Borderline red

[steplift20]

My volt gauge needle goes up to 15 volts/borderline. My tach is working so I’m thinking it’s my voltage regulator. It’s a 1988 150 mercury black max. What do you guys think?

[phatdaddy]

When i had my 150 Black Max, it always ran on the high side. I ask around and was told those stators ran higher voltage because they put out so few amps.

Have you checked your batteries, make sure you re not losing water. If you have a GPS or bottom machine what voltage is it showing?

Hopefully, Spare will be along to give u a real answer

[steplift20]

Is spare back? I hope so but you said to check my battery’s,why? I just installed 5hem and had them charged but your not 5he only one who recommended that.
What I am going to do is hook up a multimeter to my battery and see if it’s the same that’s showing on my volt meter. And does the stator hav3 anything to do with 5he charge going high? Isn’t that what the regulator should do! I’m just asking.

[steplift20]

Is spare back? I hope so but you said to check my battery’s,why? I just installed 5hem and had them charged but your not 5he only one who recommended that.
What I am going to do is hook up a multimeter to my battery and see if it’s the same that’s showing on my volt meter. And does the stator hav3 anything to do with 5he charge going high? Isn’t that what the regulator should do! I’m just asking.

[phatdaddy]

He drops by occasionally, i think.

Always heard ,if your batteries need water, sign of overcharging. Good idea verifying the voltage, also if you have a dc amp clamp, check amps

[steplift20]

I’m go8ng to my boat tomorrow and I’m going to check the battery’s and voltage plus there was gas leaking when I shut down 5he motor from the carb area. The motor ran great but why is gas leaking? Side draft carbs? I’m going to poke around
If you or spare is in the area of Atlantic highlands. Stop by .

[dmoore]

I will tell you battery condition has a LOT to do with the issue you are experiencing. Not saying it's your problem but possible. Like was stated compare to depth/gps unit that gives a voltage reading...more accurate.

[steplift20]

My gps and fish finder doesn’t have a volt meter built in but I do have a volt meter gauge. The only way I can check it is to put a multimeter to it and monitor it as I’m running . Plus I think I told you that I have gas leaking from the front where the carbs are when I turn off 5he engine. I also have to check that too.

[steplift20]

Just got back from checking out my engine
This is what I found
Volts go up to 15 volts plus but not in the red zone.
The gas only leaks out when my engine is tilted up a little. But does not leak when it’s level.
So ? Is it ok? In think it’s good but the volts have me concerned. The gas leak, as long as it’s in the level position I’m ok. Any reply’s will be appreciated. Thanks guys .

[phatdaddy]

What was voltage at battery when u checked with multimeter? Also what is battery voltage with motor off?

[oteps]

Yep. Dont trust a gauge. Check it out with multi meter. And check without any accessories on and then with all on and lights too.

[steplift20]

At the battery before starting engine. 12.5 after starting and raving her up the volts climbed to 15.4. On my multimeter Same as the gauge

[Pipe_Dream]

At the battery before starting engine. 12.5 after starting and raving her up the volts climbed to 15.4. On my multimeter Same as the gauge

Sounds normal.

[steplift20]

Phatdaddy, 12.5 volts then when the rpm’s go up it increases to 15.4 volts. That’s normal?

[phatdaddy]

Agree with Pipe, seems ok. Now that you ve confirmed your dash gauge,keep an eye on it.

Asking this because i don t know, is there a stand alone voltage regulator on that motor? I never really understood the voodoo magic of the whole stator switch boxes electronics of that motor

[steplift20]

From what I understand is the the voltage regulator keeps the voltage at a certain level thats good enough to charge the battery but not high to cook the battery
But from what Im seeing and hearing ,15.4 volts is normal I called wagners marina and talked to a mechanic and he said its good. If the voltage regulator was bad it would just go to red. I dont know. maybe I should not look at the gauge. But I like everything to work right .

