The alternator on my Volvo Penta 20/40 usually only starts charging after 3 engine starts. Sometimes it charges first time. I have checked belt tension, electrical connections and have even had the alternator serviced. It has been labelled a lazy alternator. Is it time to replace it?
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Thread: Lazy alternator
29-06-11, 10:24 #1New User
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
29-06-11, 18:14 #2Registered User
Location : Home: Kent. Boat: Chichester
- Join Date
- Jul 2002
Check the warning light circuit.
It relies on the current flowing through the warning light to provide the initial excitation.
The trouble might be in the electronic module in the control panel.
You might replace the alternator and still have the same fault.
You can't do much about the electronic module but check the wiring and all the connections between the D+/61 terminal on the alternator ( brown wire) the connections on the multi-way wiring harness ( pin 5) and the connection to the module.
See the wiring diagram in the operators manual
29-06-11, 18:16 #3
Occams razor sticky brushes?Monkey patching programmer [retired ]
29-06-11, 20:55 #4
As long as the drive is OK, an electrical problem seems most likely.
29-06-11, 21:10 #5
I had a similar problem although I got an engineer to check it. I remember him saying the bulb in the warning light has to be 3 amp for some reason (Ithink it was refered to in the earlier post. The second alternator also needed the regulator changing (the little black box attached to it) as it was putting out the wrong voltage. It may not help a lot but then again.
29-06-11, 21:31 #6
29-06-11, 23:27 #7