Nick,
If the voltage sensing line on the alternator is disconnected, that can
lead to the alternator (via the voltage regulator) putting out high
voltage and damage can occur from overheating. Not sure why someone
would put a switch in this wire if that's what it is, as you would never
want to run without it.
Neil Gallagher
Weatherly, 35-1
Glen Cove, NY
On 6/20/2025 11:56 PM, Floersch.net via CnC-List wrote:
Hi folks!
Our CNC ’34 from 1978 … has an Atomic 4 engine.
Last summer we finally installed solar panels! What a relief! Before that the
only way the battery charged was via the alternator.
Now our battery is always (basically) getting charged… even if we do not use
the boat for a week.
Cool.
So the question is this… the previous owner told us that we MUST turn on these
"various switches" to enable the alternator charger system prior to using the
engine. The vague statement was along the lines of “if you do not flip on the switches,
then the alternator won’t charge the batteries, and ‘it’ will burn out.”
We are not sure what “it” is or if this makes any sense. I can understand,
kinda, if the alternator is generating electricity and has no sink to dump it
into… maybe that is bad. But a battery is not an unlimited sink for the energy,
so I can’t imagine how flipping the switches saves from burn-out of some
component.
Does anyone else have some sort of switch or set of switches that must be
turned on before you start the motor to make sure your alternator is happy? Or
did we misunderstand the previous owner?
(Yes I realize there is a lot f vagueness to this… but perhaps it will make
sense to someone, so I’m putting it out there to see what you throw back at me
:)
Nick in Vermont
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