Alternator
Under normal circumstances, the starter battery would wear down
after being used so often to generate a spark for the engine. This
isn’t an ideal setup because a strong battery is needed for continual
operation. A weak battery does no good out on the water. The
alternator connected to the serpentine belt takes care of recharging
the battery(ies). As the serpentine belt rotates the pulley, a magnet
inside a coil of electric wire rotates with the pulley. The rotation of
this magnet inside the coil of wire generates a current which is the
used to recharge the battery.
However, in an effort to conserve battery life, the starter battery
should still be turned off after every trip and turned on at the start of
every trip. This limits the drain on the battery while the boat is not in
use. The alternator will only recharge the battery while the engine is
running. So if the battery is drained before it can provide the initial
spark to the engine to start the serpentine belt turning, the alternator
cannot charge the battery system.
Fuses
Your engine also comes equipped with fuses that will burn out when
engine components attempt to draw more power than the piece of
equipment or wiring can handle. When the fuse blows, it breaks
the circuit, and electricity stops fl owing. Before replacing the fuse,
investigate the cause of the problem, and why the equipment was
overworked. Some engines feature a fuse box, while others feature in-
line fuses, while still others feature a mixture of both. Refer to your
engine owner’s manual for complete details on your electrical system.
3-9
Engine & Controls
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