[spareparts]

two types of charging systems on old style Mercs, one had a rectifier, one has a regulator. They are pretty basic, the rectifier is used on the low amp type, its basically runs wide open, it doesn't produce enough amperage to screw anything up, but makes a lot of voltage and output is directly related to rpm. The regulator type is similar, but operates in an on/off type situation, you'll see high charging rates, then no charging till the voltage gets in the 12 volt range, then high charging. So to answer your question, sounds like its operating normal. My johnrude does the same thing, it will scare you when you're offshore and look down to notice the voltage around 12 volts idling, you rev it up and it will come up.

[steplift20]

Spareparts,first good to see your back and if you say it’s normal then that’s good enough for me.

[steplift20]

Update, two issues I was concerned with.
1st. Voltage, seems to go up to 15 volts when running 5he engine, the voltage creeps up to that 25 but was told that***8217;s normal. Ok so it***8217;s normal
2 nd. Gas was leaking from the bottom carb when tilted up a little when not running. I have three carbs that are mounted sideways and was also told that happens. They don***8217;t leak when running and I shot some carb cleaner 5hat the three carbs and I didn***8217;t see any gas leaking. So my motor is happy again. Next I hav3 to catch a dam keeper. Fluke.
Just giving an update in case anyone. Wants to know.
P.S. I love my 2 stroke. 150 mercury blackmax
Question, why do numbers appear when I put down a sentence? Like. ***8717 why?

[ctmv20]

I had a 1988 135hp merc with a similar rectifier setup and no voltage regulator and the voltage would run up as high as 16V. I was worried that it would mess with the electronics but it never did. Researched it at the time and found out that it is normal for those years with no regulator. For fun I retrofitted a voltage regulator from a later model by following some internet instruction and it kept the voltage around 14V. You should be fine leaving it as is.

[steplift20]

Mine goes to about 15.4 volts. I thought I changed the regulator years ago that fixed the problem but now the regulator that I see is a black box with a bunch of wires coming out of it.the one I installed is a silver box mounted on top of the block with only two nuts that connect the two wires.

[phatdaddy]

https://i.imgur.com/w9aEU3Bl.jpg

Steplift20 s photo

[steplift20]

What is that silver box on top
Phatdaddy was kind enough to post my picture and hopefully someone will check it out. I feel5hat I replaced it (before,voltage regulator ) but 5h3 ones I see now are a different design.

[phatdaddy]

Can u look up the model number on a Mercury parts site and see what the description of the part says

[steplift20]

I have the repair Manuel and can***8217;t find it. And I looked. I will look again. But I think I replaced it before when I was having a problem with my charging. But I can***8217;t find one like that.
The. Ones that I see all have wires coming out of it,the one I have has two nuts where you attach two wires

[spareparts]

Small silver box is rectifier used on low Amp charging systems, large box with multiple wires is a regulator used with the bigger charging systems. Of you wanted to up grade from the smaller system, it takes a different flywheel, stator, and regulator along with the wiring

[steplift20]

Why can’t I find that rectifier ? All the ones I see has a bunch of wires coming out. And does that rectifier adjust the charging out put? What I think I need is a voltage regulator.

[steplift20]

No one knows what that silver box is?

[phatdaddy]

Spare said it is a rectifier

[steplift20]

I heard what spare said but all the rectifiers I see have a bunch of wirescoming out of it,what I have ( look at picture) only has two wires going to it held in place with nuts.

[phatdaddy]

what s the model number of your motor?

[steplift20]

Serial number. OB332083.
1988
150 mercury outboard

[spareparts]

Mercury list that as a rectifier 62351A1 . Should have 3 wires coming to it, two yellows, a red, and maybe a black for ground( not always). If ithas a regulator, there will be more wires.

[steplift20]

Spare ,I have the part number 88825A7. It’s discontinued . How can I get that part?
Do you know any connections?

[spareparts]

check with CDI marine electronics or boats.net

[steplift20]

Thanks spare I did check the sites you said but the foliage regulator is the newer style. I did order one from eBay. It***8217;s a voltage r3gulator kit. I don***8217;t need the kit just the voltage regulator. It***8217;s on its way. Boats .net no good too.

[steplift20]

Boats .net unavailable the piece
Good to see you back bro