Alternator Question - Non LR...

[Basil135]

Is there any way I can check to see if an alternator is working, without starting the motor?

Now for the answer to the question "why?"

My boat has a Holden 308 in it, and the only way I can run the motor is to put it in the water. Now, that is fine if we are spending a day on the river, but a little inconvinient just to check something... (The water is about 90mins away)

I have replaced the charge lead to the battery, as this was looking a little suspect, but cant figure a way to check the rest of the alternator, short of pulling it out & taking it to the auto sparky.

As always, any suggestions welcome.

[loanrangie]

It either needs to be running or at least removed so that an auto elec can at least check it out- unless you want to take the whole boat/trailer to the leccy's.

[abaddonxi]

Drop the belt and wind it up with a drill?

[Basil135]

Drop the belt and wind it up with a drill?

Now, thats a thought...

Bit late now, but tomorrow...

[BigJon]

Just run it. 30 seconds to a minute won't do any harm.

[Blknight.aus]

what cooling systems on the boat?

if youve got a water/water heat exhcanger you can safely run the engines for about 10 minutes a low rpms (certainly enough to check the voltage output of the alternator) without the risk of overheating the engine. If it has an ocean side pump do the next trick.

if you have an open to ocean cooling system without heat exchangers stick your garden hose up the inlet and then stuff a bike tube along side it, pump the bike tube up and then turn the hose on flat out.

if its an outboard or in/outboard stick the foot in the wheely bin and fill that up.

[Blknight.aus]

re-reading... so long as you dont have aftermarket ally heads on that donk you can run it without coolant for a couple of minutes every hour or so.

[Basil135]

Thanks for the suggestions. Might just run it up for a few seconds tomorrow arvo.

If it proves to be u.s.c., found some flashy chrome ones on Ebay...:D