3 way switch off, motor running

:D Ok,you kids are too sweet! I give up easier than you guys. I have an old volt meter here & a newer one still down in the valley that Ill pick up while Im there. The freezer is allready full of crab so when I return Ill reread these posts & attack this with renewed enthusiasm. A break is what I need.Electricity makes my head hurt. Im lucky you kids are there. Thank you again! Vern
 
Tom,checked out your album.Its jealous I am.Alaska is georgous but looks a bit chilly. About me & electricity, I have a basic knowledge & could rewire a trailer.Its when relays,thyristors,diodes,the unfamiliar boat wireing,anything electronic,outboard motors that have things like engine control modules and large masses of multi colored wires that I fall into that black sucking hole of dispare. Ill start motor today & get readings with my old analog tester, of batteries chargeing & at rest. I have a batt. condition guage I intalled a couple of years ago that reads in percentages. the guage needle slams hard to the max with motor running with 3 way switch in each position. Vern
 
Tested batteries.motor off ,both 1&2 read 13v. Motor on ,1&2 read14v.The console voltage guage read 12.5 motor off for #1,13.5 for #2, & motor on was15.5 on #1 &15.25 on #2. The battery condition guage reads 100% ,motor on & off for both batts. Seems like console guage high on charged batts with motor on. I recall maybe down around 12 to 13v before I switched 3 way to off in august. Vern
 
I am going to ask the question again--what are you using to measure the battery voltage? Is this a digital volt meter on a portable unit from Radio Shack or Walmart, or an analogue meter which has a needle and red/yellow/green sectors, with voltage. Or are you relying on a depth sounder or chart plotter?

A lead acid battery, without a battery charger on it--at rest--that is after several hours off any charger or battery draw, will read at 12.6 to 12.7 volts--no more. Each battery is composed of 6 cells in series. Each cell will produce about 2.1 volts (other battery types produce different voltages).
 
I used an old analog voltage meter ive had for years.Understanding the unreliability of it ive just borrowed my brothers hi tech expensive digital meter & will go at it again upon my return to the north coast after xmas. I brought my motor manual down with me & read there was a self diognostic code that should flash a code on the check engine light for rectifier/regulator and overcharging. No such code ever flashed. Now im starting to think this may be related to the engine electrical failure in august when I came in on the kicker.I lost power to start motor & tilt motor & the engine died.Ineed to take off the elect. parts holder to get to the two ground wire bolts & check them. Vern
 
Vern,
Without knowing your wiring diagram,BUT, from this last note...

Check to see if you may have a broken or corroded ground wire on the engine in question.

Art
 
Hi kids. Home again! Tested the batteries with the digital meter.Turned on the cabin lights to pull off surface charge first.#1 was 12.5,#2 also 12.5.Console volt meter a hair lower but in agreement. Started the motor & both batteries read 14.9. console meter at 15.5 & digital reading on the contacts at 14.8. Motor at idle. Shut motor off & both batts at 13.3, console meter agrees & digital reading on console cantacts agree. On the water the console meter always reads 15.5 no matter the speed. Ill start trying to reach those ground wires on the motor next. Im sure that my original motor quitting problem & no power to tilt & start will eventually rear their ugly heads again. Vern
 
Tested the resistance on the rectifier/regulator this morning. The manual says to test with a suzuk digital meter or readings will differ,& differ they did. Instead of 20-50,I got 0 on all contacts. Chargeing coil readings right on so I guess I have been overcharging for the last few trips. Vern
 
Good way to keep you going to the Suzuki shop. A good old Simpson type analog meter will work fine. Also, most modern digital meters have a particular setting for looking at diodes. See if you can find a friend with a good Simpson analog meter, the older type.
 
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