Maybe I’m thinking I have a problem when I really don’t. Dunno.
Is it possible the regulator is going bad? Or something else?
2003 Mercury 125 ELPTO #0T745549 (Tracker motor)
Out on the water today….(3rd time the boat has been in the water this spring) and I noticed my volt meter was sitting at a somewhat lower level than 12V. Regardless of engine RPM the gauge needle never moves off this point ….see picture. I’m thinking it used to go up to about 13 volts.
Tachometer is working fine.
New voltage regulator in August of 2021 OEM Merc
Starting battery is in good shape but seems to take longer to charge than the trolling motor batteries. Just the opposite of what the usual charging is.
Battery showed 12+ volts on a digital meter when I got home.
Right after the battery was charged this evening a digital volt meter showed 13.3 at the battery and the gauge on the dash showed (what I think) would be 12 volts. (the line just to the left of the 13 on the gauge in the attached picture)
The dash gauge shows a little over 13 when the battery is on the charger.
My son-in-law did install the starting battery for me a few weeks ago (bad shoulder kept me from lifting that high) he said he did accidently hooked the cables up backwards briefly. Nothing was switched on.
Current regulator/rectifier physically looks fine.
Any ideas? Or am I just thinking I have a problem when in all actuality I don't.
Thanks!
volt meter.jpg