On a recent move to a new marina, I noted that one of my two engine alternators was not working. To keep both start batteries + the house battery charged, I combined the two start batteries using the battery switches - set to both - and the house battery with a jumper cable.
My Port alternator did not kick in until the batteries' charge were just above 12 VDC on the voltage guage. Then, the alternator produced 14 vdc charge to all batteries.
I was pretty happy, except, I wondered why the alternator did not kick in at a higher voltage that just above 12 vdc.
Am I unnecessarily worried. Is this normal performance, or should I replace both alternators?
My Port alternator did not kick in until the batteries' charge were just above 12 VDC on the voltage guage. Then, the alternator produced 14 vdc charge to all batteries.
I was pretty happy, except, I wondered why the alternator did not kick in at a higher voltage that just above 12 vdc.
Am I unnecessarily worried. Is this normal performance, or should I replace both alternators?
