. Now I'm sort of screwed until I do SOMETHING. Where did you see complaints about tach readings after installing the regulator?
 

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,931
Re: High charge voltage

Is the black wire out of regulator a ground or is it sender for tach now??? A lot of the V/R have a tach output wire...
 

SweeperForce

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
487
Re: High charge voltage

Black wire is ground. Personally I can live without a tach but I do however need a constant change being sent to the battery. So I am ok with the V/R from the sled shop.

Tom
 

capri1600

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
150
Re: High charge voltage

Black wire is ground. Personally I can live without a tach but I do however need a constant change being sent to the battery. So I am ok with the V/R from the sled shop.

Tom

I would have liked to have had a choice. Had I known the tach was not going to work any more, I would have never made this change. I'm in the middle of playing with props so I need the tach. Plus, I can't stand when something doesnt work. I ordered the correct factory rectifier and will likely pull the sled regulator back out. If I still have the high voltage situation but a working tach I'll get an inline regultaor to drop the 18.0 VDC to the 14 VDC range.
 

pnwboat

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
4,251
Re: High charge voltage

I'm certainly not an electrical expert, but I've not heard of this modification causing a problem with the tach. Quite a few folks have done it successfully without any issues. You might check the tach itself. There may be a "selector" switch on the back of it to select the number of stator poles (you have a 20 pole stator). Sometimes the switch gets a little corroded causing the tach to act funny. Try switching it to different positions and then set it back to it's original position to see if that has any affect.

You mentioned that you're seeing 18 volts at (I assume WOT)? That doesn't seem right. I initially had the same set up as you (rectifier only), but I never saw more than 16.5 volts at WOT. 18 volts seems too high. I wonder if there's something else going on here?
 

capri1600

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
150
Re: High charge voltage

Nope, 18.0V. read the old thread and you will see people claim the exact same voltage. As for corrosion on the tach it is new and was functioning perfectly until I installed the regulator. Also in the old thread at least two other people lost the use of their tach after making the change. I'm going to go back and check the wires one last time.
 

pnwboat

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
4,251
Re: High charge voltage

Just thought I'd ask. Seems like you're the first instance where the regulator/rectifier has caused a problem with the tach. Let us know if the re-installing the rectifier fixes your problem.
 

capri1600

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
150
Re: High charge voltage

Again, as is indicated in the old thread, I am not the first person to have a problem with the tach after installing the regulator. I wish I'd known this was a potential side effect. I'm hoping Mark and Tom who previously indicated they had tach probalems will post and let us know if they ever resolved them. Tom was also one of the guys indicating 18.0 Volts. Hmmn, now that is interesting.
 

jason32038

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
555
Re: High charge voltage

Yeah, I never saw the complaints about tach readings but you can certainly add me to the pile as someone who is having a problem. I am considering puting the rectifier back in and adding a regulator inline as you mentioned. I am wondering if I can use a blocking diode to isolate the stator line/tach wire from the yellow wire of the regulator. I am definately disappointed about the tach as it is new and was providing expected readings allowing me to play with props. Now I'm sort of screwed until I do SOMETHING. Where did you see complaints about tach readings after installing the regulator?

I'm pretty sure I seen a few complaints on here about it. Maybe I took it too far saying I heard many problems like that. Did you try swapping the stator wires on the regulator and then swap the tach wire?
 
Top