[C320-list] Alternator Upgrade questions - Balmar 70 110A

[Myron Welch]

Danny,

I can't help you with the alternator question, but I just finished  
adding a starter battery last week, so everything is still fresh in my  
mind.  Warren Updike was most helpful with this project, along with  
the information on the 320 website and the engineers at Blue Seas  
Systems.

Here are just a few comments from your statements below:

I added the Blue Seas "add a battery" kit which included the #7610 ACR  
and a new selector switch.  The choices on this switch are Off, On or  
Combined.  When switched to On, all house loads are connected to the  
paralleled house batteries, and the starter is connected to the  
starter battery, which is somewhat foolproof as to where to set the  
selector switch.

I have a Xantrex Truecharge 20 (will update to a 40 if this one stops  
working).  Now that you have the ACR, you need only run one wire from  
the charger to the house battery.  The ACR will charge the starter  
battery as necessary from the house battery.

I did run a dedicated 2AWG wire from the alternator to the house  
battery.  My research found that this was a better path and more  
efficient. I attached the wire to house battery with a 200 Amp MRBF,  
as per the recommendation of the Blue Seas engineer. Again the ACR  
charges the starter battery from the alternator through the ACR as  
needed.

I added a four post 250 Amp Blue Seas bus bar for each bank.  This  
made for a neat installation.

Let me know if you would like to see my wiring diagram or pictures.

If I ever do an alternator upgrade, I'll be interested in your final  
decisions.

Myron Welch
Wind Instrument #238
Iowa City, Iowa
Grace Memorial Harbor, Elk Rapids, Michigan



On Sep 14, 2012, at 12:15 PM, danny jensen wrote:

> All,
> Thanks for all the info on the c320 site re the alternator topic. My
> questions follow. Please answer anything you can. Thanks in advance.
>
> Boat details
> C320 hull 972 2004
> Yanmar 3GM30F-YEU
> xantrex true charge 40
> Flooded Lead Acid 4D x 2 1 yr old
>
> Project:
> I have decided add a starter battery per C320 site instructions  
> (create
> house and starter bank) and then work my way aft to upgrade the
> alternator. 2 phase project.
>
> Alternator:
> I'd like to go with the Balmar 110A alternator with the ARS-5-h  
> voltage
> regulator purchased in kit part number 70-YP-110-KIT
> Balmar Alternator Kits Contain:
> Alternator 70 series
> Matching ARS-5-H voltage regulator
> 54" Wire harness
> MC-TS-A Alternator temperature sensor
> MC-TS-B Battery temperature sensor
>
> I found this kit for $700.00 at East Coast battery and electric.
> http://www.eastcoastbattery.com/alternators.htm
>
> Other Stuff:
> Blue Seas ACR #7610 between house and starter
> Xantrex linkLite with shunt
> Group 24 60ah or Group 27 92ah (not sure) will get from Sams Club?
> Xantrex truecharge 40 with 2 outputs connected to house and starter
> batteries
>
>
> Questions:
> 1. What is the best location to place the voltage regulator? The kit
> above only has a 54" harness. Looks like Jeff mounted the regulator  
> next
> to the nav station. Other people mounted in engine area next to  
> coolant
> res. How hard is it to extend the balmar 54" harness?
> 2. what size thickness and type of wood do you use for your electrical
> backboards? How do you secure them to the hull? Type of screws used to
> mount components/backboards?
> 3. Was the balmar 110A a drop in replacement with no shimming? Do you
> have a belt part number I can use? Do you chew up belts?
> 4. Best place to buy bus bars/fuses/connectors, battery strap etc, do
> you have Part numbers?
> 5. Do you have any details you can give me on interfacing the old
> alternator / boat wiring to the balmar harness (ground, power input,
> ignition, tack out)? Do we need to interface the tack wire from the
> Balmar reg to the boat? Is the tack output somewhat accurate? Cable  
> path
> to dash lamp on Edison to flag charger malfunction
> 6. Location of existing negative bus bar on hull 972? Do I have one?
> Where should I locate the fuse protection for this neg bus bar?
> 7. Is it absolutely necessary to run alternator directly to house
> batteries? Or can I just leave it running to the switch?
> 8. Any custom configuration needed programming the Balmar Reg?
> 9. Other stuff I'm forgetting not covered on C320.
>
>
>
>

Dr. Myron Welch
Director of Bands Emeritus
Professor of Music
Collegiate Fellow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The University of Iowa