Battery charging - Yamaha 30

[Searider]

Picked up the Searider this afternoon and am thinking about an automatic bilge pump and nav lights. Possibly an echosounder.

The engine is a completely manual 3 cylinder Yamaha 30 of about 1995 vintage.

Does anybody know if this engine can charge a battery? Or, can it only light nav lights?

There is a socket on the lower front left hand corner of the engine.

Had forgotten how much fun a small boat can be!

[Nos4r2]

Any labels or anything on the socket?

It'd be easier if I could see it.

[Searider]

This is the fitting.

[Nos4r2]

It LOOKS like a charging system but some don't have rectifiers on the engine.

Start it up and hook a multimeter set to AC around 50v and see what reading you get.
Do the same with it set to DC20v
If you get a reading over about 3v on AC there's no rectifier.
You should get 12-16v open circuit voltage on DC if there's a rectifier.

[Searider]

I'll give that a go tomorrow.

I assume if I get any AC it's not much cop for charging a battery - just good for nav lights.

Regards



Duncan

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Searider

I'll give that a go tomorrow.

I assume if I get any AC it's not much cop for charging a battery - just good for nav lights.

Regards



Duncan

If it's AC you'll need a rectifier and/or regulator and battery depending on voltage before you can use it-even for nav lights.

[rickuk3]

If you need a rectifier/regulator these people supply a great unit at a good price http://www.trailtechproducts.co.uk/store/erol.html


Richard

[Jizm]

My 1995 25hp yam had the same socket. It was a DC outlet to power nav lights or charge a battery. I used it to trickle charge a motorcycle battery as the charge circuit was not big on power, about 130w if I remember correctly according to the manual. If connected directly to the nav lights then obviously the brightness is proportional to engine revs, the higher the revs the better the lights, dimming to almost nothing on tickover. Putting a battery in the circuit cures this. Don't bother with the proper plug, it's expensive. Standard 6.5mm crimps should fit the terminals.
hope this helps.
Jiz

[Searider]

Cheers Jiz,

When you say motorcycle battery - do they come in 12 volts?

I'll see what my multimeter tells me.

When you say the plug was expensive - how much?

Duncan

[Searider]

Richard - some good looking gear on that site.