We were out sailing yesterday after a a long run up the Mystic River in CT and back down to Fishers Island sound (About 5 miles). We hauld the sails and turned off the A4. After an hour of little to no wind we decided to come in only to find we had 2 dead batteries and that our battery pack was sitting in the trunck of our car in the marina parking lot
At anyrate we SLOWLY sailed back to the marina and hooked up to the mooring. We got the engine running and and took some voltages accross the battery terminals and found we we unger 12 volts.
Is there a different way we should be measuring the alternator output???
Is it fair to assume we need to replace the alternator??? OR are ther other things we need to check 1st???
BEFORE you comment I need to tell you the following: This week we had a local marine electronics company swap oy a 7 inch Chartplotter (monochrome) with a 10 1/4 inch (color) display. It doesn't look like they did anything but unplug the old display and change the mounting bracket and plug in the new display. ALL connections are the same. The new display draws a max of 30 Watts of power. We were under engine power for about 90 minutes so I would have thought that that was enough time to recharge the batteries (and the battery switch was in the BOTH position for that time). We were under sail fo a little less then 60 minutes with the chart plotter radar on. I wouldn't thing that would be long enough to kill 2 batteries. The batteries are 2 800 Cranking amp batteries purchased in 2005 They are trickle charged during the winter for a week on and a week off from November through April when the boat is out of the water. They sit on a wooden benchtop all winter. I think that is all I can tell you for history.
I looked through my MMI A4 Service and overhaul manual and didn't see anything about the charging system
Yesterday I looked quicky at the wiring connected to the alternator. I was surprised that I didn't see a large cable (like the size of a battery cable) from the back of the alternator to eiter the batteries or the switch. Maybe I missed it. Does that sound right???
The engine is a late model A4. 1979 Vintage. The engine is original and the alternator is painted the same color as the engine so I am assuming it may also be original. I have owned the boat for 7 years.
Any thoughts or suggestion would be appreciated!!!
Thanks
Mal Leichter
Hebron Connecticut
At anyrate we SLOWLY sailed back to the marina and hooked up to the mooring. We got the engine running and and took some voltages accross the battery terminals and found we we unger 12 volts.
Is there a different way we should be measuring the alternator output???
Is it fair to assume we need to replace the alternator??? OR are ther other things we need to check 1st???
BEFORE you comment I need to tell you the following: This week we had a local marine electronics company swap oy a 7 inch Chartplotter (monochrome) with a 10 1/4 inch (color) display. It doesn't look like they did anything but unplug the old display and change the mounting bracket and plug in the new display. ALL connections are the same. The new display draws a max of 30 Watts of power. We were under engine power for about 90 minutes so I would have thought that that was enough time to recharge the batteries (and the battery switch was in the BOTH position for that time). We were under sail fo a little less then 60 minutes with the chart plotter radar on. I wouldn't thing that would be long enough to kill 2 batteries. The batteries are 2 800 Cranking amp batteries purchased in 2005 They are trickle charged during the winter for a week on and a week off from November through April when the boat is out of the water. They sit on a wooden benchtop all winter. I think that is all I can tell you for history.
I looked through my MMI A4 Service and overhaul manual and didn't see anything about the charging system
Yesterday I looked quicky at the wiring connected to the alternator. I was surprised that I didn't see a large cable (like the size of a battery cable) from the back of the alternator to eiter the batteries or the switch. Maybe I missed it. Does that sound right???
The engine is a late model A4. 1979 Vintage. The engine is original and the alternator is painted the same color as the engine so I am assuming it may also be original. I have owned the boat for 7 years.
Any thoughts or suggestion would be appreciated!!!
Thanks
Mal Leichter
Hebron Connecticut
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