This spring I bought a 110 amp Balmar alternator and a Xantrex XAR three stage voltage regulator to drive it. I did the installation myself and the setup has worked very nicely to charge my battery banks with one exception. After a warm up delay and a short ramp up period, the regulator is supposed to drive the alternator at a bulk charge rate for 36 minutes. At that point it's supposed to test the voltage of the battery. If the voltage is less than 14.5 (mine is set to the lead acid wet cell setting) it is supposed to continue on the bulk charge in short time increments until the retesting indicates 14.5 has been reached at which time it steps down to the acceptance charge level. Problem is the regulator steps down to the acceptance level after 36 minutes no matter what the voltage. The red wire which is supposed to sense the battery voltage is connected to the positive output terminal of the alternator (connected to the solenoid/starter and then by heavy gauge wire to the battery switch) which is the recommendation in the Xantrex installation manual. I've taken a voltage reading at the alternator and also at the plug into the regulator and they match the reading on the voltmeter at my breaker panel. I tried calling Xantrex tech support--on hold for twenty minutes but was reassured that my call was important to them. I sent them an email a week ago--no reply. Any ideas? I'm thinking I have a faulty regulator. Thanks for your help. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
