battery charging with the engine

[David]

I've never attempted to charge a battery with any substantial drain via the engine

 

[Steve W.]

This might give you an idea...

In June my wife

 

[Joe Luciano]

Battery Charging

The problem is not with the alternator, but with the voltage regulator. The typical set up on a stock boat is a conventional automotive type voltage regulator. This device allows high amp output to the batteries initially, but quickly drops the voltage back and charging a deep cycle battery becomes next to impossible. If you really want to be able to charge a deep cycle battery with your alternator, you need a multi-stage voltage regulator that operates similar to the plug in type battery chargers with at least a 3 stage charging cycle.

 

[Phil Decker]

What kind of voltage regulator?

What is a good brand/make of a 3-stage voltage regulator for an Atomic 4 with a standard 37A alternator? I also have a group 27 house battery, and have had trouble pumping up the house bat under engine alone. My amp gauge quickly goes to about 2A charging after I start the engine. The charge on the bat doesn't go way down, but it doesn't go way up, either.Phil D.S/V "Catmandu"

 

[Rick]

Heart

There are several smart voltage regulators available but I think the most economical way to go is with the Heart Interface brand "Incharge 12" available from Sailnet.com. I have seen them in their catalog but not on their web page. Under $150. If you cant find one of those check out the "Balmar ARS-IV". $160 without a harness or $180 with.Your alternator is internally regulated and you must modify it to use an external voltage regulator. Instructions on how to do it are at the "related link" below.

 

[Bob Townsend]

Charging

Their right! The stock regulator only allows about 40-50% of the regulator to work, and not for very long. Something along the line of a Balmar "smart charger" works wonders. An automotive electrical shop can disconnect the internal regulator and set up a P field for the new external one. A huge difference. You can then get 80% out of the regulator. Then recharging depends on how many amps you are replacing.Good luck

 

[Bob Townsend]

auto vs marine

Balmar makes a great "smart" regulator. The stock alternator can be rewire for the external regulator at any automotive electrical shop. The results are terrific as it works. The auto regulator does not "sense" the state of the battery and continue to charge until the battery is close to charged as does the Balmar regulator. It charges at 3 different rates, based on the sensed level of the battery.