Dick Geving
Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2010
- Messages
- 19
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Ebb Tide
- Vessel Make
- Ocean Alexander 38
So I retired and now I have lots of time on the boat. Wife likes it quiet at home so I am often asked to leave. Lucky me, I can go to the boat. It's given me some time to look at a problem I have had for a long time. The starboard tach. Ocean Alexander 38 twin Cummins 5.9's. Magnetic tach sensor on the flywheel. Both alternators are 120 amp run by Balmar AR5 regulators externally. The alternators are new, and the problem was there with the previous alternator. Tach's are VDO.
Now comes my issue. Port tach works as it should. Starboard tach has a mind of it's own. If the boat is pluged into shore power the stbd tach stays on zero. If I unplug the shore tie and wait for a couple of minutes the tach will come on. If I am underway and start the generator the starboard tach goes to zero. The alternator is still putting out solid power. I do have an inverter, but I have tried it with the inverter off and on, makes no difference. I replaced the oil pressure sensor to no avail. It's just one of those irritating things that you watch while your underway and wonder about what the hell isi wrong. Not that anything ever goes wrong on a boat!
Now comes my issue. Port tach works as it should. Starboard tach has a mind of it's own. If the boat is pluged into shore power the stbd tach stays on zero. If I unplug the shore tie and wait for a couple of minutes the tach will come on. If I am underway and start the generator the starboard tach goes to zero. The alternator is still putting out solid power. I do have an inverter, but I have tried it with the inverter off and on, makes no difference. I replaced the oil pressure sensor to no avail. It's just one of those irritating things that you watch while your underway and wonder about what the hell isi wrong. Not that anything ever goes wrong on a boat!