Testing the 470 Charging System

[NoGin]

I have gone over a ton of threads and posted several myself.

I tested my 4 batteries which are all showing 12 volts but do not increase in voltage when the engines are running.

Anyone have a link or a "how to" check the charging system - regulator and stator?

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

Just read an article that said if you disconnect your boats battery with the engine running and the engine shuts off then your alternator is bad. Is this the same for the 470 stator system?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

You never disconnect the battery with a alternator
your charging system is marginal at best using the water cooled regulator.2 weak or dead batteries will kill it in short order. Take the batteries and have then charged, checked, and load tested. Test the system output using ONE battery only.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

To test output your going to need a DMM, an amp clamp, and a battery load tester.
To test the individual components (the stator) you need a DMM and a DVA.

Do you have all those tools?

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

Here is a Merc service bulletin that should help you.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/83/83_08.pdf

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

Thanks for the help guys. Right on Don S! That's what I was looking for.

However, in a section it says never to use an ammeter but then it says to use the ammeter for certain tests?

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

However, in a section it says never to use an ammeter but then it says to use the ammeter for certain tests?

HUH ????????????????

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

In the owners manual it says "WARNING All engines are wired for voltmeters. Ammeters should not be used. Excessive resistance in the ammeter circuit can cause voltage regulator damage."

4C - 2 - Electrical Systems

 

[JustJason]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

use an amp clamp instead of your meters inline amp function.

EDIT... You were typing the same time I was. The above sentence is for testing the charging system only

What you are talking about is the gauge in the helm. Some boat have voltmetere, some have ammeters. With your engines you want a voltmeter gauge up front.

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

I don't have an amp clamp and dished out $60 for my digital auto range voltmeter yesterday. Ouch!

 

[JustJason]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

60 bucks.... boo hoo
My 15 year old Fluke 8 (still my favorite meter) was over 100 bucks... 15 years ago.
My newer Fluke 88V runs closer to 500.....
My Fluke amp clamp is over 200 bucks.......

Seriously though.... 60 bucks is a drop in the bucket compared to what your going to spend to get these charging systems fixed/converted.

 

[rbh]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

well joe hows it going this morning.
are you makin heads and tails of the problem yet?
maybe one of the guys here can tell us if a stator style generator charges above 12 vdc at idle (you may want to rev it up a bit) , unlike a alternator that puts out about 13-14.5 at idle.
your ac charger is probably supposed to just trickle charge at some were between 10 and 20 amps and you have 4 batteries to charge so there is quite the draw on the charger. (look at the label on the charger, what does it say mfg,output etc
and remember last night on the pm reply about forest fires, well two broke out down the valley and one is urban, 8000 people evacuated west kelowna
rob

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

Oh man. That's harsh. It's that dry out their huh? I am actually going to Lake Tahoe, NV in a few weeks for my big brothers wedding. Not right next door to you but a hell of a lot closer than NY.

JustJason - I understand $60 isn't a lot of money but considering this is my first boat and have invested about $3K in repairs/upgrades outside of the purchase price of the boat and mooring and tender, and my business not doing too well with our wonderful economy, it's money I don't have to throw away.

That's why I am spending hours on line trying to get some good help and guidance so I can enjoy the boat without worrying if I can make it back home.

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

You don't need the amp meter for the test. That first test with the amp meter TEMPORARILY hooked up is for an OVER Charging problem, the second page of the bulletin is for the no charge part.

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

In the owners manual it says "WARNING All engines are wired for voltmeters. Ammeters should not be used. Excessive resistance in the ammeter circuit can cause voltage regulator damage."

4C - 2 - Electrical Systems

Good grief man ........................ that's not an owners manual, it's the OEM service manual. IF you had the manual all along, why didn't you just follow the tests under NO OUTPUT on page 4C-3 . You would already know what's wrong.

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

This is all very confusing to me!

Went to the boat, spent 4 hours and got nothing accomplished other than my starboard engine now doesn't start. Get power from the key switch but nothing when I try to turn her over.

I removed all the battery terminals and cleaned them up a bit. Found a few wires that were directly run to the batteries that were either cut somewhere of not attached so I removed those. I started to remove the yellow wire on the regulator but could not access the others so I just hooked it back up. Now she will not start.

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

One of the problems with buying an old boat, is you never know what a previous owner did to the wiring. And trust me, I have seen a lot of weird, dangerous wiring over the years.
You may have an old dead battery isolator in your system somewhere that stops everyting. Without being able to see and trace all your wiring, and following the wiring diagrams to check things out, it's impossible to say what your problems are.
I'm quite sure if I was on the boat, within 1 hour I could tell you everything that is wrong with your charging system. But I also know how they are supposed to work and can notice when things are done wrong, or different.

 

[NoGin]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

Can you be at my boat by 7:00???

O am just grabbing a bite to eat and checking in with you guys then going back to her for as long as it takes tonight. I really want to at least get the starboard engine running.

I did trace lot's of wires and figured out how they are run. I figured that the 40 amp charger system is run directly to the positive on one of the 2 batteries at each bank. I also figured out that my little portable generator will not run the boats charging system which is why I was unable to charge the batteries that way. The boats system takes 6.2 volts and my generator allows a max of 7 volts output. Just not enough.

 

[Don S]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

The boats system takes 6.2 volts and my generator allows a max of 7 volts output.

'??????????????????????????????????

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Testing the 470 Charging System

The charging system IS NOT 40 Amps either,