[C320-list] Alternator question

[Jack Brennan]

Hi Scott:

Whew. Lots of options.

One to think about is to buy a Sterling alternator-to-battery charger. It is 
a four-stage smart charger that takes about two hours to install. It acts 
very much like an external smart voltage regulator. It also allows you to 
select among different types of batteries.

I had one on my old Bristol 30 for about three years, and I seriously 
thought about taking it with me when I sold the boat. It will top off your 
house bank in 2-2 1/2 hours of motoring from a 50 percent discharge, about 
half the time that it will take the Hitachi alternator alone.

The Hitachi (which is no longer a Hitachi, by the way. Some faceless Chinese 
company makes 'em.) is a car alternator, which means the no. 1 rule is not 
to cook the battery. So you get 55 amps for a very short time, and much less 
for most of the time.

A smart charger like Sterling will feed many more amps into your batteries 
without cooking them. A potential problem with any smart charger or 
regulator is that they could quicken the death of an aging alternator 
because they make the alternator work a lot harder.

On the other hand, you can buy a new alternator on the web for around $100 
or so. Not a big deal.

Jack Brennan
1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.








-----Original Message----- 
From: Scott Westwood
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2018 5:44 PM
To: Catalina List
Subject: [C320-list] Alternator question

The Alternator on my Yanmar 3GM30F is a Japanese Hitachi IC RegLR155-20 
12V- 55A
Does anybody know if this will charge AGM batteries?  I assume it is 
regulated internally.
My thoughts:
1. Replace both Lead Acid with AGMs.2. Change the Xantrex Shore power 
charger "settings" from LA to AGM.3. Install new Solar panel(s) with 
controller and monitor (Large enough to charge and maintain)    2. May 
include start battery (Dual charger off main bank)

I am wondering if we can use the same alternator and just see how it does 
(Given our usage).???  Then... if we don't get to shore power enough or the 
solar panel can't top it off...  we can replace the Alternator with new 
Regulator.
If we simply "have to" replace it now, then fine.  But if it just means it 
will require more motoring, then we can decide at that point if we increase 
Alternator and/or bring along a portable Generator.
Thoughts?




Thanks,
Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C 
(919)-618-7185 


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