Trojan Boat Forum

I THINK you can just change the regulator if the alternator is ok, since it's external to the alt. I have a Chrysler 318 in mine, but I'm on alternator no. 3 or 4 because I was a total d___a_s about the battery switch while underway and fried the diodes. Have learned since then. I do know that I have to "goose" my throttle in neutral to get the regulator to open up while cruising at low rpms and start charging the batteries. There are limit settings on it that can be adjusted, I think.....but then again I'm the one frying alternators so just take what I say with a grain of salt!

randyp wrote: about the battery switch while underway and fried the diodes.

what is suppose to be done with switch underway? turned off?

Turning it off will fry it . Best not to turn the switch when running the engine , although you can switch batteries , just never switch to OFF when the engine is running

thank god Ive been doing it correctly LOL Past 5 years I have never touched the switch underway in the lil boat, Never will now good to know, thanks

Yup. What Prowlerfish said. Been there, done that a coupla-three times in my early days......Installed an auto charging relay which combines the house and engine batteries automatically and disconnects them automatically to isolate the engine battery. Now I don't touch the battery switch......EVER. Just leave it in "2" (house battery bank), and fugadaboudit. I can overide the ACR and combine that batteries if the engine bank does run out of juice for some reason.

hmmm more to learn!!! my darn brain is melting,,,, but I dont want to miss out, can you send me link to this device so I can add it to my library for later reference? thanks!

Check out blueseas.com for ACR and a bunch of other electrical stuff. They have good tech help on line and via phone and a lot of diagrams you can download. I installed the ACR in 2008 for our NYS Canal Trip (4 weeks) and it did not let me down, and has been fine since.

I just bought an electronic monitor for my inverter's battery bank because my electronics guy recomended it, that was 175$, He didnt speak of this but makes sence. I have a stock pile of electronics under my beds now, they are going to be out dated before they get installed LOL. gotta love "BOAT"

thanks Randy! your always a good help to me when you chime in!!!

I let my brother fiddle with the inverter and i believe he was switching from house batt to start batt to all etc etc. well after that volt gauge shows 17 volts .. hence regulator . talked to Bob at Beacon and he says i can but if i mess it up he has a alternator waiting for me....