I had planned to deactivate the internal regulator and add an external balmar regulator (3 stage) on a stock Yanmar 50 amp (36hp) alternator in order to improve the charge to 1 4D house battery, a separate starter battery, with an installed isolator. The technician said it would only marginally improve charging and should upgrade the alternator. What do you recommend?
Switch to external regulator on stock alternator?
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nvonstaden
I tried that but ended up buying a Balmar with externial reg and the 3 step regulator buy crusing designs used with a freedom 10 inverter...save the old alternator for a spare...
I tried that but ended up buying a Balmar with externial reg and the 3 step regulator buy crusing designs used with a freedom 10 inverter...save the old alternator for a spare...
Regulated hope
A waste of time and money. You'll need to disassemble the old regulator and solder wires. Two suggestions: 1- Replace the alternator with a Balmar high output alternator with an external regulator. This will be expensive but will be the best way to go. 2-Take your alternator to Discount Auto Parts and have them match it up with automotive alternator of 80-90 amps. Have them match the pulley and the mount to ease the swap over. In either case keep the old alternator as a spare. Also, never use an isolator as it has a voltage drop across the diodes, You need a battery combiner instead.
A waste of time and money. You'll need to disassemble the old regulator and solder wires. Two suggestions: 1- Replace the alternator with a Balmar high output alternator with an external regulator. This will be expensive but will be the best way to go. 2-Take your alternator to Discount Auto Parts and have them match it up with automotive alternator of 80-90 amps. Have them match the pulley and the mount to ease the swap over. In either case keep the old alternator as a spare. Also, never use an isolator as it has a voltage drop across the diodes, You need a battery combiner instead.
Alternator
IF you can match the alternator up with an automotive one at an auto supply store, you will save yourself a bunch of money. They can be had up to 125 amps. For probably around 25% of the cost you are talking about.
IF you can match the alternator up with an automotive one at an auto supply store, you will save yourself a bunch of money. They can be had up to 125 amps. For probably around 25% of the cost you are talking about.
Did it..
I did that a few months ago and it seems to be working well. I actually had previously changed the stock 55 AMP alternator to a 72 AMP one but felt it was cooking the batteries. The wiring is actually not very hard if you are at all adept at some electrical work. Attached is my wiring diagram. But I have to agree with the other posts that by far the better way is to buy an alternator that has an external 3 stage regulator but they are very expensive.
I did that a few months ago and it seems to be working well. I actually had previously changed the stock 55 AMP alternator to a 72 AMP one but felt it was cooking the batteries. The wiring is actually not very hard if you are at all adept at some electrical work. Attached is my wiring diagram. But I have to agree with the other posts that by far the better way is to buy an alternator that has an external 3 stage regulator but they are very expensive.
Alternators and Regulators
Stock alternators aren't designed to operate with a Balmar Regulator due to the work the regulator would require of the alternator. Personally I would start with a battery monitor to look at loads. Good information leads to good decisions. If the alternator makes sense then I would recommend you keep the stock alternator as a back up and upgrade both regulator and alternator (I know, $$). Alternators should be sized at approx 25%-35% of the amp/hr capacity of the house bank. A 4D with 180 AH would need a 65 amp alternator max. Hope this helps, Trevor
Stock alternators aren't designed to operate with a Balmar Regulator due to the work the regulator would require of the alternator. Personally I would start with a battery monitor to look at loads. Good information leads to good decisions. If the alternator makes sense then I would recommend you keep the stock alternator as a back up and upgrade both regulator and alternator (I know, $$). Alternators should be sized at approx 25%-35% of the amp/hr capacity of the house bank. A 4D with 180 AH would need a 65 amp alternator max. Hope this helps, Trevor
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