mastervolt alternator failure

[All_at_Sea]

Hello
My mastervolt alternator has failed and l am wondering are they fixable? What could go wrong with them? Mine is a 90844 model, date code 200403, so l assume 2003 or 4 as that is when the engine went in. 12 volt. 130 amp version. We are sailing in Denmark and can plug in when ashore but this charges the domestic batteries so my engine won't charge them, althoughg l do have another alternator for engine start, so all is not lost!

Just wondering whether to try and fix it here or bring it home at the end of August, If it is fixable presumably a good electrical engineer could do it?

 

[jwfrary]

You have checked the connections to the alpha pro regulator?

Alternators themselves are quite simple devices, brushes are probobly toast but they are pretty easy to replace so don't loose hope!

Where are you in Denmark?

 

[Poecheng]

If you have an emergency parallel switch and if you turned that 'on', would the engine start alternator not then charge the domestic bank?

You might have quite a different system though !

 

[footsoldier]

You have checked the connections to the alpha pro regulator?

Alternators themselves are quite simple devices, brushes are probobly toast but they are pretty easy to replace so don't loose hope!

If it's been in situ since 2003, then brushes are a probable suspect, together with simply loose or corroded connections. Easy DIY, but if you are unable , take it to any auto-electrician - they must exist in Denmark (ask a nearby garage who they use) - as has been said, alternators and their bits are the same all over the world.

 

[jwfrary]

If it's been in situ since 2003, then brushes are a probable suspect, together with simply loose or corroded connections.

This was the thought I had. As you say easily replaced. I'm sure a stack of perfectly good alts are chucked out just due to worn brushes

 

[All_at_Sea]

Thanks all, hopefully just the brushes. I will be in Copenhagen from 5th - 12th August so can source a local electrician then.

 

[All_at_Sea]

started working a few days ago! probably stuck brushes after all, few

 

[footsoldier]

I think it's probably a warning shot across the bows that the brushes are on their way out. When you get back to the UK, it would be wise to take it off and do a simple strip-down and inspect, either DIY or at an auto-electricians for a few quid's worth of peace of mind.

 

[All_at_Sea]

Agreed, we are going to take that off and the other one to get them checked over.