In desperate need of some Alt. help.

[bjeremi]

I had posted this problem last year and thought I had it fixed. I have 1999 Supra Santera that I think has some sort of grounding problem. Temp gauge would spike making me think I was overheating added a secondary ground to that gauge directly to the battery kind of a band aid but problem solved. The next problem which I feel is part of the same problem is the fact that if I turn on two many accessories i.e. running lights, blower, bilge at the same time the boat dies. I mean dead no electrical power of any kind. It's like someone just yanked the battery out of the boat. After about 15-20 minutes every comes back boat fires up like nothing happened. I asked skidim.com and they said in the past they have seen grounding problems on Supras with the alternator. I remember the guy I bought the boat from saying he recently replaced the alt. So my question for you guys is can someone either say the way it's wired right or point me in a direction of some sort of wiring diagram. I have attached the best pics I could get. The only part number I could pull off of the alt. was 8RG2043 which is for the regulator I think which is Leece brand. The first pic shows the factory wiring harness with the black, orange and purple wires. The purple is not connected to anything (doesn't seem right?). It also shows the thick black wire that is mounted to the regulator and then goes around the front of the alt. and is then screwed in with a alt. mounting bolt. Pics should be clickable

http://my.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt. 1-T.jpg (http://www.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt. 1.html)


The next pic shows where the factory orange wire is mounted to the alt/regulator


http://my.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt 2-T.jpg (http://www.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt 2.html)

The last pics show the yellow, black, white, and green(this ones seems to be snipped off) coming out of the regulator and then being tied into the alt.

http://my.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt 3-T.jpg (http://www.photodump.com/bjeremi/Alt 3.html)


Boat runs perfect besides the dying thing which last year I just learned not to turn on to many things at the same time. Seems like the problem should be pretty easy to fix though. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[riveredge]

what kind of engine does this boat have?

[bjeremi]

Indmar Engine

[riveredge]

if no one replies before I get a chance, I'll look at a couple boats we have here with Indmar engines of that age and see if I can help you. I think it's still wrapped up from winter but should be coming out soon. Let us know if you figure it out, too....

[bjeremi]

Haven't quite figure it out yet.

[Morphix]

bjeremi, I ran into a similar problem earlier this year, it turned out to be my main breaker having a lose connection, so I would poke around a little bit and make sure all your connections are tight and good. Especially around the main breaker/relay area.

As for the alternator, Purple on the alternator normally goes to the Ignition.. I had a problem with mine a while back however this is where my answer was. Check out the link, figure out what Alternator you have and the rest is pretty easy to figure out.

http://www.ebasicpower.com/charge/images/alternatorwiring.jpg

One thing I have learned over my time of dealing with older boats and alternators, don't let the colors of the cables fool you. When you don't know where it goes or if the color doesn't make sense... follow that cable the whole way. It takes a bit of time but it is defnitely worth the effort.

I hope the info helps a bit.

-Morphix

[bjeremi]

Which main breaker are you referring to? the 50amp back on the engine or the one up under the ignition? Thanks!

[rwservices]

Sounds to me that it is a connection problem. When it heats up the wiring by using a lot current, the connection expands and does not make good contact. If it were the altenator then it would run your battery down. You do not have this problem because you said everything would work without having to charge your battery.

I have a 2007 gravity games and wire connections are a constant problem. Tighten the bolted connections, mainly the one that the breaker is on. On my boat the positive (red) cable comes off of the battery and goes to a switch - I have dual batteries, I found these connections loose as well, it would then not charge the second battery.

[Morphix]

bjeremi, I'm referring to the 50amp main breaker on the back of the engine.

[Morphix]

bj, btw i browsed around a bit on google and I found a guy with the exact same reg and it looks like the same altenator. You may want to confirm it but at least it will give you a bit more info.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/75332894

[bjeremi]

Damn! Just looked at skidim.com. That 50amp fuse is over $50, wonder why the hell it's so much. Oh well no one evere said owning a boat was cheap.

[bjeremi]

Thanks a bunch guys for all the help you have given me so far. Really appreciate it!

[Morphix]

It's no problem, Let us know how it goes and what you find.

[bjeremi]

Well before I got the idea of changing the circuit breaker. I did change the ignition and the rear solenoid. Took the boat our this weekend with no problems. Don't think that means the problems fixed though.

[bjeremi]

I'm still thinking it might have something to do with the alt. Maybe when he upgraded it he should have upgraded the main breaker and maybe some of the ground wires.

[Morphix]

Perhaps... When I replaced my alternator on my 84' Comp it still had some 35amp main breaker on it, I replaced it with that one 50amp main breaker from Skidim because my new alt was a 90amp alt.. so I figured I may as-well get the extra umph out of the alt. So anyways that worked out pretty well for me. All the electronical intermittent problems for me has been bad wiring/connections.