New batteries + switch, radio, sub, amp now charging issues.

lindeman23 · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 7:10 pm

Two weeks ago I installed a second battery. It is an Interstate (800 cranking amp same as the first) battery with a switch. . Last week I took it out and the boat ran great. Last Friday I had a Sub, AMP, Radio, and 4 speakers installed. So today I put it in the water and I'm cruising about 30mph and the boat starts to cut in/out. I smell something burning like a rubber smell. I immediately stop the boat and pull the cover off the motor. I don't see any smoke or smell anything. No sure exactly what it was. I thought that maybe the lanyard wasn't all the way on so i fix that and continue on my way. The motor continued to cut in/out. I switch the batter from 1 to 2 to ALL and vise verse and nothing seems to make it quit. We finally make out way to our favorite spot on the river and drop anchor. We spend all day listening to the radio starting it ever hour or so to charge the battery without any problem. We head about 20 min down river to a restaurant for dinner and don't have a single issue. We have dinner come out and the boat wont start. I flip the switch from 1 to 2 and it starts right up. Drive about 30 min back to the ramp with no issues and the radio on. I looked at my alternator and it looks as if I have a 65AMP alternator. Now that seems kind of small as my truck has a 130 AMP alternator. Anyone have any thought or suggestions. Did i blow up my 15 year old alternator? And if so can I replace with an automotive alternator? Can I also increase the AMPS to a 105 AMP alternator? Can someone help? Thanks

ric · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 8:18 pm

65 amp is not big enough for all that.

pet575 · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 12:28 am

Need to go with a high output marine alt. regular automotive one will not be shielded to guard against spark in closed bilge area.

lindeman23 · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 6:17 am

Any suggestion for where to buy a higher AMP alternator? And how do I know what one will fit?

lindeman23 · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 2:27 pm

Took off the alternator and took it to Autozone today to have it tested. It failed right away. So I need a new alternator. Do you guys think that they fact that my alternator being 15 years old just couldn't handle it and burnt up, or should I really try and get a bigger alternator? I looked online today and a few other website threads said that Ill need to also upgrade the wiring from the alt. to the starter. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm considering just replacing with a 65 amp and seeing how that does.

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 3:51 pm

If you want all that equipment, I would go bigger and go marine.

lindeman23 · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 4:01 pm

jvthundercat wrote:

If you want all that equipment, I would go bigger and go marine.

Any suggestions on where to get one? Or what one I should get?

Sanmiam · **Joined:** Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:05 pm **Posts:** 84

I would grab the part number off the alternator, and search "Volvo Penta [insert part number here] high output"

Should give you some sort of Delco replacement for it. From what I have seen you can pick them up off Amazon for ~100 with 100+ amp output.

ric · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 5:12 pm

or you can always find a high amp automotive alt of the same style and swap outer casings with the busted marine alt. The ignition proof is the screen on the outside shell. Nothing else internally is different, other then being higher amp.

lindeman23 · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 6:22 pm

Found a local place that had a 90 AMP alternator. Bought it and was going to try and install tonight. Old alternator was a 3/4 wire. New alternator is a 2 wire. Thought that it would be easy to just run a new large wire to starter but after looking at it the wire goes into what looks like an electrical box first then down to the starter. My question is for 1 the existing wire looks pretty thick. 2. will the increased amperage of the new alternator mess up anything in the electrical box mounted on the exhaust manifold? I'm just wondering since my boat is EFI that it will mess something up. I'm about out of options. 3. I was told that third wire isn't needed anymore and to tap that off?

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New batteries + switch, radio, sub, amp now charging issues.

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