Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

[kmaglothin]

I am curious if anyone here has received a bad CDI rectifier/regulator from the manufacturer. We are still trying to find out why we are getting high voltage (16-18 Volts) from a new CDI rec/reg. We have gone through all the known troubleshooting and can't find the cause. Talked to CDI and they tell me that they have not had a failure on this unit...the unit does check out fine on the bench and running. The voltage rises with throttle increase. Stator checks okay...grounds check okay...new battery.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

Are you using a reliable voltmeter? Don't trust the one on the dash. I haven't known them to be particularly accurate. Check with a digital voltmeter.

 

[kmaglothin]

Re: Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

Yes...used actually two different meters and the sonar reports the same voltage.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

Check the voltage at the purple wire going to the regulator. See if it also reads 16V, same as battery voltage. Sometimes that wire has resistance or corroded connections, and the voltage is less than battery voltage. Then the regulator "sees" the lower voltage and keeps putting out more power when it does not have to. The wire powers the electronics in the regulator and "tells" it what the voltage is.

 

[kmaglothin]

Re: Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

Seahorse...great suggestion. I will get a reading when I get home tonight.

 

[kmaglothin]

Re: Johnson 150 Rectifier/Regulator Problem

Well...checked the voltage on the purple wire and compared it to battery voltage...within .10 volts. So the sensing wire (regulator) is seeing the correct battery voltage and should not be adding any power. Sounds like a faulty regulator based on this test.