In an outboard motor, a little defect of some parts may not really hinder the performance of the outboard motor.
This can be a case of the outboard motor casing sustaining a scratch.
But this cannot be generalized with all the parts.
This leads to questions like can an outboard motor function without a voltage regulator.
Yes an outboard motor can run without a voltage regulator but this is not advisable as it will lead to the damage of the boat components.
If you discover that the regulator in your outboard motor is faulty, you should try and replace it.
If you keep using the outboard motor without fixing it, components in the boat will spoil.
This is usually due to the excess uncontrolled voltage that is released.
Why You Should Not Run An Outboard Motor Without a Voltage Regulator
1)Battery Damage
When you make use of your outboard motor, a lot of parts play a vital role.
In an electric start outboard motor, the battery helps in a flawless performance.
This helps the boat to power up electronic devices in the boat.
But when this happens, the energy in the battery reduces.
To continue enjoying a flawless performance, the lost battery energy has to be replenished.
This is made possible with the help of a charging system in the boat.
One of the best and cheapest way of doing this is with the use of the energy the outboard motor generates.
This energy is produced from the stator or alternator in the outboard motor.
But for this voltage to be usable in the outboard motor, it has to be well regulated.
This will help in performing functions like charging the battery and powering electronic components in the boat.
To achieve this, a voltage regulates helps to achieve this.
The voltage regulator receives rectified voltage and then smoothens the output to about 14 volts.
This helps in charging the battery well.
But when the voltage regulator is bad, then the voltage from the outboard motor will not be regulated.
This can cause unstable voltage production that is above 14 volts.
When this gets to the battery, it will cause a lot of heat in the battery which will eventually damage the battery.
2) Safety Of Boat Components
Another reason why you should not operate outboard motor without a voltage rectifier is to avoid damage of the boat electronic components.
When the outboard motor is functioning, there are some electronic devices that can be used in the boat.
These devices require an electric charge to power them.
Most of them are usually in the 12 volts input voltage.
To make them function, the power from the outboard motor is used to power them easily.
But for this to happen without damages, the power from the outboard motor has to be at an optimal level.
This is made possible with the help of the voltage regulator.
But if the voltage regulator is bad, then the voltage produced will not be well regulated.
This will cause damage to the electronic devices in the boat especially when the voltage is too high.
3) Battery Over Charge
When the boat is running with an outboard motor, some components will function too.
These components use energy from the battery.
To replenish the used energy, the alternator or stator with the help of a voltage regulator makes this possible.
But in doing so, the voltage has to be at a safe voltage usually 12 to 14 volts.
this helps in making sure that the batter is not overcharged.
But if the voltage regulator in the outboard motor is bad, then a higher voltage can be produced.
This will end up overcharging the battery in the boat.
To avoid this, you have to make sure that you use a good voltage regulator always.
4) Battery Undercharge
when a voltage regulator in an outboard motor is bad, two things will happen.
One is that it will produce excess voltage and overcharge the battery.
Another is that it will produce less voltage.
This will result in the battery in the boat not charging well.
As a result of this, the battery in the outboard motor will be undercharged.
When this happens, then the battery will be at a voltage that is below the voltage that can power the boat.
Due to this, situations like hard starting will occur.
5) Outboard Performance
Another reason why you should not run outboard motor without a voltage regulator is to avoid bad performance from the outboard motor.
In an outboard like an electric start outboard motor without a pull start, the battery plays a very huge role.
One is that it supplies the power that starts the outboard motor.
Apart from that, the battery helps in the functionality of the electric outboard motor.
This includes sending charge to the ignition system to power the spark plugs.
These components drain the battery.
But with the help of the voltage regulator working with the stator or alternstor, the battery is always maintained an a full charge.
This helps the outboard motor achieve an optimal performance.
But if the voltage regulator is bad, then the performance of the outboard motor will be affected.
6)Voltage Spike
When an electric charge is generated in an outboard motor, they are not usually regulated.
The voltage that an outboard motor produces is usually very high.
This is usually an alternating current as seen in the caes of an outboard motor that makes use of a stator.
Due to this, the voltage will not be usable in the outboard motor.
If you try to use it directly from the stator, then damages will occur.
This is even worse when the outboard motor is at a high RPM.
At a high RPM, the voltage produced is higher when compared to the voltage produced when the outboard motor is at an idle mode.
To help keep the voltage at an optimal level, the voltage regulator helps in doing this.
Without the use of a voltage regulator, then there will be voltage spike in the outboard motor.
This will cause damage to the outboard motor and the electronic components in the boat.
That is why you have to always ensure that you use a good voltage regulator always.
If you have any question or contribution on can you run an outboard motor without a voltage regulator, use the comment section.