[C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock AlternatorPossible ?

[Timothy Grennan]

The alternator was purchased through GO2MARINE.COM. The alternator is  an API marine Model # 20025rated at 94 amps. The GO2 people were great. There was a small problem when I first installed it and GO2 provided API's phone number for tech support and my issue was cleared up in no time. The price was about $240 and was a direct bolt on. I was very happy with the output. And I still have the original alternator as a spare.

--- On Mon, 2/14/11, Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net> wrote:

From: Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock AlternatorPossible ?
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Date: Monday, February 14, 2011, 11:07 PM

Tim,  

Do you have an address or website link for AMI?

I am interested in running down the specifications for the alternator you
installed.  Please keep us informed of your experience with that upgrade.

Thanks
Rick
My-Ria #277



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Timothy
Grennan
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 9:34 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock
AlternatorPossible ?

   I have upgraded my alternator setup. I didn't want the expense of the
Balmar or similar, but wanted more amps. The alternator I chose was from
AMI, a company in Florida. They build aftermarket and replacement "goodies"
for most diesels and gas engines as well. I believe the model number is
4002. This is a 92amp small frame alternator built in the US with the same
case size as the existing 55 amp alternator. It has a stock vooltage
regulator so there is no "programming" to optimize the output.The price of
the alternator was about $250 delivered. The wiring was identical and used
the same belt.Install from start to finish was a couple of hours.
   The amp output is about10-15 amps greater than the original. I installed
this at the end of the season so this year will be the real test. But so
far, I have been happy with it.


Hope this helps,

cheers,

Tim Grennan
Evening Star  hull # 843

--- On Sun, 2/13/11, jim brown <jbrown5093 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: jim brown <jbrown5093 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock Alternator
Possible ?
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Date: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 10:14 AM

Just a comment. I recently took the Yanmar diesel course. There were 2
things 
that they seemed to emphasize on several occasions as possibly voiding the 
warranty  on new Yanmars  (in addition to the usual non maintenance, etc).
One 
was improper choice of prop (not allowing full rpms at hull speed). The
other 
was the addition of a larger output alternator. So if you have an engine
under 
warranty I would check with Yanmar before any upgrades during that period
just 
to be safe. 


Jim Brown





________________________________
From: Bruce Heyman <bruceheyman at cox.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Fri, February 11, 2011 4:31:12 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock 
Alternator    Possible ?

Dave,
Thanks to the previous owner I didn't have to do this job.  However, I would

offer that the Balmer external charger allows for the monitoring the
temperature 
of that batteries and or the altinator.  When a temperature threshold is hit
my 
understanding of the algoritum is that it halves the output.  I would think
tis 
would go a long way to prevnting the early dimiese of your standard charger.
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal

Bruce Heyman
(949) 289-8400
BruceHeyman at cox.net

-----Original message-----
From: Utility Email <kswanson123 at comcast.net>
To: C320IA List Server <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Cc: David Swanson <davidbswanson at comcast.net>
Sent: Thu, Feb 10, 2011 23:50:27 GMT+00:00
Subject: [C320-list] Multi Stage Voltage Regulator for Stock Alternator    
Possible?

I have a stock 55 watt Hitachi alternator in my 320. I am interested in 
installing a separate 3 stage aftermarket (Balmar or similar) voltage
regulator 
while disconnecting the integral stock voltage regulator to get more
charging 
efficiency out of the stock alternator.
As many of you may know, the 3 stage voltage regulator and related wiring
are 
not inexpensive ($200 to $300). I am trying to avoid the high cost of
swapping 
out a perfectly good (albeit inefficient) stock alternator/regulator for a
new 
$800 Balmar (or similar) assembly.
I have heard that if I do this, I will likely burn out my stock alternator 
because the 3 stage voltage regulator will make the Hitachi alternator "work
too 
hard."  Is this true?  I imagine that the stock alternator would have more
load 
for a longer time for the bulk charging phase compared to stock, but I guess

that I am questioning whether this would significantly decrease the life of
the 
stock alternator.  I am also guessing that if I ask the Balmar folks, they
would 
say it would significantly decrease the life of the Hitachi alternator
because 
they want to sell me one of their heavy duty Balmar alternators.  Once the
bulk 
charging phase is completed, it seems like the alternator load with an 
aftermarket multistage regulator would be similar to the stock regulator. 
So my 
questions:

1.  Has anyone upgraded their Yanmar 3YM30 engine mounted alternator to
perform 
efficient multistage charging without dropping $1000 to $1400 on a new
Balmar 
alternator and regulator? 

2.  How far off base am I?  Or is it possibly practical to just upgrade the 
stock voltage regulator on our boats to improve engine driven charging 
efficiency?

Any and all advice and experience with this would be helpful.
Thanks!

Dave Swanson
S/V Emily Ann
2007 C310 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, WA