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31-03-2017, 10:18
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Fort Myers Beach, FL
Boat: Beneteau 393
Posts: 8
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Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
No charge coming to batteries. Noticed lights on reaulator MC 612 not working. Followed diagnostics in manuel: Replaced 10 amp and 1 amp fuses between alt and reg. Tested positive red on Ford plug on reg and it reads good. However the brown (ignition) nd blue (sense wire) gave no reading and it should. I replaced regulator and get same symptoms. Perplexed!
I am getting charge out of alternator.
Any thought appreciated!
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31-03-2017, 10:25
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#2
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
Yes, find out why you don't get the voltages that you "Should" be getting.
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31-03-2017, 10:37
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#3
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,307
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
How do you know you are getting charge from the alternator?
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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31-03-2017, 10:40
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#4
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,307
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
If you aren't getting voltage on the sense wires then trace them back the other way from the regulator. The sense voltage comes to the regulator not from the regulator so you possibly replaced a good regulator.
Very likely a loose or corroded connection OR bad ignition switch. Like Deepfrz said, find out why you aren't getting voltage to the sense wires.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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31-03-2017, 10:48
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#5
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,822
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
You replaced regulator before you found why there isn't voltage on the wires there should be??????????
Was the ignitor key on when you tested it?
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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31-03-2017, 11:14
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,764
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
When I put my MC-612 in years ago, it failed a number of times. Why? Because every single one of the factory installed ring terminals and heat shrink on the wiring harness failed. Since I replaced them, everything works just fine.
You need to trace and check every single wire. 99% of electrical failures are the connections, usually not the wires themselves.
Good luck.
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Mill Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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31-03-2017, 11:50
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#7
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,307
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Jackson
When I put my MC-612 in years ago, it failed a number of times. Why? Because every single one of the factory installed ring terminals and heat shrink on the wiring harness failed. Since I replaced them, everything works just fine.
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This is very good to know. I have one of these and so far so good but if it dies I will start with checking the factory crimps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Jackson
99% of electrical failures are the connections, usually not the wires themselves.
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Correct. Unless the wire gets crimped between something or chaffed on moving/vibrating equipment I would say 99.99% of the failures are in the connections.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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31-03-2017, 11:52
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#8
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Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
I added a note to my above post but I guess I forgot to hit enter. Senior's moment. Anyway the Blue wire is not the sense wire. It is the field wire.
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01-04-2017, 11:36
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Sea of Cortez
Boat: Kelley-Peterson 46 cutter
Posts: 894
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
I had a nightmare until I had the alternator tested. The technician remarked that my alternator was shielded ground. I knew immediately what was going on and installed a ground to the alternator. That fixed everything.
Check to see if your alternator needs a separate ground wire.
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01-04-2017, 12:27
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Boat: Land bound, previously Morgan 462
Posts: 1,995
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
Quote:
Originally Posted by iwindance
No charge coming to batteries. Noticed lights on reaulator MC 612 not working. Followed diagnostics in manuel: Replaced 10 amp and 1 amp fuses between alt and reg. Tested positive red on Ford plug on reg and it reads good. However the brown (ignition) nd blue (sense wire) gave no reading and it should. I replaced regulator and get same symptoms. Perplexed!
I am getting charge out of alternator.
Any thought appreciated!
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A few things unclear in your post. *All* lights on regulator not working? You replaced regulator and get same symptoms? Like there were *no* lights showing on the new regulator? If so you probably not getting the 12V supply to it from the ignition circuit, as was mentioned it could be the keyswitch or several other causes. Remove plug from MC-612 and check 12V from ignition is being supplied to the regulator.
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01-04-2017, 13:57
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Annapolis, MD
Boat: Gozzard, 44CC, 50'
Posts: 575
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
Had similar problems. Discovered the sense / field wires were plugged in backwards. Rotated and re-plugged. Works great now!
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01-04-2017, 17:46
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 474
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Re: Balmar Alternator and MC 612 regulator issue
A Balmar mc-612 requires +12v on three terminals before it will turn on.
Red = 12vdc supply
Brown = 12v ignition switch
Sense (separate terminal) = 12v direct from battery.
The blue wire is the field output to the alternator, and will only have voltage once the regulator is energized and operating.
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