[C320-list] Alternator upgrade

[Jack Brennan]

Graeme is on target with this advice.

I had a Sterling alternator to battery charger – cost, maybe $350 – on my previous sailboat that worked very well. Ninety minutes of motoring with the standard alternator on a Yanmar 2gm20 would bring a house bank of two golf-cart batteries plus a start battery close to full.

It’s bulky, but relatively easy to install. Just remember that you need to use thick battery cables to connect everything up.

I don’t have one on my 320 because I’ve found that 160 watts of solar with an MPPT controller is enough in Florida to keep my battery banks charged on a cruise. I get 5-8 amps an hour in daylight.

You could do solar and a Sterling for less money than a Balmar, which is a great system, but $$$.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.


Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Graeme Clark
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 4:44 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Alternator upgrade

Save your money and spend it on an advanced charging system. Standard alternator output is designed for cars where the battery depletion in starting is quite small and it isn’t even important that 100% charge is restored. So long as you keep it at 80% or more you’ll get a good start next time

Marine use (at least on sailboats) requires a full charge in the house bank during a relatively small amount of time motoring

Your standard alternator is probably well up to the job if the alternator field vintage is changed to increase the alternator output voltage

A smart charging system (Stirling, Adverc) will control the alternator output

Theres a great explanation online which I’ll try and find and post in a further reply

Graeme 

Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 

> On 25 Aug 2020, at 21:26, kskis at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hello all.  I am considering an alternator upgrade for my Yanmar 3gm30f orignal equipment with (2) Lifeline 4DA AGM batteries 5 years old.  Considering also adding a starting battery and Balmar SG200 Battery Monitor.  Later on add some solar panels to my bimini.   I find it currently takes much too long to get a full charge (maybe the alternator isn't fully functional now) and I want to make sure I can run my fridge when cruising for 2-4 days at a time.  I was recommended a Balmar 120Amp Series 6 with K6 serpentine kit but it seems like overkill and I worry about depending on a voltage regulator to reduce the extra load on the engine (as well as the amperage being more than I'll ever use). Any thoughts out there?  Has anyone done this kind of conversion with success?  Thanks.  Neil Kornblatt  Harmony #973  2004.