UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

[BigPoppaG]

I did it. I admit it. Got in a hurry and hooked the battery cables up wrong. Heard a pop and a little puff of smoke by the alternator. Only took a second to realize what I did. <br /><br />Checked the alternator with the voltmeter and it seems to be putting out a charge.<br /><br />The boat still started and seemed to be working fine in the drive way with the muffs on. All guages read normal and volts also looked good.<br /><br />I then unhooked the alternator and took it up to the local shop to get it bench tested for my own piece of mind. <br /><br /><br />The guy said it was putting out 50amps and nothing was wrong with it. He said he would sell me another one if I really wanted one. <br /><br />Anything else I should be looking at? <br /> <br />Little puff of smoke had to come from someplace.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Don't feel bad I did the same thing. I didn't get any pops but my boat would not start. I realized what I did and just about ****! Anyway, I checked by 50amp main fuses and one was blown. I replaced it and she fired up and ran fine on muffs. I hope I didn't damage anything (again, no smoke or pops). I never did put it in gear or anything but I think its fine. If you had smoke and pops, something got hot. I would check every wire that goes to the altenator and check all wires in the vicinity of the pops. Voltage regulator?

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Sounds like you caught it fast enough to avoid an immediate problem Check all wires visually for heat damage. Oh yeah! Welcome to Idiots International. You are member 899,456,238,712,087.<br />Congrats.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Thanks for the invite to the club NY. <br /><br />Drives me crazy when I do this kind of stuff.<br /><br />I read before that the alternator is usually one this that is hit when you do this. <br /><br />Now you guys say wires. (Gonna check em front to back.)<br /><br />Any other big mech parts I need to worry? Just not looking to get stranded.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

I did the same thiing first time hooking up the battery...then my freind did it again...blew the 50amp fuse both times..(that's what they are there for). Find your inline fuses and check them. Have you checked everything electrical? Maybe you blew one of the minor fuses for something that you haven't used yet?<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

First thing I did was check fuses. All were good. Everything on the boat worked fine. Maybe I just got lucky. <br /><br />do still need to check all the wires. With the pop and puff of smoke....something got hit.<br /><br />Could have sworn it was the alternator. Glad it wasn't to to figure out what was.

 

[achris]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Could have been a wire on the ground side. If there is a slight resistance in the connection, then when the current rises rapidly it will flash across. That would account for the noise and the smoke. You may never find it.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[QC]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

achris,<br /><br />When do you sleep?

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Originally posted by achris:<br /> Could have been a wire on the ground side. If there is a slight resistance in the connection, then when the current rises rapidly it will flash across. That would account for the noise and the smoke. You may never find it.<br /><br />Chris............

What kind of problems.................if any could I run into because of this?

 

[achris]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Originally posted by Quietcat:<br /> achris,<br /><br />When do you sleep?

What's 'sleep'?<br /><br />BPG,<br /><br />You may not see any problems for a while, if ever. The first place I would be looking, which you've already done, is the alternator. In particular, the regulator and the diodes.<br /><br />Chris...............

 

[paulrfrancisco]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

How about the regulator... I thought some Alternaters had built in regulators.. Maybe it popped and the guy who bench tested it missed or didn't check that...

 

[achris]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

If the regulator is built in the guy who check it out would be checking that too. You can't check an altenator with a built in regulator and have it 'pass' if the reg is crook.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Alternator is all good.<br /><br />First thing I will do is a check of the entire area were I saw the puff of smoke. Don't need any exposed wires in the enclosed engine compartment. <br /><br />Other then that I will have to give it a test run and see how she does. <br /><br />Like I said she started fine in the driveway and everything seemed to be working fine.<br /><br />Who knows, maybe I just got lucky.<br /><br />achris,<br />My brother in law was down in perth with his job about a year ago. Said he had the best time. Seems you guys know how to have fun down under.

 

[achris]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Originally posted by Big Poppa G:<br /> Said he had the best time. Seems you guys know how to have fun down under.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Thanks for the advice guys. If I come up with something I'll let ya know.<br />peace,<br />BPG

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

I think some alternators have a capacitor in them. Not sure if it is in the voltage regulator circuit or if it is there to cut down on "noise" generated by the alternator (into the electrical system). If that capacitor popped, the alternator would most likely still have output, but either the regulation would be unsteady, or your stereo would develope a nice whine. If anyone has a manual for that engine, it would help if you could confirm if there is a cap. across the output of the alternator.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Waterone1 is correct:<br />Just looked at the delco and it has a capacitor and resistor, either one could have caused the pop and smoke.<br />Take a volt meter and test the battery terminals with the engine running, to see if you have app. 13.6 volts.<br /><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><br />PoppaG:<br />You need to buy your self a bottle of red fingernail polish so you can paint your...........

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

With the confirmation from CC Lancer (that there is a capacitor and resistor), I would suggest that you get the alternator thoroughly tested or rebuilt. If the engine has an ECM or the thunderbolt V ignition module, it is possible(I can't say for sure) that some damage could be done to either of these if you continue to run it.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Originally posted by Big Poppa G:<br /> <br />I then unhooked the alternator and took it up to the local shop to get it bench tested for my own piece of mind. <br /><br />The guy said it was putting out 50amps and nothing was wrong with it. He said he would sell me another one if I really wanted one. <br />

My previous post stated that I had it bench tested. The guy does rebuilds on marine alternators and said from his inspection the alternator is in perfect working order.<br /><br />cc lancer,<br />

PoppaG:<br />You need to buy your self a bottle of red fingernail polish so you can paint your...

little slow this morning. Huh?

 

[notinbig]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Thats what the 50 amper is for, It routes all reverse voltage thru it, and POP!<br />BTDT(more than once)