Main Sail,
I have been reading your articles on battery charging, etc. - thanks for taking the time to inform us 12 volt neophytes - and have a few questions.
We have a Beneteau 373 (new to us - mid season last year), yanmar 3GM30F w/std dumb alt & 200 ah 4D house battery.
Will be adding a 2nd 4D this spring.
Planning to upgrade to a Balmar 100 amp alt. West currently has a package that includes a ARS 5 reg & temp sense.
I could not find details re differences between this reg and the MC 614 H which you recently provided programming info for.
Can the ARS be programmed, or is it already programmed, to provide the high volt bulk, etc that you recommend?
You also recommend wiring directly to the house battery bank. With this how do I charge the start battery? On the 373 there are 3 independent make/break switches, a positive for house, a pos for start and a neg. With this arrangement I have been using them to select which bat is being charged by the alt. Would this be in line with your recommendation? Or do I need to rewire direct to the house bank and then have both switches on to charge the start battery?
Also, can I add a switch in the circuit to take the alt "off line" similar to engine starting delay? I think that the eng is marginal for this boat and would like to have the HP to drive the boat if necessary in extreme situations.
Apologies for the long winded post,
Bob
I have been reading your articles on battery charging, etc. - thanks for taking the time to inform us 12 volt neophytes - and have a few questions.
We have a Beneteau 373 (new to us - mid season last year), yanmar 3GM30F w/std dumb alt & 200 ah 4D house battery.
Will be adding a 2nd 4D this spring.
Planning to upgrade to a Balmar 100 amp alt. West currently has a package that includes a ARS 5 reg & temp sense.
I could not find details re differences between this reg and the MC 614 H which you recently provided programming info for.
Can the ARS be programmed, or is it already programmed, to provide the high volt bulk, etc that you recommend?
You also recommend wiring directly to the house battery bank. With this how do I charge the start battery? On the 373 there are 3 independent make/break switches, a positive for house, a pos for start and a neg. With this arrangement I have been using them to select which bat is being charged by the alt. Would this be in line with your recommendation? Or do I need to rewire direct to the house bank and then have both switches on to charge the start battery?
Also, can I add a switch in the circuit to take the alt "off line" similar to engine starting delay? I think that the eng is marginal for this boat and would like to have the HP to drive the boat if necessary in extreme situations.
Apologies for the long winded post,
Bob