Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1983 70 hp Johnson overcharging › Re: 1983 70 hp Johnson overcharging
The CDI regulated rectifiers sure seem to make sense. Battery life and also alternator life should be extended. It’s got to be easier on the alternator to put out less current as the battery charges up. Turning on lights is guess work unless you’re running a volt meter and even then the alternator is putting out full current causing increased drag and wear on it’s internals.
It seems the zener diode method of ‘shunting’ excess voltage would also lead to the alternator putting out maximum current even when the battery is fully charged.
It’s likely minor but an alternator putting out less current is easier for the motor to turn in the case of the older belt driven types and even a stator putting out full current puts a larger load on the motor. I doubt a measurable difference in fuel mileage could be measured though.
An over voltaged electrical is going to shorten the life of lights and may not be good for GPS, etc.
This seems like a good area to adopt the latest electronic technology.