Ready, set, charge

With no output from the charging system on the project boat’s replacement diesel engine, the PBO team dismantle the system and fit an external alternator. David Pugh reports

Last month, we persuaded Hantu Biru’s replacement engine, a BMW D7 diesel, to start. All seemed well mechanically, but there was no output from the charging system. The D7 was originally equipped with a generator consisting of permanent magnets arranged around the inner perimeter of the flywheel and static coils attached to the engine casing. This generated around 25A, but was notoriously unreliable. A few simple tests showed that ours was no exception. On investigation, it transpired that one or more of the encapsulated coils had shorted out. It might have been possible to find replacements, but given the system’s reputation we decided to dispense with the old generator and work out a way to fit an external alternator. Four locations are possible. The starter handle socket and camshaft we discounted because they…

You're reading a preview of

Practical Boat Owner (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2015

DiscountMags is a licensed distributor (not a publisher) of the above content and Publication through Zinio LLC. Accordingly, we have no editorial control over the Publications. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including those made in Publications offered on our website, are those of the respective author(s) or publisher(s) and not of DiscountMags. DiscountMags does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or usefulness of all or any portion of any publication or any services or offers made by third parties, nor will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in any Publication, or your use of services offered, or your acceptance of any offers made through the Service or the Publications. For content removal requests, please contact Zinio.