Ahmet,
Maybe I'm confused. I was certain the Balmar regulator had temperature
sensors (optional, extra cost) for both the alternator AND the battery
bank?.
And, again by the way, I keep reading about people traveling on the
intracoastal waterway along the east coast, doesn't that kinda reduce the
opportunity for sailing anyway?
As well as calm days, too much wind, needing to go directly upwind with
little time for tacking etc.
All plenty of uses for the 'iron genny'
I always wondered, would it be best to mount all the batteries in one's bank
on a thick aluminum plate so that one sensor could read some kind of
'average' temperature?
Eric Thompson
Sunnyvale, California
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "ahmet erkan" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin ($300 Question)
I see your point Eric.
Furthermore, the high fuel costs could be used to amortise the
cost of a high quality reliable alternator as well as the fancy regulator.
In fact we should just give up the rag and burn more and more fuel to move
our boats so that we could just about amortise anything we want.
Seriously there is nothing wrong with the Balmar regulator other than the
undeserving price and the misleading claims that it performs some very
important functions to justify that price. The facts are any regulator would
do
what Balmar does if one can use a voltmeter and turn an adjustment screw.
A simple regulator should sense the output current of the alternator and
enable the user armed with a $80 voltmeter to adjust the limit and protect
his alternator. This is the critical function the overpriced Balmar ought to
perform but it does not.
By the way, I hope you don't mind a little sarcasm. I do it only because
I have known you writing on this list for more than ten years and I know
that you know there is no malice. Just a little fun.
Fair winds and happy drinks my friend.
Ahmet
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:17:58 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin ($300 Question)
>
> Ahmet,
> All that would be absolutely true if you only ran the engine to charge the
> batteries.
> However as soon as one realizes it is only for use while the engine is
> being
> used to MOVE THE BOAT then the regulator becomes much more valuable.
> For you need not pay any attention to the charging process, it is
> automatic, so you can pilot the boat and enjoy the day. Amortized over
> just
> 5 years the price comes down to a small percentage of the cost of the
> fuel.
> The oil companies probably take that in fuel cost increases every week.
> Personally I prefer Norm's method of installing enough solar panels to
> finish the charge cycle after I drop anchor and am sitting in the cockpit
> sipping a cool drink before preparing my evening meal.
> Or I would, if I could still go boating...
>
>
> Eric Thompson
> Sunnyvale, California
> [email protected]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ahmet erkan" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 6:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin ($300 Question)
>
>
>
> Dear Eric,
> Running an engine at light load is inefficient to begin with. As someone
> suggested increasing the
> engine rpm to cool your cheap alternator makes the process further
> inefficient. If you want to make
> matters worse get your lovely Balmar regulator to reduce the load too. But
> wait.....there is more....
> After you bulk charged your batteries inefficiently, you get to run your
> engine for an extra six hours
> at virtually no load and use your lovely miracle regulator to
> automatically
> equilize your batteries.
> Such a deal..............
> All I gotta say is if some of us are enamored with Balmar and consider it
> the best thing since
> the invention of sliced bread, good for you keep using it. The others who
> prefer to invest the $300
> towards extra copper and high quality bearings in the alternator don't
> need
> your magical regulator.
> Good luck to you my friend.
> SV8827
> Ahmet
>
> NOTE : Anybody out there who wants to top off or equilize batteries
> without
> running their
> engine? We can talk about that.
>
>
>
> > From: [email protected]
> > To: [email protected]
> > Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:27:49 -0700
> > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery questoin ($300 Question)
> >
> > Ahmet,
> > There are some features of the Balmar regulator that may have been
> > overlooked.
> > Such as:
> > Automatically modifying the charging setpoints based on battery
> > temperature,
> > Automatically REDUCING charge current when the alternator temperature
> > gets
> > too high, not just shutting down the charging system.
> > Allowing custom settings for switching between bulk, absorption, and
> > float
> > modes.
> >
> > And, by the way, shutting down the charging system before attaining a
> > FULL
> > charge is a MAJOR CAUSE of the need for equalizing...
> >
> > It will also greatly reduce the lifespan of AGM batteries.
> >
> > My 2 cents.
> >
> >
> > Eric Thompson
> > Sunnyvale, California
> > [email protected]
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "ahmet erkan" <[email protected]>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 8:26 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
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