All,
It is well known that products aimed at the yacht market are overpriced, that's
why I buy from industrial sources whenever possible. McMaster-Carr is a
favorite. BTW, they sell a unusual hydrometer designed to keep the float from
sticking to the barrel. I have it on board but haven't tried it yet. Stay
tuned...
Yes, my exhaust line thermal safety switches would work in other places, but
the 120 deg F turn-on temp might be a bit low for some things.
All flooded cell batteries should be equalized periodically. The more the
batteries are cycled, the more often they should be equalized. I read an essay
from THE authority, Richard Perez, some time ago but did a HD search with no
hits. If memory serves, on a battery cycled daily equalizing should be a
weekly task. Home Power magazine is the go-to source for this as they
represent thousands of hands-on man-days in this field.
The number one reason for premature battery failure is chronic undercharging,
number two is chronic overcharging.
I knew someone who used a simple wind-up electrical timer available in Home
Depot to shut down an engine being used to charge the battery.
A fancy regulator is not needed to equalize the battery. Although I rarely use
the main engine alternator to equalize my battery, I can switch to a simple
rheostat to control the field current (max about 5 amps) to adjust the
alternator output.
My 3-stage regulator can also do it using a switch, but the way I actually
equalize my batteries is with my PV panels and a switch on the PV regulator.
I understand that unvented batteries (AGM, gell, etc) must not be equalized as
the gassing will make the seal fail and then the electrolyte will dry out. To
top off these batteries perhaps PV panels are needed.
The most economical source for high output alternators seems to be re-winders
who modify stock alternators. I sent the contact info in to the List some time
ago to one I knew of. Perhaps it is in the archive. Or just Googol it.
There was an article recently in Ocean Navigator magazine outlining how to make
an alternator vent. Essentially one makes a fiberglas cowling that fits over
one end of the alternator that attaches to a dryer vent hose to outside the
engine compartment to suck cool air into the alternator.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
----- Original Message -----
From: ahmet erkan
To: [email protected]
Sent: 4/28/2011 11:27:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin ($300 Question)
Hi Norm,
Other than your Delco and Chrysler comments I don't agree with anything said
on the list about this subject.
Balmar is just a rip off outfit trying to take advantage of inexperienced folks
willing to pay $300 for a product (ie: Balmar's stupid ARS 5 regulator)
performing
no useful functionality that a $20 Mopar regulator could not perform.
One of your 80C thermal switches for the exhaust system or whatever you
were using them for would work great to protect the alternator as well. (for a
lot less
than $300 too).
The bottom line is, I do not know why but cruisers are not interested about
equilizing their batteries.
I asked this very list if anybody while underway would be interested in a
product that would allow them to
shut down their engine after a bulk charge when the alternator output drops to
say 80% of bulk
charge current yet still be able to equlize their battery? There was exactly
zero
interest to the question. So why should any cruiser invest $300 in the rip off
company
Balmar to equilize their batteries using the alternator?
Fair question?
Fair winds.
Ahmet
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:46:19 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin
>
>
>
> The perfect setup might be a Delco internally regulated alternator to keep
> the starting battery topped up, plus a large (150-200 Amp) externally
> regulated unit for the house battery.
>
>
> Norm
> S/V Bandersnatch
>
> >
> > Just a personal opinion: internally regulated alternators and
> > live-aboard boats are kinda like matter and anti-matter. Yeah, you *can*
> > get energy out of the combination, but you might also accidentally
> > destroy the world. :)
> >
>
>
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