Westerbeke capacitor

Michael Mirra

Michael Mirra

Member
Jan 18, 2017
177
Rock Hall, Md
Boat Info
360 Sundancer 2002
Engines
8.1 Horizon X 2
I have been having problems with my gen. I ordered a new capacitor from westerbeke.com using the part number from my parts manual that came with the boat. I received the new one a few weeks ago but just got to the boat and removed the old one. They are not the same and i was wondering if they are interchangeable. The one i removed is an 18um and the one i got from WB is a 16um. Also the voltages are slightly different. I tried all day to reach WB but was unsuccessful with no returned call. Anyone have any knowledge on this? In the attached pic the longer one is the one i removed from the gen.
capacitors.jpg
 
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Your genny likely has two not one. Replace both when one fails. New should match the ones you replaced.
 
I just replaced mine a couple of weeks ago I have a 6.5 older model but it does have two and I replaced them both with exact number matches... Don't know what the um stands for..
 
One was on one side and the other straight across on the other side..Marine Parts Source has them....Fair price my 2 were less than a 100 bucks tax and all...
 
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Michael Mirra said:
Only shows 1 on the wiring diagram. It a 7.0 gas
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If that is what the schematic shows you have, it must be true. I thought you would have a WB5kw based upon the size of your boat. Sorry for the misinformation.
 
And, a capacitor is a capacitor. Nothing "marine" about them. Mine were 4.50 each.
There is more to this fix though. You have to make sure your exciter voltage is right. there are taps on the coil that you use to set the exciter voltage correctly. Search around the forum, especially Westerbeke 7.0 BCG if that's your model. Lots of info and a few manual links.
 
370Dancer said:
And, a capacitor is a capacitor. Nothing "marine" about them. Mine were 4.50 each.
There is more to this fix though. You have to make sure your exciter voltage is right. there are taps on the coil that you use to set the exciter voltage correctly. Search around the forum, especially Westerbeke 7.0 BCG if that's your model. Lots of info and a few manual links.
Click to expand...
The parts manual shows the part they sent me a 16uf. The one I removed from the gen is an 18uf
 
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Michael Mirra said:
Only shows 1 on the wiring diagram. It a 7.0 gas
Click to expand...
I'm still thinking you have two. Also voltage is important. You can go with a higher voltage as long as it does not exceed the upper limit of the design spec. You should not use one that has lower volts. There are posts here on 7 kw gennys where people say the genny has two. I know my 5
Kw had two because I replaced them.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 88448
I'm still thinking you have two. Also voltage is important. You can go with a higher voltage as long as it does not exceed the upper limit of the design spec. You should not use one that has lower volts. There are posts here on 7 kw gennys where people say the genny has two. I know my 5
Kw had two because I replaced them.
Click to expand...
Your right. I did find out it has two. I just haven’t found the second yet. I don’t have room to see inside. Using a mirror and cell phone pics
 
I'd be willing to bet if you have a 7.0 you have 2 caps. However, there are 1 cap models. Look at this, and pay close attention to pages 12-14. If you have a fuse holder under your cap, then you are a 1 cap model.
Read through it so you understand what the cap is doing, and how to adjust the voltage with the 7,8 and 9 taps.
Of course, we are throwing solutions to a problem that we have no idea about. You haven't described what the genny was or wasn't doing. And a real model number of the one you have will be a big help for further advice.
Good luck. When they run, they run like a loyal dog. When they don't it's more like a bitter ex wife.
 

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370Dancer said:
I'd be willing to bet if you have a 7.0 you have 2 caps. However, there are 1 cap models. Look at this, and pay close attention to pages 12-14. If you have a fuse holder under your cap, then you are a 1 cap model.
Read through it so you understand what the cap is doing, and how to adjust the voltage with the 7,8 and 9 taps.
Of course, we are throwing solutions to a problem that we have no idea about. You haven't described what the genny was or wasn't doing. And a real model number of the one you have will be a big help for further advice.
Good luck. When they run, they run like a loyal dog. When they don't it's more like a bitter ex wife.
Click to expand...
I do have a fuse under the capacitor
 
Michael Mirra said:
I do have a fuse under the capacitor
Click to expand...
Please post what you find out. Some of the older gennys had just one capacitor, but your boat seems to be a later model and one would think has the newer style genny.
FullSizeRender.jpg
 
sbw1 said:
Please post what you find out. Some of the older gennys had just one capacitor, but your boat seems to be a later model and one would think has the newer style genny.
View attachment 88500
Click to expand...
It has 2. Found the second today took me two hours to get it out all done blind. Only about 6” of room on the blind side that it was on. At 6’3” and 255 lbs i would have made a good reality show. Boat neighbors definitely heard some foul language
 
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