We developed an 'interesting' electrical fault on our trip down the
Wey, which may be of instructional use. And I mean 'interesting' in
the sense of the old Chinese curse.
Coming out of Guildford I noticed that the volts across the engine
battery were running at more than 16 volts, while the cabin battery
was showing just over 12.
A quick perusal of the electrics showed that a wire from what I
subsequently learnt was the alternator relay that charged the cabin
batteries had burnt through - as had the relay.
My suspicion was that this meant there was something wrong with the alternator.
I'm neither a mechanical whizz, nor completely clueless, but I decided
this was a case for outside assistance.
Ted at Farncombe Boat House agreed with my diagnosis, and suggested
that we limp there as we had probably already done all the damage.
He removed the alternator and sent it to local experts for testing,
but after running it for some hours it seemed fine.
By coincidence one of the people in the alternator suppliers once
worked with boats and said that he had once had these symptoms caused
by a faulty battery - probably a shorted cell.
This indeed turned out to be the case, and a new engine starter
battery and new alternator relay was all that was required. Given we
have a Vetus that only accepts a limited range of (expensive)
Mitsubishi alternators this was a relief, although it took nearly 3
days to get this sorted. Breaking down just before turn round day is
not advised, although Farncombe were extremely hospitable and Ted was
very helpful.
I thought I would share this as left to my own devices I would
probably have spent a lot of money on a new alternator and stilll not
fixed it. So if you have excess volts, don't always blame the voltage
regulator o the alternator.
We had to change crew the next day, but I gather Laura Colleen is now
happily on the Thames, and all the electrics are still fine. I hope
the supply to the cabin batteries burnt out before the excess voles
could do much damage.
Nigel Stanley
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