What is this in my engine bay?

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Swenns Dad

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Hi all. Firstly hi, I’m a new member (and new boat owner)... found this form useful to date.

Anyway, I have a bit of kit in my engine bay that I don’t recognise, and hoping someone could identify what it is/it’s function etc.

Unfortunately I don’t seem to have an option to add a photo to this thread, so I’ll do my best to describe it.

It’s a metallic block, about 5x2 inches with a plastic/bakerlight top. On one end, the alternator output cable is attached to it, along with a large gauge positive cable (assume this goes to battery). On the other end, there’s also a large gauge ground cable, which is attached directly to the alternator securing arm.

So, this is something to do with power generation... but unsure what it is or why it’s there.

The reason I ask is I’ve recently had problems with the battery not charging (10.2vdc out of alternator), the cause being the connection between the ground cable on this unit and alternator was bad, which seemed to be pulling the voltage down on the IGN in supply to alternator. Since I’ve improved this ground cable connection, I’m getting good battery voltage at the IGN cable and 14.2vdc out of the alternator....

So I’m now curious what this block is..?

For info, I have a 1997 Beta 722.

Any advice welcome (inc how to add a photo).
 
Swenns Dad said:
Hi all. Firstly hi, I’m a new member (and new boat owner)... found this form useful to date.

Anyway, I have a bit of kit in my engine bay that I don’t recognise, and hoping someone could identify what it is/it’s function etc.

Unfortunately I don’t seem to have an option to add a photo to this thread, so I’ll do my best to describe it.

It’s a metallic block, about 5x2 inches with a plastic/bakerlight top. On one end, the alternator output cable is attached to it, along with a large gauge positive cable (assume this goes to battery). On the other end, there’s also a large gauge ground cable, which is attached directly to the alternator securing arm.

So, this is something to do with power generation... but unsure what it is or why it’s there.

The reason I ask is I’ve recently had problems with the battery not charging (10.2vdc out of alternator), the cause being the connection between the ground cable on this unit and alternator was bad, which seemed to be pulling the voltage down on the IGN in supply to alternator. Since I’ve improved this ground cable connection, I’m getting good battery voltage at the IGN cable and 14.2vdc out of the alternator....

So I’m now curious what this block is..?

For info, I have a 1997 Beta 722.

Any advice welcome (inc how to add a photo).
Click to expand...

Some sort of Smart Regulator it doesn't have any letters on it does it?
 
It’s not what I’d think of as a ‘smart’ regulator.... but may well be! The only writing in it, that I can see is GRD at the ground terminal.
It looks old.... if I could add a photo it would help.
 
Just replied... but can’t see it! Anyway, no real identifying marks on it and looks very old... so doubt it’s a smart anything.... but who knows!
 
Swenns Dad said:
Hi all. Firstly hi, I’m a new member (and new boat owner)... found this form useful to date.

Anyway, I have a bit of kit in my engine bay that I don’t recognise, and hoping someone could identify what it is/it’s function etc.

Unfortunately I don’t seem to have an option to add a photo to this thread, so I’ll do my best to describe it.

It’s a metallic block, about 5x2 inches with a plastic/bakerlight top. On one end, the alternator output cable is attached to it, along with a large gauge positive cable (assume this goes to battery). On the other end, there’s also a large gauge ground cable, which is attached directly to the alternator securing arm.

So, this is something to do with power generation... but unsure what it is or why it’s there.

The reason I ask is I’ve recently had problems with the battery not charging (10.2vdc out of alternator), the cause being the connection between the ground cable on this unit and alternator was bad, which seemed to be pulling the voltage down on the IGN in supply to alternator. Since I’ve improved this ground cable connection, I’m getting good battery voltage at the IGN cable and 14.2vdc out of the alternator....

So I’m now curious what this block is..?

For info, I have a 1997 Beta 722.

Any advice welcome (inc how to add a photo).
Click to expand...

You cannot add photos as a new user. I think 5 posts is the qualifying number to get this and other privileges

Are you saying that this "bit of kit" only has two connections, with heavy cables to alternator and battery on one and a heavy ground connection on the other ?
 
Hi there. There are 3 connections on this block. One is the output from the alternator, the two others are heavy gauge (maybe c.6mm2) cables (one ground, attached to alternator and the other is a brown (assume live) which I assume goes to batteries) .

Cheers
 
It’s a Denso 16241-64011, which I believe is internally regulated.

Again I’d love to put a picture up... but need to get my post count up!
 
Hmm, strange.

I see why you say that, but an inverter would change DC in, to AC out.... and the output from this unit (brown cable, which assume goes to battery) is the same as the output of the alternator (c.14.2vdc).

The red and black cable you see is the output from the alternator which goes straight to a stud on the rear of the unit. Only other cables on it are the thick pos and ground.

Interestingly, the ground cable you see it bolted into alternator attachment arm... but the unit itself isn’t bonded. So I assume the ground cable is binding the unit to the engine (opposed to other way around).

So maybe it is a regulator?
 
Have you mentioned the make and model number of the alternator? (I've looked and I can't see where you have)
 
Swenns Dad said:
Hmm, strange.

I see why you say that, but an inverter would change DC in, to AC out.... and the output from this unit (brown cable, which assume goes to battery) is the same as the output of the alternator (c.14.2vdc).

The red and black cable you see is the output from the alternator which goes straight to a stud on the rear of the unit. Only other cables on it are the thick pos and ground.

Interestingly, the ground cable you see it bolted into alternator attachment arm... but the unit itself isn’t bonded. So I assume the ground cable is binding the unit to the engine (opposed to other way around).

So maybe it is a regulator?
Click to expand...

I think you need to trace all of the wires and be certain of the connections.

John
 
Aye, will do. That said, there are only 3 connections on it... power in, power out and ground!

I’ll let you know when I confirm where pos out goes to (assume straight to battery bank).
 
First thought was a diode split charger, then a VSR (volt sensitive relay) but I suspect looking at its age it would be a charge regulator used back in the days before alternators when dynamos were in use......but then again
 
You need to trace the brown cable. If it goes directly to the engine start battery and the cable going to the alternator is connected to the B+ terminal, i'd disconnect the "thing" and connect a 10mm csa red cable from the B+ terminal of the alternator to the battery cable terminal of the starter motor.

Before making any changes though, we need to be 100% certain of where that brown wire goes.
 
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