[C38] Two Electrical Problems

[Julian Adams]

I have two electrical problems that have been resistant to my tinkering.

1. Low voltage at the helm.  I mounted a Garmin GPS unit (4308, I think
the number is) ate the helm.   Every so often (typically when I need it
the most) the screen goes blank.  I sent it back to Garmin for service at
a cost of $500 only to receive a reply that there was nothing wrong.  A
Garmin rep. told me that it was likely low voltage at the unit and sure
enough when II measured the voltage it was 8-9 volts.   He suggested that
it may be a bad ground. I replaced the cord and resoldered connections to
no effect.   So if it is a bad ground where do I start looking?  I thought
everything was grounded though the keel.   OK, maybe I am just showing my
ignorance here?

2. This problem is unconnected to the first.   At the dock I can charge
the batteries to the usual 13-14 volts (through shore power), but when we
are cruising, and on the hook for several days the battery voltage
steadily goes down to 10 to 10.5 volts (over say 3 -4 days) irrespective
of how long I run the engine to top off the batteries.  I have removed the
alternator and had it serviced.   I also have a unit called an alternator
controller, made by a company named called "Spa Creek".   I have no manual
for it; the company no longer exists so I can find nothing on the web
about the unit.  It has a switch and a dial but no idea what the switch
and the dial do.

I would greatly appreciate some tips from on how to solve them

Julian
************************************************
Julian Adams
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
University of Michigan
 830 N. University, Ann Arbor MI 48109-1048
Tel. (734)-763-3431; Fax (734)-647-0884; Cell (734)-239-3627
E-mail julian at umich.edu
************************************************



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