I have a 1985 Hunter 34 with a 3GM Yanmar with a 55 Amp alternator. I would like to set the alternator at a "high" charge rate. It has an internal (solid state) regulator. Any ideas. Please send me some ideas. getintheloop@hotmail.com
- Status
Why?
What is the ouput voltage of your alernator? That is what controls current output. Measure voltage at the battery and at the alternator with the engine turning above 1500 rpm. Turn on a bunch of stuff to place the charging system under load. If it differs by more than 1/10th of a volt you have wiring and/or connection problems. If the alternaor "sees" a higher voltage than your actual battery voltage due to funky connections i will scale back output to maintain correct voltage at the alternaor. alternator output voltage with a fully charged battery should be 14.2-14.4 volts
What is the ouput voltage of your alernator? That is what controls current output. Measure voltage at the battery and at the alternator with the engine turning above 1500 rpm. Turn on a bunch of stuff to place the charging system under load. If it differs by more than 1/10th of a volt you have wiring and/or connection problems. If the alternaor "sees" a higher voltage than your actual battery voltage due to funky connections i will scale back output to maintain correct voltage at the alternaor. alternator output voltage with a fully charged battery should be 14.2-14.4 volts
Ross, I understood Will to be asking how to
convert the regulator in his stock alternator to something that will work as if it were 3 stage. Will, is that what you want to do?
convert the regulator in his stock alternator to something that will work as if it were 3 stage. Will, is that what you want to do?
Fred
I don't know of any way you can 3 stage an engine driven alternator. Interesting thought though. I suppose you could build a custom control circuit to do it. You would have to use an externally regulated unit. I have seen solar charge regulators tried and it just fries the regulator. The problem is that there are no "smart" regulators to control the field voltage of the alternator they are all 1 voltage setpoint. There are ways to fool the regulator into running the alternator at a higher output voltage, depending on the make of alternator.
I don't know of any way you can 3 stage an engine driven alternator. Interesting thought though. I suppose you could build a custom control circuit to do it. You would have to use an externally regulated unit. I have seen solar charge regulators tried and it just fries the regulator. The problem is that there are no "smart" regulators to control the field voltage of the alternator they are all 1 voltage setpoint. There are ways to fool the regulator into running the alternator at a higher output voltage, depending on the make of alternator.
Ah, Ross, I have one
It's a Balmar and it's external. West Marine only sells externally regulated alternators now so that they can use 'super' regulators. I had a choice of many manufacturers. (found it on ebay) My Balmar has the temperature sensor too. It backs off the output if the alternator reaches 225 degrees (f). By the way, my alternator is a Balmar that is 15 years old. It has been controlled by a manual rheostat, (auto-mac) a stock automotive regulator and now the three stage Balmar regulator. A picture of the regulator is on my web site. It's on the second film strip, mounted next to the hydraulic winch oil reservoir, behind the engine room.
It's a Balmar and it's external. West Marine only sells externally regulated alternators now so that they can use 'super' regulators. I had a choice of many manufacturers. (found it on ebay) My Balmar has the temperature sensor too. It backs off the output if the alternator reaches 225 degrees (f). By the way, my alternator is a Balmar that is 15 years old. It has been controlled by a manual rheostat, (auto-mac) a stock automotive regulator and now the three stage Balmar regulator. A picture of the regulator is on my web site. It's on the second film strip, mounted next to the hydraulic winch oil reservoir, behind the engine room.
Will, it's doable
I used a Auto-mac back in the '80s on the stock 55 amp Hitachi. It is not difficult. The problem(s) you'll have is that most of those manual controllers are history because of three stage regulators. Just a minute, let me check the '12 volt bible'. Nope, no listing. How about a google search?
I used a Auto-mac back in the '80s on the stock 55 amp Hitachi. It is not difficult. The problem(s) you'll have is that most of those manual controllers are history because of three stage regulators. Just a minute, let me check the '12 volt bible'. Nope, no listing. How about a google search?
You got me fred
I learn something new every day. Most of my experience is with automotive and stand alone solar apps. Will, If you can remove the regulator without removing the brush pack you could rig up a rheostat to adjust field voltage. This would allow you to dial in your output to whatever you want. There are issues with marine explosive environments and opening up your alternator. If you wanted to do this I think going with an externally regulated alternator and exciting the field with an adjustable rheostat would be the way to go. It would be a relatively easy mod, and if you ever wantede to lower your output to keep from cooking your batteries you could do that also. Just curious, why do you want a constant 25 amp output? ross
I learn something new every day. Most of my experience is with automotive and stand alone solar apps. Will, If you can remove the regulator without removing the brush pack you could rig up a rheostat to adjust field voltage. This would allow you to dial in your output to whatever you want. There are issues with marine explosive environments and opening up your alternator. If you wanted to do this I think going with an externally regulated alternator and exciting the field with an adjustable rheostat would be the way to go. It would be a relatively easy mod, and if you ever wantede to lower your output to keep from cooking your batteries you could do that also. Just curious, why do you want a constant 25 amp output? ross
alternator
Will, this erasy, take the alternator to a shop specializing in alternator service, tell them to diconnect/remove the internal regulator and wire for an external regulator which you can buy from multiple sources (Balmar, ample Power). From there just follow the installation intructions and it is pretty much plug an play. Can be done in just a few hours.
Will, this erasy, take the alternator to a shop specializing in alternator service, tell them to diconnect/remove the internal regulator and wire for an external regulator which you can buy from multiple sources (Balmar, ample Power). From there just follow the installation intructions and it is pretty much plug an play. Can be done in just a few hours.
- Status