CHECK YOUR ALTERNATOR! PLEASE READ!

There is a problem coming to light here on WW about after market alternators. Primarily the ones purchased from The Battery Shack in Florida. If you have read the thread "Where do I buy a High Output Alternator" then you know something about what is happening. Grant brought up a great idea to post this thread and I am doing just that. So I give credit where credit is due!

The problem is the proper Marinizing of an alternator. Which makes it a marine alternator. Keep in mind I am NOT an expert on alternators, which is why I was taken by people selling a non-marinized alternator. I now know enough to know what a marinized alternator is and what makes it safe. Also, I am not posting this thread to roast the company I purchased my alternator from, but unfortunately they are the company that has brought this problem to light through their own errors. And they are the ones I have a problem with. We should look at the alternator from everyone who makes HO alternators.

I purchased a High Output alternator last spring to power my new system, just like alot of us on here, in the wakeboarding community and everyone else out there in the boating world. I decided to purchase from The Battery Shack. I kept having problems with their alternator, I blew the same alternator twice. I finally found out that it wasn't a marinized alternator. In fact, it was for a diesel engine, not even the proper alternator for my engine. Even after I discussed what engine I have when I was having problems. I thought honest mistake (To an extent...)and didn't think too much of it. I just received the correct alternator, properly marinized with screens in all openings and over the entire back of it. Now I havn't used it yet.....so we'll see how it does. Then to my surprise, Grant had the same problem and the same excuse. Then another person posted on here with that same problem and I think the same excuse. Grant has heard it from five different people. How many more are there?!?

Why is this such a problem?
As we all know, your engine compartment is sealed. Hence why we have blowers on our engines, to exhaust any gas fumes that may build up in the engine compartment. A spark can ignite these fumes and BOOM! The screens on the alternator is a spark arrestor to prevent a spark that could come from the alternator and ignite these fumes. Like I said, I understand an honest mistake, but we are seeing this happening over and over with the EXACT same excuse. Coincidence?!? I'll let you decide.
This is dangerous and I would like to hear from an alternator expert who might bring to light that marinizing is expensive. Maybe not, I don't know. But why is this happening.

Also, the Coast Guard requires this! Along with a spark arrestor on your air filters. If you get caught by any on the water police or coast guard and they do a safety inspection, your days on the water are over until the problem is rectified along with a hefty fine! This isn't about fines, tickets or days off the water. It's about safety!! Let's all get educated and prevent this from happening.

Please Please Please Check your alternator and pass on the information!!


(Message edited by kraig on March 07, 2005)

(Message edited by kraig on March 07, 2005)