OR75 Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 (edited) Charging voltage started reading high (up to 15.2V - my understand is that it should be in the 13.4 to 14.2V ) any idea why would that happen ? Voltage regulator failing ? Alternator ? i have an OECO voltage regulator. Not sure they can be adjusted. What replacement options do I have if it came to that ? 77 M20J Edited April 19, 2018 by OR75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 Strange, my 77J started doing that too. It can only be the voltage regulator. The only thing that can make the alternator put out too much current is to have too much field current. No short (outside of the VR) can cause that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR75 Posted April 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 11 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said: Strange, my 77J started doing that too. It can only be the voltage regulator. The only thing that can make the alternator put out too much current is to have too much field current. No short (outside of the VR) can cause that. I have two Voltage measurements: the stormscope and the engine monitor (Insight G2) The engine monitor read about 0.5V higher than the stormscope. stormscope is around 14.2-14.7 while the EM is in the 14.7-15.2 range Anyway, don't want to overheat my battery so will be looking at a new VR or tuning the OECO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 20 minutes ago, OR75 said: I have two Voltage measurements: the stormscope and the engine monitor (Insight G2) The engine monitor read about 0.5V higher than the stormscope. stormscope is around 14.2-14.7 while the EM is in the 14.7-15.2 range Anyway, don't want to overheat my battery so will be looking at a new VR or tuning the OECO Mine just does it intermittently. Usually just after startup. Sometimes trips the overvoltage. Never seen it after that. It sounds like yours is constantly high. I would verify the reading at the battery with a good VOM before you spend all the money and hassle to change the VR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR75 Posted April 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 agree. a two persons job but easy top do. But i don't expect that my 2 V indicators in the cockpit are wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylw314 Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 Could it be a dirty or loose connection at the voltage-sensing terminal on the voltage regulator? That would be the cheapest to fix so makes sense to check before replacing anything... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said: My OEM OECO VR started acting up with similar symptoms about 10 years ago. We replaced it with a Zeftronics VR and all has been well ever since. The cost was minimal but access was a challenge. It is real easy if you completely remove the right radio stack. Pull all the radios, unscrew the connectors from the racks and push them out the back. Take the six screws out of the rack and voilà the VR right in front of you! Edited April 19, 2018 by N201MKTurbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 It is real easy if you completely remove the right radio stack. Pull all the radios, unscrew the connectors from the racks and push them out the back. Take the six screws out of the rack and voilà the VR right in front of you! My 78J VR is in the copilot footwell. OP be sure to check the ground on the VR as well, takes 2 to make a circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 33 minutes ago, teejayevans said: My 78J VR is in the copilot footwell. OP be sure to check the ground on the VR as well, takes 2 to make a circuit. So is mine. It is on a shelf with the avionics master relay and ammeter shunt. It is very difficult to get to from the top or bottom. Removing the radio rack gives compleat and easy access. You just have to decide what is a bigger PITA, fighting to get it out without removing the radios, or removing the radios. Once you figure out how to take the connectors out of the radio racks, it isn't that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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