T&T: Alternator overcharge?

[Paul Brannon]

After a 10 hour run yesterday I noticed that my Stdb alternator was showing
15+ volts while the Port showed approx. 13.  Dropping the stdb engine back to
idle dropped the voltage as well but as soon as the rpms were raised the volt
meter climbed back up.  After shutdown overnight and running for three hours
today the voltages were normal.  A few minutes after shutdown I measured the
temps of the alternator cases and the port was 140 and stdb 162.  There was a
faint smell of "electrical burn" during the "overcharge" state.  These
alternators are Delco internally regulated.  There were no major draws on the
battery banks and the batteries are all one year old.  If the regulator gets
hot is it possible for it to go full field?  IIf so, is it possible to replace
the internal regulator with an external one?


Paul Brannon
m/v SEASEA
1978 Gulfstar 44 MC