Alternator Battery Drain

[Eggy]

So I'm getting a battery drain from the alternator out when the engine is not running. I have a Motorola alternator, I've never really tested it, but I assume I must have a short somewhere but the wiring on the alternator OUT does not make any sense to me. Seems a waste to replace the alternator. Is this repairable, is there any manual on these units?

[sastanley]

Eggy,
The alternators seem pretty reliable. The informal consensus (not official, my opinion only) is to remove the alternator and take it to the alternator shop which has the old Labrador (or similar) dog that greets you on arrival. One $15 diode plate and a couple of plastic insulating washers later (which I'd apparently dropped in the bilge! ) and I was back in business.

A real shop like this should be able to test your alt. and give a full diagnosis. I generally find the buffoons at the local Autozone to be completely incompetent.

[rigspelt]

I'm getting a battery drain from the alternator out when the engine is not running.

What leads you to believe this?

[67c&ccorv]

(2nd) - yes, what leads you to believe this???

[Eggy]

Stil have battery drain on the alternator.

I'm very confused by the plate that has the alternator-out terminal in the middle of it , this plate is attached to the alternator by 2 machine screws neither of which are insulated from the alternator housing. When I take the plate off, one of the machine screws measures at 14 volts, and the other is ground. I don't understand how the plate isn't shorting out the alternator. Are both of these screws supposed to output 14 volts? Anyhow anytime the engine is off and the alternator out is hooked to the battery, I get a leak. I know this because I connected a LED between the positive post of my battery and the a disconnected positive battery cable (described in the 12-volt bible) , and I've isolated my leak to my alternator out cable. Therefore anytime the engine is not running my batteries are draining, and am experiencing this first hand. Are there isolating washers that attach this plate to the alternator and if so does anyone have a diagram of how this works? Thanks for the responses, I'm pulling my hair out on this.

Diego

[rigspelt]

I don't think you are talking about the external regulator that is attached to the old Motorola 35 amp alternators, so I'm not sure what's up there. See http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/sh...light=motorola. Can you post a photo? Did you take it to an alternator shop?