Balmar Alternator for Yanmar 1GM10?

GorillaToast

GorillaToast

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Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Is it worth spending 1k?

I have 4 GC golf car batteries, plus a group 27 for starter bank. 140w solar panel and MPPT controller, and a BSS ACR.

I thought I read somewhere that the 1 cyl Yanmar doesn't have enough umphh to benefit going with a high powered alternator. Is that true?

Thanks
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
There are a lot less expensive, high quality alternators out there.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
A 1982 1GM was rated at 6.5HP. The 1GM10 did not come until latter. The OEM alternator for either is a Hitachi 35A and that is as much as the small engine can handle and still propel the boat adequately. A 100A alternator requires around 1.75 horsepower which would be around 26% of rated horsepower. I have to say that your reported battery bank is the largest I have ever heard for an h27 but it is what it is. Taking this into consideration allow me to suggest you invest the $1,000 in a portable gas generator that you can use to power an inboard smart battery charger as well as other a/c appliances.
 
GorillaToast

GorillaToast

.
Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Benny17441 said:
A 1982 1GM was rated at 6.5HP. The 1GM10 did not come until latter. The OEM alternator for either is a Hitachi 35A and that is as much as the small engine can handle and still propel the boat adequately. A 100A alternator requires around 1.75 horsepower which would be around 26% of rated horsepower. I have to say that your reported battery bank is the largest I have ever heard for an h27 but it is what it is.
Click to expand
The 1GM10 was commissioned in 2006. Other than cost, I have no idea why a 2 cyl was not installed.

I plan to move the boat to S. Carolina next year for extended coastal cruising, thus the large house bank, and I plan to add a second 140w panel. With a combination of solar and 1 day slip rentals when need for shore power, I should be able to get by. I don't need an inverter and all the a/c appliances many people drag around with them.

Thanks for confirming what I thought.
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,264
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Do you have a battery monitor to check your alternator output amperage ? Barring that, check the output voltage of your alternator.

Chances are, your fixed regulator is playing it safe and supplying just enough voltage to avoid frying your batteries but not enough to fully charge them. It's designed to charge a starting battery after starting the engine (~0.2 AH), not your deep cycle batteries.

Consider installing an external alternator regulator which will kick the voltage up to 14.7V to start fully charging your batteries.

It's the only way you can deal with: I = E÷R
 
GorillaToast

GorillaToast

.
Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Ralph Johnstone said:
Do you have a battery monitor to check your alternator output amperage ? Barring that, check the output voltage of your alternator. Chances are, your fixed regulator is playing it safe and supplying just enough voltage to avoid frying your batteries but not enough to fully charge them. It's designed to charge a starting battery after starting the engine (~0.2 AH), not you deep cycle batteries. Consider installing an external alternator regulator which will kick the voltage up to 14.7V to start fully charging your batteries. It's the only way you can deal with: I = E÷R
Click to expand
My deep cycle bank will be charged by a combination of a 40a charger and the solar. On my last boat, I could keep the 2 6v GC batteries charged the whole season with one 40w solar panel, and no alternator. Of course, I worked all day, and was only on her from 6pm til next noon the next day.
 
captaincarey

captaincarey

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May 29, 2014
3
Hunter 31 Tacoma
I had an 85 1GM10 in my Cal 27 and it was rated 3hp @ the prop, so I don't think the engine is up to the higher load of the big alternator. I also had to replace my alternator belt every year on that engine even with the standard alternator. I like the idea of an adjustable voltage regulator. I have a friend that installed a Sterling adjustable voltage regulator with his standard alternator and it cut his engine run time almost in half to charge his 4 6v golf cart batteries.
That is a great engine by the way, mine was 30 years old, raw water cooled and never missed a beat, could be hand cranked, burned a pint per hour. Bounced around a lot and was pretty slow but you can't have everything. Good Luck, enjoy that pint per hour.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Monitor

I would add a good battery monitor to make sure your batteries are charging
properly and the solar you are adding should be fine.
Nick
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Really need a LOT more info on your use of the vessel to help determine your needs for charging....
 
GorillaToast

GorillaToast

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Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Maine Sail said:
Really need a LOT more info on your use of the vessel to help determine your needs for charging....
Click to expand
I'm preparing the boat for live aboard coastal cruising from NC to FL and the Gulf states. Anchoring or transient slips daily.

I'm comfortable with a camping mentality, so don't need the electrical comforts of "home". Biggest ah draws will be autopilot, radar, chart plotter, and AIS while sailing.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
GorillaToast said:
I'm preparing the boat for live aboard coastal cruising from NC to FL and the Gulf states. Anchoring or transient slips daily.

I'm comfortable with a camping mentality, so don't need the electrical comforts of "home". Biggest ah draws will be autopilot, radar, chart plotter, and AIS while sailing.
Click to expand
In that case a 60-75A alt current limited to where your engine is happy, load wise, would be the best bet for that engine. The Balmar regulators allow you to set the max current output of the alternator and you can also install a switch to turn the alt off completely of give it a 50% cut.
 
GorillaToast

GorillaToast

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Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
seadaddler said:
I would add a good battery monitor to make sure your batteries are charging properly and the solar you are adding should be fine. Nick
Click to expand
A Balmar Smart Gauge has been on the shopping list for awhile.
 
GorillaToast

GorillaToast

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Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Maine Sail said:
In that case a 60-75A alt current limited to where your engine is happy, load wise, would be the best bet for that engine. The Balmar regulators allow you to set the max current output of the alternator and you can also install a switch to turn the alt off completely of give it a 50% cut.
Click to expand
Thanks for the info, MS
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,264
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
GorillaToast said:
I'm comfortable with a camping mentality, so don't need the electrical comforts of "home". Biggest ah draws will be autopilot, radar, chart plotter, and AIS while sailing.
Click to expand
What ................. no fridge for the beer :eek: :eek: :eek:. That's downright barbaric.

Without the fridge, your electrical demands become very manageable.
 
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