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 Smoking CD player... Excessive voltage...		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts
Initially Posted - 12/17/2004 :  12:07:52  Show Profile
We missed out on the pre-parade sail with Fleet 7 due to a smoking CD player... I hope this smoking C25 virus that Jim is spreading doesn't get more of us...

As we motored out Mo noticed a cabin light was on and appropriately turned it off. Shortly afterwards the CD player starts smoking so we shutdown the motor turned off the battery switch (it was already off) and tore the interior apart to insure no fires or issues below. Once we checked everything and confirmed no fire or wiring issues. I turned us around and headed back to the dock.

Investigation and crime scene reconstruction (CSI wannabe ) determined that I was motoring with the battery switch off. This probably created a high voltage potential, and since the motor is wired into an aux fuse block that is connected to the battery switch I was feeding this to the cabin light circuit that the CD player is on.

Containment is to make sure the battery switch is on when motoring but I would like to prevent recurrance by changing the wiring setup.
I like having the ability to use the output to charge the batteries selectively but don't want to lose anymore sensitive electronics.

How do others have the outboard wired in? I have several solutions in mind but thought I would canvas here for ideas.
Doug & Mo Cavin
1990 C25 TR/WK #6010
"Valkyrie"
Edited by - Doug C. on 12/17/2004 12:09:06

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts
Response Posted - 12/17/2004 :  12:28:31  Show Profile  Visit Oscar's Homepage
Smoking is bad for your health, once again proven. Glad you contained the damage. Check the 12v bible. I suspect the regulator in your motor is not "smart".....but just puts out a certain voltage. You may have to research and install a smarter regulator, than knows when to cut off the flow.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL
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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts
Response Posted - 12/17/2004 :  12:44:27  Show Profile
CD player smoking isn't as bad for your health as wiring... The smoke coming from the unit wasn't the strong gagging type that you get from wiring .

I was thinking a regulator of some type but didn't find any info one one used with outboards. Thought maybe one intended for solar applications might work but was unsure of how it might impact the output from the outboard. It is a 1990 Johnson Sailmaster don't know if older charging circuits differ substantially from new models.
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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 12/17/2004 :  13:07:15  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
However, the smoking coming from a CD player is the expensive kind. I repaired and re-wired my boat for about $15.

Frankly I don't know why this happened. Probably the easiest and safest thing to do is disconnect the engine charging system and get a couple of flexible solar panels. Who needs live boat wiring hanging over the stern and into salt water? This is the route I went on Indiscipline. I do not use the Honda 8 HP 5 amp charging circuit. Not needed for day sails and on long cruises I have the panels.

There may be somewhat of an AC component on top of the 12v DC coming from the motor. The motor may put out quite a bit more than 12v. Either of these could have cooked the CD player. Also, it could be a coincidence. CD players are notorious for corroding inside when stored in a boat floating in a salt water environment.
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 12/17/2004 :  23:19:33  Show Profile
I'm going to be on La Barca monday afternoon and tuesday morning doing a rewire job....so, could you all please hang around your computers for a couple of hours
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Earl Landers
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts
Response Posted - 12/18/2004 :  21:31:01  Show Profile
Doug,
Just a caution on using a regulator designed for Solar Panel use, the one I use on my 5th wheel places a short across the panel input to stop the charging any time the battery voltage exceeds a preset limit. It's documentation specifically disallows use with any power source other than a solar panel. That statement was buried deep in the manual, and wasn't on the box. I'd hate to see you come back to the forum latter asking about smoke coming from your outboard, after installing a new regulator.
Best Holiday wishes to All
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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts
Response Posted - 12/20/2004 :  11:07:26  Show Profile
Thanks Earl, thats what I was afraid of with trying to use something not designed for the application.
I may go with a small start only battery on the outboard and keep the 2 house batteries isolated. I could come up with an additional switch to enable me to use the outboard charging circuit to top up the house batteries when needed. Need to ponder this one awhile to make sure I cover all the bases...

We don't typically need the charging capability, but for the Bahamas trip we were real power hogs and it was nice to have the outboard charging. Unfortunately on those trips the next destination is always straight upwind meaning lots of motor sailing , good for charging batteries, bad for sailing enjoyment.
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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts
Response Posted - 12/20/2004 :  18:50:43  Show Profile  Visit Leon Sisson's Homepage
Doug C.<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I may go with a small start only battery on the outboard and keep the 2 house batteries isolated. I could come up with an additional switch to enable me to use the outboard charging circuit to top up the house batteries when needed.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">You may want to look into a [url="http://www.yandina.com/combInfo.htm"]Battery Combiner[/url] or two. That's what I did, and I'm very pleased with the results.


-- Leon Sisson
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.