Alternators

[MetalHead]

This is a cross post from FB.

NOTE: I have GM based engines - This may be a little different for Chrysler based engines.

Someone asked about one wire alternators. Read these links and you may change your mind about moving to a one wire system.

http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical ... sing.shtml

http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

I was planning to move from 3 to 1 wire and read up on the subject and changed my mind. In our systems where charged batteries are very important, remote voltage sensing (I would think) is huge. As we run the "house" on 12v, making sure we are not draining the battery at low RPM is important as we cruise.

More good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utXjxwPAcHk

http://www.ebasicpower.com/charge/alternatorwiring.htm

http://www.balmar.net/pdf/2009-12v-alte ... al-web.pdf

http://www.arcomarine.com/xhtml/Tech%20 ... ystems.pdf

http://www.arcomarine.com/xhtml/Tech%20 ... 20tips.pdf

This may help , or at least give you something to do when your not sleeping like me !!

[barkleydave]

I hated the OEM alternators with regulator on my M. I changed them out to One wire 60 amp 10 years ago. NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER!

It only takes 1,000 RPMs to excite them.

I use 2 six volt golf cart batteries for my house bank. The alternator does an excellent job of keeping the bank up.

For what it is worth that has been my experience.

Here is the source: They were great to work with and received quickly. Fit perfectly and no worries mate!

http://www.mascostartersandalternators. ... t_list&c=1


safe boating,

dave

[MetalHead]

Awesome - Glad to hear that !! Did you do anything special with the other wires? Or just tape them off?

[barkleydave]

I just removed the old regulators and used rubber tape and electrical tape and sealed the wires.

I increased the gauge wire from the alternator to the battery and installed a 60 AMP (I think?) blade fuse in each line. The best part is my battery banks are in center between engines so very short run directly to batteries so very little line loss.

I also ran a ground wire from alternator cases to the engine block. (so the ground is not depended on just the bracket.

I have installed single wire units on 4 other boats and the results have all been the same.

I considered going with High AMP alternator for house batteries however I discovered that it required different pulley setup and more important big deep cycle golf cart batteries work best with lower charging rates. Their absorbtion rate is less than full output of High amp alternators. Which results in more heat... and more electrolyte boil off.

Just a side note: I was out this past Friday night on the hook. Was in a hurry to meet some friends. I switched over to 1,800 watt inverter and off I went. Was on inverter from 4P.M. till 3PM. Tthe low voltage warning started beeping. Ok 23 hrs not bad running refrig. lights, etc etc.
Then I noticed that I had forgotten to turn off my battery charger ! So inverter was trying to charge the batteries! That added at least a 15 amp draw. I started my STBD engine which is on house batteries and she fired right up ! My house batteries are on their 6th season!

I ran about an hour back to slip and the house batteries were back up to 80 percent! Obviously the alternator is doing its job.
safe boating,
dave

[TinLizzy]

From what I recall, the Chrysler alt only had two wires on it, one main battery wire and one going to the external voltage regulator. It is more or less already a one wire system as the new alternators have internal voltage regulators. So it is different than the 3 wire set up on a GM. I would stick with the 3 wire system if that is what it has. I changed out the original prestolite alternators on my 318's with a one wire and they have worked fine.