I have a Balmar 710 Alternator (110 Amp.) with a Balmar ARS 5 Regulator on my M35C engine that has been in place since 2004. Works well but my RPM Gage hasn't worked well for ages. Sometimes it works for a few minutes when I turn on the engine then it goes permanently to zero. It's off 98% of the time? Since it works sometimes, I assume it's a bad cable or connection. Anyone have a wiring diagram for this combination or some suggestion? I figure I'll replace the pertinent wires and. Clean up the connections. If it still doesn't work I'll replace the gauge.
Enrique
Talisman 1998 MK2 Hull #1673
Sailing Port Stonnington, CT
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
When using multi-stage regulators and batteries that are fully charged, the amplitude of the alternator stator pulses will often be insufficient to drive a tachometer, especially if the TACH output of the alternator is used to directly drive the tachometer. This is especially noticeable when plugged into shore power for some time and the battery charger has topped off the batteries. Starting the engine draws down the battery a bit, the alternator puts it back and then tapers down (unless it has some other work to do) to a very low output resulting in weak signals to the tachometer.
One way to verify this is after your tachometer has gone down to zero, turn on a significant number of DC power drains. Naturally during this test you don't want to have any other charge sources contributing at the same time - just your engine. Turn on all of your interior and exterior lights and wait a few minutes. If you tachometer starts to register, then it's a good chance this is the cause.
Let me know if this is the case and we'll proceed from this point.....
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Thanks Nick. It will have to wait til Spring. Already winterized my engine.
Interesting concept. Balmar is pretty popular alternator and regulator that many of our fellow 36 owners must have. Is this a common problem then?
Enrique
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
It's a common problem when folks use a multi-stage regulator but don't use the regulator's tachometer output, instead leaving the tachometer connected to the alternator's stator/ac terminal. The correct way to connect the ARS-5 in order to use this feature is to wire alternator's stator/ac terminal to the ARS-5 "stator in" terminal and then wire the ARS-5 "tachometer out" terminal to your tachometer.
If you inspect your wiring and find that the ARS-5 is wired up the correct way, then I'm barking up the wrong tree and we'll have to continue this in the spring. Whimsea is coming out of the water next Tuesday and getting winterized as well. A sad time for us who live in the arctic states.
Enrique, please consider adding a bit of detail about your boat (year, rig, keel) and your sailing area to your signature.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor