[C320-list] Alternator Upgrades

Sun Jul 12 10:55:49 PDT 2009

It will depend on your engine of course.  Based on your hull number I 
assume you have the same one as me -- the Yanmar 3GM30F. I recently 
replaced the stock alternator with a drop in replacement from Balmar and 
a matching smart charge controller.  I had a yard do the installation 
but I don't think it was that hard, except on my checkbook.  I've been 
happy with the results, although I don't have a lot of experience with 
it yet, and I upgraded batteries at the same time.  I went with the 
Balmar 60-70-SR-IG, 70 Amp max output, plus the ARS-5 charge regulator, 
recommended by my yard.  These are described on the Balmar web site. 
Some people go with higher output alternators, but I was told by an 
engine surveyor that anything over 90 Amp max output might overload the 
engine and would require special belts and pulleys.

Pat Kenefick wrote:
> I know people have upgraded their alternators - I would appreciate any 
> suggestions as to various upgrades installed.
> Thanks
> Pat Kenefick
> "Cynthia gale"
> Hull 833
> Bath, NC
> ----- Original Message ----- From: 
> <c320-list-request at lists.catalina320.com>
> To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 3:00 PM
> Subject: C320-list Digest, Vol 502, Issue 2
> 
> 
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. Re: Tachometer Problem - Ring Gear/Sensor Gap (Robert E. Sloat)
>>   2. Halyard & chain questions (jpmesa at aol.com)
>>   3. Re: Halyard & chain questions (Jeff Hare)
>>   4. Re: Halyard & chain questions (Chris Burti)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:23:36 -0500
>> From: "Robert E. Sloat" <resloat at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Tachometer Problem - Ring Gear/Sensor Gap
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Message-ID: <58025FE4C241452488664F6B48E77173 at SloatLaptop>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=response
>>
>> Scott-You are right.  The clearance is adjustable and Yanmar manual 
>> says the
>> gap between the tachometer sensor and the ring gear should be 1.3 mm 
>> (0.0511
>> in.).  It also says the sensor must not be loose fitted, so if it moves
>> around that may cause problems.
>>
>> There is a test of the sensor using an oscilloscope which is difficult to
>> explain.
>>
>> One easily measured spec. for the sensor is its internal resistance at 
>> rest
>> which is 1.6 k ohms + or - 0.1 k ohms.  If the resistance across the two
>> pins on the sensor which connected to the wires going to the 
>> tachometer is
>> not that then the manual remedy is to replace the sensor.
>>
>> Bob Sloat
>> Savannah 894
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Thompson" 
>> <surprise at thompson87.com>
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 8:32 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Tachometer Problem
>>
>>
>>> I don't have my manual handy.  Is the sending unit adjustable?  It 
>>> occurs
>>> to me that clearances between the flywheel gear teeth and sensor 
>>> might be
>>> off on my boat if it is.  I've got erratic and low tach readings that I
>>> haven't been able to track down.
>>>
>>>
>>> Robert E. Sloat wrote:
>>>> Larry-Good pictures and what you have concluded matches the Yammer
>>>> Service Manual for the 3GM30F.  The number of teeth on the ring gear 
>>>> for
>>>> the 3GM30F is 97.  For the 3HM35 version of this engine which I 
>>>> think is
>>>> the sail drive model, the number of teeth is 114.  According to the
>>>> Manual, the basic tachometers and the sending units for for either ring
>>>> gear are the same so the black dial looks like it is used for switching
>>>> to either ring gear probably.  This is not shown in the Service Manual
>>>> and it doesn't mention the calibration screw.
>>>>
>>>>> From your pictures it is clear how to dial in a working the tachometer
>>>>> if it
>>>> is off from actual RPMs measured at the crank shaft pulley.
>>>>
>>>> Bob Sloat
>>>> Savannah 894
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Melissa&Larry Leibman"
>>>> <theleibmans at verizon.net>
>>>> To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 8:14 PM
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Tachometer Problem
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jamie,
>>>>
>>>> You may have already rectified the tach issue but if not, I have been
>>>> having the same behavior for several months. I finally got around to
>>>> checking into it beginning at the tach sender on the instrument housing
>>>> and working up to the tach itself. I've uploaded a few pictures at:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.catalina320.com/mediagallery/album.php?aid=214&page=1
>>>>
>>>> It appears at least on Easy Going that the problem was at the 
>>>> tachometer.
>>>> If you check out the picture at the link below, there is a calibration
>>>> adjustment on the left side of the picture but on the right side is a
>>>> kind of blurry black dial adjustment. I believe that adjustment allows
>>>> you to set the number of teeth in the pinion gear. From the labeling
