FormulaM2Formula

Hope someone can help me out with this.

My port alternator on my boat is all charred on the front like it got real hot. I think it is probably bad, but I haven't had time to test it yet.

My boat is a 2001.

The alternator has a rectangular black box about 1" below it. A small red and black wire go into it from the alternator. This black box doesn't show up in the parts manual I have or online at the mercurypartsexpress.com web site. (They also list 4 alternators but all with the same part #.)

Does anyone know what this black box is? Voltage regulator?? Field exciter??

I plan to check the voltage of with the engine running to see if the alternator is charging or not.

Any other suggestions for things to check or related issues?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Garrett