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22-12-2018, 04:40
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Balmar alternator repair help please!
My tachometer has been working intermittently ever since I installed a new Balmar alternator with external regulator a few years ago. Problem was finally traced to the post for the connection between the stator and the regulator. Cracked the case and am a bit mystified by what’s revealed. Pen tip in the picture below is pointing to a ring terminal that is just “laying” against the post plate. Can anyone tell me how this is supposed to be attached/configured? Almost looks like a manufacturing flaw.
Combed the net for any info and found nothing.
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"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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22-12-2018, 13:22
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#2
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Certainly looks like some just didn't install the terminal properly, but after this many years, it would be very generous of Balmar to fix it as a manufacturing defect.
More likely, it just needs to be properly screwed down someplace and that will solve the problem?
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22-12-2018, 21:03
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#3
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Sponsoring Vendor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central Coast, BC Canada
Boat: Uniflite 31, 1973
Posts: 257
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
does the terminal have two varnished solid wires like the windings? If so it would be one of the stator winding connections. There are three such connections, each going to a pair of the six rectifiers. The tach connection is to (any) one of these
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Experience develops good judgment; bad judgement develops experience.
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22-12-2018, 23:17
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Boat: Beneteau 423 43 feet
Posts: 851
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Did you call balmar and discuss? Dale in the tech department is very helpful and I am sure he can advise you. As mentioned might be just attach. But I am wondering how it has stayed in place all these years if it’s just “laying” there.
Greg
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23-12-2018, 06:52
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Delta
Boat: Tayana 37
Posts: 64
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Definitely get ahold of Balmar and ask if this is normal.
Probably should've done that a few years ago when you first noticed the tach issue.
Either way, they can warrantee it out, or at least fix it for you at less than the cost of a new alternator.
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23-12-2018, 08:51
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Took this long to figure out because I did not really need the tach. I know the rpm ranges I use by sound.
So went ahead and soldered the connection. May not like vibration; all the other posts have rivet connections. Will fix it properly if the solder ever breaks.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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23-12-2018, 09:09
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Boat: Beneteau 423 43 feet
Posts: 851
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Does it now work
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23-12-2018, 09:55
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Not installed yet lol. Will not have it in until Wednesday. I’m fairly certain it will; appears to be a manufacturing defect that worked (intermittently) and passed testing as it was generally in contact.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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23-12-2018, 10:28
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: St Louis, MO
Boat: Nordic 44
Posts: 203
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
I am sure you already know this but Pasco Battery off West St in Annapolis is a Balmar authorized rebuilder. They could surely look at it and advise.
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23-12-2018, 13:41
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Boston's North Shore
Boat: Pearson 10M
Posts: 839
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Solder will break in time.
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24-12-2018, 06:03
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Baltimore, MD
Boat: Niagara 35
Posts: 33
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
If you do call Balmar or take it to Pasco, please let us know what they say. I also have a Balmar alternator and occasionally, my tach stops working briefly. It happens shortly after starting engine and I have always attributed it to somewhat low voltage (although never below 60% SOC) at that time. Perhaps there is another cause.
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24-12-2018, 08:52
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#12
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Sponsoring Vendor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central Coast, BC Canada
Boat: Uniflite 31, 1973
Posts: 257
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
It is quite common to temporarily lose the tach signal when a multi-stage regulator switches to float. The voltage setting has just been dropped and the battery is higher than the setting at that point so the alternator goes completely off for a time. Turn some accessory loads on and it will come back more quickly.
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24-12-2018, 09:06
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Baltimore, MD
Boat: Niagara 35
Posts: 33
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
How clever EngNate. I would have never thought of that, but it sure makes sense. Thanks
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04-01-2019, 06:51
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Problem solved, so the post was the issue.
A mechanic friend end of mine mentioned that this is a common problem (aside from the specific cause of mine which appeared to be a manufacturing defect) caused by over tightening the nut on the stator contact without putting another wrench on the retaining but. He sees them broken inside with some regularity.
Balmars have a feature to keep the tach working when the charging voltage drops so that should not be an issue other than a momentary lapse.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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04-01-2019, 07:06
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 2,690
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Re: Balmar alternator repair help please!
Thanks very much for the resolution post, Suijin. I was following this, as I'm seeking to broaden my tech knowledge.
Happy New Year!
LittleWing
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