So how to tell if my xr4 150 is charging?

[stlcheckmate]

I have been having serious problems, with the batteries going dead on my boat. I have a xr4 150 and like I charge the batteries when the boat is on the trailer, then when out running the boat, they go dead..how can I tell if they are charging or not?

[Bartman39]

Voltmeter should be a good way to tell... (if it shows under 12 volts then its not charging and should be more like 13-14 volts)

[j_martin]

Like Bartman says.

The XR4 charging "system" amounts to a cheap Mexican bridge rectifier,(diode) noted for failure. Most also have a zener diode "regulator" which is a 14 volt zener diode that shunts excess to ground mounted on top of the motor.

I replaced mine with a radio shack 25 amp 400 volt bridge rectifier. Then I changed it over to a 40 amp system. (That takes some machining to make the stator fit, and the flywheel cover won't fit under the cowl.) Both regulators burned out in about a month, so I am going back to the 16 amp stator and the radio shack diode.

hope it helps
John