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Old 16-06-2011, 19:52   #1
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Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

Ok so the tach is on and off and so is the battery charging. Why?

Thanks,
Jacob
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Old 16-06-2011, 19:55   #2
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

Bad key switch?
The alternator field gets its power from the switch.
When the alternator isn't working, neither is the tach.
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Old 16-06-2011, 20:24   #3
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

OR...the battery is fully charged, the alternator regulator reduces the field current so far so that there is no output from the alternator and without output there is no tach signal.

Do you have an internally or externally regulated alternator?

Charlie
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Old 16-06-2011, 21:34   #4
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlieJ View Post
OR...the battery is fully charged, the alternator regulator reduces the field current so far so that there is no output from the alternator and without output there is no tach signal.

Do you have an internally or externally regulated alternator?

Charlie
+1 This happend to me. An external reg, I went back to original internal and no more problem.
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Old 17-06-2011, 05:03   #5
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

Thanks for the tips. I will start troubleshooting the switch and/or regulator. I am not sure if it is internal or external. I know it was upgraded to a Balmar by the previous owner.

Definitely not a battery issue due to nearly running out of juice on a recent offshore trip when the tach was not on. Eventually it kicked back on and we started charging again.

Jacob
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Old 17-06-2011, 07:54   #6
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

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OR...the battery is fully charged, the alternator regulator reduces the field current so far so that there is no output from the alternator and without output there is no tach signal.

Do you have an internally or externally regulated alternator?

Charlie
Keep a permanent load on the alternator. For me the extractor fan (8A) does the trick.
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Old 17-06-2011, 07:57   #7
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

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Keep a permanent load on the alternator. For me the extractor fan (8A) does the trick.
Was just about to say the same thing.. motoring back up from so. cal. a couple years ago, tach started jumping.. went down and turned on a couple fans.. all was fine...............
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Old 17-06-2011, 10:59   #8
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

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Keep a permanent load on the alternator. For me the extractor fan (8A) does the trick.
Or ignore it, how often do you need to look at the tach?? I do it by sound because of the engine console location doesn't allow me to see the tach without bending down. I too have the balmar external regulator.
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Old 17-06-2011, 11:02   #9
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Re: Tachometer intermittent with no battery charging?

Loose belt?
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