I'm still having problems.
I know I've mentioned this in various other threads but even I can't keep up with what's the current state so I'm hoping if I write it all down, something might click with someone or even me at some point.
History:
3 weeks ago in Coventry I noticed with the engine running the volts showing on all 4 of my meters (smartgauge, solar and 2 ones on usb outlets) were only 12.5 give or take. Usually, it's 13.7 ish or higher as the day goes on.
Assumed the aux alternator (175amp) with 4900 hours on had packed in. Went to Machine mart to get a genny asap as punters were arriving within the hour. Phoned Engines plus to order replacement Alternator and had it sent ahead to Market Harbrough (6 days away). Connected a cable from little Alt to big bank but that didn't work as the starter battery sits lower than the aux batteries - ergo, nowt happened. SO Limped to MH with genny on the back charging all the batts as we went - not ideal but it did the trick using the invertrer /charger (combi) set at 40amps give or take as that was all the genny could power.... had to keep turning the fridge/freezer off as it's mains and on start up, made the genny cut out.
In MH, removed the old alt and fitted a new one - along with new belt. New one is 230 amp. That worked ok for 1 day and then stopped.
Took boat into a boat yard down the arm and had a nice chap with tatoos and no teeth test it with his meter and he agreed nothing coming out.
Ordered a new one again - sent ahead to Braunston Marina, and arranged to return the faulty one in due course.
Fitted new one when it arrived last Friday - Nothing.... TOOK ALL 3 alternators to a testing place (via a cab) in Daventry... ALL worked and the chap said how much over the odds I'd paid for the new ones...
Back on the boat I began looking at what else could be wrong. tested voltage either side of current isolation switch between alt and batteries and both sides were the same - until engine start and then one dropped to zero.
Decided switch was buggered so off I went midland chandlers and bought 2 new ones (they didn't have a like for like replacement ) of a lower rating but that might have been ok. )exisitng one was 300 constant, 500 peak) - ended up with 250 constant 300 peak).
All worked for a coulple of days and we made our way up the Ashby.
Had a night on shorline and a bath at Trinity and set off again.
After lunch Sat noticed volts down again - just after fridge had kicked in during use of the toaster... assumed new switch couldn't handle that. on Stopping, and re-toggling switch a couple of times then starting back up again, it appeared to work.
Yesterday, chugged in to Rugely and stopped at Tescos only to discover on start up again, low volts and no output when coffee machine used/frige booting up.
SO I made up a new cable as short as possible and have gone straight from Alt to Batteries (new cable 50mm 2 - the old one was only 40mm 2) ... stuck clamp metre on and it seemed to work.
I'm wondering if having the Invertor on standby mode (turns on when the fridge needs it) is messing with things .... or the solar connected...
it "stopped working again" briefly but when I put the invertor onto "normal" (ie draw 6 amps to be on ) mode, the volts rose as expected and stayed there... with the smartguage slowly creeping up again.
We cruised all afternoon with invertor on "normal" and by tie up last night (in Stone back on Shoreline cause I was panicking) they bank was showing 98% from 77 in Rugely.
Could it be that even though the alt is supposed to be self exciting, it doesn't do so unless a reasonable amount of power is being drawn? Could the solar be messing up the voltage so it doesn't recognize the drop when say the toaster is turned on?
I'm at the end of my tether now and still have a week of this 3 week trip left with punter and another one joining for the return back from Marple.