>>>> around the dial I expected it to have 3 positions. However, it just 
>>>> turns
>>>> continuously with no obvious detents. As the engine was running I
>>>> adjusted this dial and at certain points the tach would jump much 
>>>> like I
>>>> would observe while running. I adjusted within the first range/position
>>>> until the tach appeared to give a stable reading. I figured I would 
>>>> also
>>>> need to adjust the calibration screw but when I rechecked the tach 
>>>> with a
>>>> laser tach, the readings appeared to match within the precision of the
>>>> tach in the cockpit. I then ran the engine at several rpm settings and
>>>> all seemed to agree well with the
>>>> laser tach. Previously my laser tach gave readings 100-400 rpm lower 
>>>> than
>>>> the cockpit tach depending on the speed.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.catalina320.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=2009071017503760 
>>>> I
>>>> haven't had a chance to take the boat for a spin so I'm not certain if
>>>> the problem is really solved but so far so good.
>>>>
>>>> Larry
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Scott Thompson
>>> Surprise, #653
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:36:21 -0400
>> From: jpmesa at aol.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Halyard & chain questions
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Message-ID: <8CBD05CDBCEC084-84C-2E81 at WEBMAIL-MB11.sysops.aol.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> I'm not on my boat and don't have the manual with me so I was 
>> wondering if anyone out there knows what the lenght and size of the 
>> Mainsail & jib halyards are?? I'm thinking it's about time to repalce 
>> them. Also, on the 500 Maxwell windlass conversion kit I believe the 
>> chain is 1/4" but will it take both proof & HT type chain?? John & 
>> Bobbi? Holokai 2
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:51:54 +0000
>> From: "Jeff Hare" <catalina at thehares.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Halyard & chain questions
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Message-ID:
>> <1192776773-1247331062-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-2043661624- at bxe1241.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> 
>>
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain
>>
>> John,
>>
>> Main halyards:  110 feet is a good length with about the right amount 
>> of extra.
>>
>> We have 80' of High Test 1/4" chain and 150' 5/8"(?)  rhode on our 
>> primary anchor.  We did that to hopefully allow the gypsy conversion.
>> Jib Sheets are somewhere around 40' but you might check the Owners 
>> Manual on the website.
>>
>> -Cheers
>> -JeffH
>> ------Original Message------
>> From: jpmesa at aol.com
>> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> ReplyTo: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Halyard & chain questions
>> Sent: Jul 11, 2009 12:36 PM
>>
>> I'm not on my boat and don't have the manual with me so I was 
>> wondering if anyone out there knows what the lenght and size of the 
>> Mainsail & jib halyards are?? I'm thinking it's about time to repalce 
>> them. Also, on the 500 Maxwell windlass conversion kit I believe the 
>> chain is 1/4" but will it take both proof & HT type chain?? John & 
>> Bobbi? Holokai 2
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:46:59 -0400
>> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Halyard & chain questions
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Message-ID:
>> <79721a9c0907111046j1e8537a3i63e1bbc155f61b76 at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> Halyards are 3/8" / 9mm diameter.
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 12:51 PM, Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> John,
>>>
>>> Main halyards:  110 feet is a good length with about the right amount of
>>> extra.
>>>
>>> We have 80' of High Test 1/4" chain and 150' 5/8"(?)  rhode on our 
>>> primary
>>> anchor.  We did that to hopefully allow the gypsy conversion.
>>> Jib Sheets are somewhere around 40' but you might check the Owners 
>>> Manual
>>> on the website.
>>>
>>> -Cheers
>>> -JeffH
>>>  ------Original Message------
>>> From: jpmesa at aol.com
>>> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> ReplyTo: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: [C320-list] Halyard & chain questions
>>> Sent: Jul 11, 2009 12:36 PM
>>>
>>> I'm not on my boat and don't have the manual with me so I was 
>>> wondering if
>>> anyone out there knows what the lenght and size of the Mainsail & jib
>>> halyards are?? I'm thinking it's about time to repalce them. Also, on 
>>> the
>>> 500 Maxwell windlass conversion kit I believe the chain is 1/4" but 
>>> will it
>>> take both proof & HT type chain?? John & Bobbi? Holokai 2
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>>
>>
>> End of C320-list Digest, Vol 502, Issue 2
>> ***************************************** 
> 

-- 
Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653