My hydrogenerator is charging less than usual, what’s happen?

it is most probably a connection problem. Please check all plugs between the hydro and converter, and between converter and batteries. Make sure there is no sign of corrosion. Make sure that the cable between the hydro and converter is not cut or pinched. Two diagnostic tests to do at the pontoon :

1. Description
This test is intended to check your installation without going at sea

For a POD model the boat must be out of water
You will need a cordless drill and a hex bit 4mm
You will need someone else to check the instruments while your rotating the shaft

2. Procedure

-    make sure that battery is not at full charge
-    disconnect the solar panels from converter
-    unmount the propeller from the hydrogenerator
-    mount a similar screw at shaft end (CHC M5x20)
-    rotate the shaft clockwise with an electric screwdriver
-    observe converter LEDs and boat amp-meter



3. Attended results
-    the drill should force a little but rotate smoothly
-    the converter LEDs should switch from stand-by mode (colored pulsations green to red depending of battery voltage) to charge mode (fix color purple)
-    the amp-meter should show a 3 to 10A production in 12V (half less in 24V), depending on which hydrogenerator model you rotate (500W, 600W, 300W)



4. Possible problems
A    the drill rotates with strong vibration and/or the converter indicates a 2-red-flashes error : a phase is probably disconnected or miss-connected. Please refer to page related to « 2 red flashes » problem
B    same symptoms but with 1-red-error and the converter # is inferior to 0082 : a phase is probably disconnected or miss-connected. Your converter may also need an update to correct the error code. Please contact us
C    the LEDs are indicating a charge but the boat amp-meter doesn’t show anything :
check that the converter is connected to the good battery bank
check that the converter is plugged on the good side of the shunt
D    external charge balancer : if the converter is connected to an external divider, this can prevent sometimes the converter to start-up. Please contact us

Second test to do:

1. Description
This test is intended to check alternator woundings and magnets integrity

2. Procédure

THIS TEST MUST BE CONDUCTED WITH HYDROGENERATOR OUT OF WATER

-       Disconnect the hydrogenerator from its converter
-        Shaft should be easy to turn without sticking points (i.e. Torque < 0,3Nm)
-        Short 2 phases among the 3. (If an external plug is mounted, man can use a bit of wire to short the contacts )
-        Turn the shaft by hand. You should feel sticking points
-        Repeat operation for the 2 others phases combinations.

       
3.   Possible problems
A    There is still stickings points even when wires are not short -->1 phase is short, check cable integrity
B    Shaft is easy to turn and there is no sticking points --> 1 wire is cut, check cable integrity
C    Shaft is difficult to turn and there is no sticking points --> all phases are short, check cable integrity