[C320-list] High Output Alternators

[Troy Dunn]

Jerry

I've been researching a new alternator for the Wonky Dog for about a year
now...or it least it seems that way.   Anyhow, 125 amps on a single belt
could be a problem or it could be fine.  If like most high output
alternator configurations you also have a decent external voltage regulator
with battery and alternator temperature sensing then it is quite possible
that the PO used a 'belt manager' function in the voltage regulator to back
off the output of the alternator to say 80 amps which would be fine on a
single belt.   If you don't see a lot of belt dust on the engine cover,
it's probably fine.

You should spend some time however getting to know the type of voltage
regulator you have and how it is set up.   For a 200 amp hour AGM bank of
batteries 100 amps is plenty of current to properly charge your batteries
without negatively affecting the life of the batteries.   If you have FLA
batteries, they are much more fore giving and you can get away with a much
larger bank on the same alternator without impacting battery life.  There
are a lot more variables involved that will be different for just about
everyone these are just rules of thumb.   It's important that the
alternator not only provides sufficient amps during bulk charge, but also
that it hits the right voltage.  Check out RC's articles on Marinehowto if
you want to get better educated on this stuff.   His articles are pretty
well researched and written.

Not sure why, but your original emails are not hitting my feed.   Seems
like this happens with all Yahoo accounts...

Cheers

Troy Dunn
Wonky Dog
Hull #514