douglee25
Well-Known Member
Last year my batteries made it through an entire season without the need to top them off. I topped the batteries off in the spring as we entered this season. Everything has been fine until two weeks ago. Both batteries are dead as can be. Each cell took a full 16 oz of water to top them off. The batteries were toast and would not take a charge anymore. I'm assuming that because I did not monitor them closely enough, I boiled all the water out of them. I don't have a newer style charger that monitors the batteries either, so lesson learned.
I replaced both batteries and brought out the meter. With the charger on, both batteries appear to charge at 13.2 volts or so. The charger looks to be OK.
I then tested with the engine running. At idle the batteries were charging at 14.8 volts, and at 1500 rpm they were charging at 15.22 volts. I've seen alternator outputs spec'ed anywhere from 13.8 to 15 volts or so. I'm leaning towards a bad regulator. Another piece of info, the voltage gauge on the dash also usually shows over 15 volts at cruise and even sometimes higher, although I know they can be somewhat inaccurate.
Your thoughts?
Doug
I replaced both batteries and brought out the meter. With the charger on, both batteries appear to charge at 13.2 volts or so. The charger looks to be OK.
I then tested with the engine running. At idle the batteries were charging at 14.8 volts, and at 1500 rpm they were charging at 15.22 volts. I've seen alternator outputs spec'ed anywhere from 13.8 to 15 volts or so. I'm leaning towards a bad regulator. Another piece of info, the voltage gauge on the dash also usually shows over 15 volts at cruise and even sometimes higher, although I know they can be somewhat inaccurate.
Your thoughts?
Doug
