Tommy in FLL
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2009
- Messages
- 44
I noticed this today. My 16 foot Larson All American 160 has a system voltage of 12.2 volts. When I first start the engine, the voltage slowly rises, and I do mean slowly; after I started it, a few minutes later I measured 12.44 volts. It slowly climbed to 12.67 volts after about 10 minutes of idling.
I then took the boat on a tour of my subdivision in Fort Lauderdale, Jenada Isle. This was a generous tour, with a short segment at what I like to call "questionable" velocities [full throttle~] in a spur canal that I first cleared of manatees. There was about 35 minutes of idle and 25 seconds of slightly more [!] and when I returned to Port Tommy, I tied up and checked the voltage while the engine was still running.
13.22?
Well, I've worked on a car or 49 and I've noticed that my Porsche 928's battery sits around at 11.9 or so volts, but the 115 amp alternator produces over 13 volts instantly, and after only a few minutes system voltage is a consistent 13.7. If I test it right after I drive, it is usually 12.7 or something like that.
My battery? It is brand new.
In my limited knowledge of things nautical, this brings on yellow "caution-warning" lights in my brain. I have a problem with my C85 overheating at high power settings, and I've heard that high system voltage can cause the overheat siren to come on when the engine isn't hot.
Does all this sound about right? I suspect that this motor simply has a small alternator. At the same time...these voltages seem small to me.
Thanx in advance!
T
I then took the boat on a tour of my subdivision in Fort Lauderdale, Jenada Isle. This was a generous tour, with a short segment at what I like to call "questionable" velocities [full throttle~] in a spur canal that I first cleared of manatees. There was about 35 minutes of idle and 25 seconds of slightly more [!] and when I returned to Port Tommy, I tied up and checked the voltage while the engine was still running.
13.22?
Well, I've worked on a car or 49 and I've noticed that my Porsche 928's battery sits around at 11.9 or so volts, but the 115 amp alternator produces over 13 volts instantly, and after only a few minutes system voltage is a consistent 13.7. If I test it right after I drive, it is usually 12.7 or something like that.
My battery? It is brand new.
In my limited knowledge of things nautical, this brings on yellow "caution-warning" lights in my brain. I have a problem with my C85 overheating at high power settings, and I've heard that high system voltage can cause the overheat siren to come on when the engine isn't hot.
Does all this sound about right? I suspect that this motor simply has a small alternator. At the same time...these voltages seem small to me.
Thanx in advance!
T