UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Ok,<br />If I take the alternator off the boat.<br /><br />Give it to a professional mechanic.<br /><br />He bench tested it and says that the alternator is working perfectly.<br /><br />What else do I need to do?<br /><br />You guys seems stuck on the alternator. Could he be wrong and it put out amps and look like it's working but still be bad?<br /><br />If so what good is a bench test if it doesn't check for the problems you guys are giving?<br /><br />I am confused and concerned, what else should I do?

 

[cc lancer]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

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

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Originally posted by cc lancer:<br /> You need to buy your self a bottle of red fingernail polish so you can paint your........... <br /><br />Positive Battery terminal.

ROFLMAO..........talk about being slow. As the title states....I am an Idiot

 

[achris]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

It sounds like the guy who tested the alternator knows his apples. I'd be happy with the alternator, put it back on the boat and go boating. <br /><br />Don't forget the red nail polish <br /><br />Chris........

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

I am just going from the original post that there was a puff of smoke from the alternator . A typical bench test for an alternator is to measure the output voltage and current while a "dummy load" is placed on the output. If I knew that I saw smoke from the alternator, I would want it torn down and examined or at least have an oscilliscope put on the output to insure that it is putting out nice steady regulated filtered dc.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Sorry waterone1,<br />What I meant to say was when I did it, I heard a pop turned my head and saw a puff of smoke from that direction. Don't know if it actually came from the alternator or not.<br /><br />I thought it did and thats why I had it tested. I see your point. Might have to investigate further.<br /><br />The guy said it was putting out 50amps strong, but that puff of smoke had to come from some place.<br /><br />Thanks for the info.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Your description "sounds" dead on a capacitor or resistor or diode blowing. I have never heard a fuse blow or seen smoke from one. I have never heard a wire "pop".

 

[Destin]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

If you have one of those "Zap-stop" diodes attached to the back of the alternator it probably would blow with a pop. It wouldn't affect alternator output, but it wouldn't be protecting the alternator anymore.

 

[amidaeus]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Start your motor and turn the radio on. If you hear a whine that increases with RPM, then your cap is gone.

 

[amidaeus]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

all electronic components contain "magic smoke" when you let it out... they don't work any more.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

BPG, sorry to hear bout your mishap, and hope you come out of it with no problems. <br /><br />Sounds like there are some pretty insightful possibilities posted. Yet this is a perfect example of why I regret someone like Don S. leaving the board, regardless of his sometimes cranky disposition. It's this type of problem where I really see the benefit of having access to the insight of someone with years of experience fixing boats full time for a living. There is a much higher chance that guys like Don S., Rodbolt, Bondo, Seahorse, etc. have actually experienced (fixed) the type problem you're describing than many of the other posters, regardless of how insightful their suggestions might be. <br /><br />Please take this in the spirit intended, which is solely to explain my feelings & position in the 'where's don' post. It's hard to do so in print, and this example is a perfect one to illustrate why I weighed my plus/minus decision as I did. It's ironic but purely coincidental that you were the original poster for this question.<br /><br />You don't need to respond to this (we already agree that we can disagree), and I'd REALLY request that others don't reply. I recognize that people weigh things differently and have different opinions, and I don't want to sidetrack the post from it's intended point, which is to help you figure out what caused that pop & puff of smoke.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, I'd have prefered to have emailed you in order to keep this out of the post, but don't know how to do that through iboats (is that even an option on this board?)<br /><br />Again, best of luck with finding out & fixing whatever it was that popped .

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

No Harm No foul LL<br />Everyone is entitled to their opinion. God Bless America! <br /><br />Would give you my e-mail but got enough spam to deal with. <br /><br />By the way posting this may bump it up and have them read and post to it. <br /><br />Seems Don S is back. <br /><br />Thanks everyone for their info. This boat and everyboat afterwards will be a learning process. Glad to have you all with me.

 

[Don S]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

You may have blown a diode, and it still may charge, but it could also be putting out too much voltage, and the voltage may now be AC.<br />Things don't smoke and go pop for no reason.

 

[vipzach]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Too voltage can damage your electronic components, say it takes 12v DC and it is getting 18v DC, it may last a little while but will probly be destroyed. As for AC, that would be like taking out you stereo(from boat) and making yourself an extension cord that would plug into your house....not good!

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Don or anyone,<br />Is there a way I can test it to see if the diode is blown or should I take it in to the shop and have them test it? I have the manual and there is a section for the alternator in there.<br /><br />What kind of damage could happen if it is putting out too much voltage or if it's AC voltage?<br /><br />Sorry for all the questions but I keep a log on problems and fixes so that I can diagnose them quicker if it happens again.<br />Thanks.<br />BPG

 

[rattana]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Set your meter to AC volts and see what you get with your motor running. There should be very little AC component. You may see some ripple.<br />Check what you are putting out on the DC volt scale(13.5-14 volts), that will tell you what your alternator is putting out.

 

[chuckz]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

All alternators put out AC voltage, otherwise they would be called generators. The DC output of the alternator is a three phase full wave rectified output. It must go through the diodes. If the diodes are shorted you may get AC but most diodes fail open.<br /><br />If you put an oscilloscope on the alternator output you should see a series of overlapping humps. The battery provides fltering in use.<br /><br />Your alternator checked OK at full load, it's working! If there was a bad phase or diode you would not get full output from the alternator, even if a diode was shorted. With a shorted diode the negative portion of the sine wave would cancel out some of the positive current and maximum output could not be obtained.<br /><br />

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

This is NOT true. The circuit breaker trips when it's rated current is exceeded, regardless of polarity.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

L.I.Chuck,<br />How many diodes on a marine alternator and if some go out I should still be able to limp home if needed. <br /><br />Can I check the output of the alternator like I would with my car?<br /><br />I would start the boat and set it at a fast idle and set a voltmeter on the DC scale. Then measure the voltage across the battery terminals. <br /><br />Anthing less then normal would mean that there is a problem.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

Needle in a haystack. <br />Thanks for the info.<br />BPG

 

[chuckz]

Re: UPDATE ON BEING AN IDIOT

There is one diode pack comprised of six diodes.<br /><br />Yes you can check the alternator output the same as your car. With the engine running and a fully charged battery the output should be 14.7 volts.<br /><br />Your engine will run without an alternator until the batteries die.<br /><br />Check around for other areas where the smoke could have come from. Reverse polarity on the alternator without the engine running will not damage the windings or diodes. It may damage the regulator though. It depends if it's an internal or external regulator and the specific design. If you have an internal regulator and the alternator checked good at full load, it's good.<br /><br />Now look and see if you can find anything else that could have smoked. Bummer to be away from shore with a good alternator and something else broke because you didn't keep looking.