Charging advice ?

[Lightwave395]

My recently acquired boat has an MD2040 engine with a seemingly 'standard' 55A alternator feeding 400ah of house gel batteries, a 100ah engine start and a 70ah bow thruster / windlass LA battery fed via a sterling 3 output splitter - probably all a bit archaic I know to many here... and a Sterling 'Ultra' mains charger.

The previous owner appears to have been a bit of a hoarder as amongst the many boxes of new unfitted kit were a Balmar 90A alternator and a Sterling 'advanced' AB12160 alternator to battery regulator / charge controller

As it will likely take me a while to recover from the financial hit of buying the boat I'm not in a position to spends huge more amounts of cash just yet so am pondering on what to do with the items that came with the boat, (some of which are already sold on)

I'm wondering whether to fit the Balmar alternator, the Sterling alternator regulator and a sterling Pro-split I also have - I'm hoping that I can 'get away with' a heavier duty alternator belt as I don't have 500 odd euros to spend on a ribbed belt conversion kit

We don't have high power requirements as we rarely spend more than 1 or 2 nights at anchor, indeed 400ah is probably overkill for us

I had various Sterling Power kit on my previous boat and was actually very happy with both it's reliability and performance

Any suggestions / observations much appreciated ? (other than a fork lift upgrade of some kind)

 

[Concerto]

Personally I would sail for a season to see if you need to fit the new equipment. If not required then sell them and buy something you need for your new boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

A 90 A alternator is pushing the limits for a single belt, especially if you add the advanced regulator. You'd be better off selling those and fitting some solar.

 

[Stemar]

Another vote for a couple of solar panels. Go as big as you can comfortably fit,

Being independent for power is a great encouragement to stay longer in a nice anchorage, even if you can only do it during your holidays

 

[Lightwave395]

Thanks for you guys input, some good suggestions - it would certainly make life easier to buy and add a couple of solar panels rather than spend an indefinable number of hours with head buried in and around the engine bay !

 

[Refueler]

A 90 A alternator is pushing the limits for a single belt, especially if you add the advanced regulator. You'd be better off selling those and fitting some solar.

That was my first thought as well .... I've known a few people swap out standard alternators to higher output - to then wish they hadn't.

Its worth noting also that just because an alternator says 90A ... does not mean it will be pumping out that rate ... if batts are near full even after srating engine, night at anchor etc - the rate will be low.

 

[Boater Sam]

You can run a 90A on a single V belt but there is little margin and it will require frequent adjustment and more frequent replacement to keep it running without squealing when you first start up.
Its not the size of alternator or batteries that is of great importance but the length of time it is run.

 

[yotter]

My recently acquired boat has an MD2040 engine with a seemingly 'standard' 55A alternator feeding 400ah of house gel batteries, a 100ah engine start and a 70ah bow thruster / windlass LA battery fed via a sterling 3 output splitter - probably all a bit archaic I know to many here... and a Sterling 'Ultra' mains charger.

The previous owner appears to have been a bit of a hoarder as amongst the many boxes of new unfitted kit were a Balmar 90A alternator and a Sterling 'advanced' AB12160 alternator to battery regulator / charge controller

As it will likely take me a while to recover from the financial hit of buying the boat I'm not in a position to spends huge more amounts of cash just yet so am pondering on what to do with the items that came with the boat, (some of which are already sold on)

I'm wondering whether to fit the Balmar alternator, the Sterling alternator regulator and a sterling Pro-split I also have - I'm hoping that I can 'get away with' a heavier duty alternator belt as I don't have 500 odd euros to spend on a ribbed belt conversion kit

We don't have high power requirements as we rarely spend more than 1 or 2 nights at anchor, indeed 400ah is probably overkill for us

I had various Sterling Power kit on my previous boat and was actually very happy with both it's reliability and performance

Any suggestions / observations much appreciated ? (other than a fork lift upgrade of some kind)

If you decide not to fit the Sterling AB12160, I may be interested in giving it a home. Incidentally I have a VP2030 with a 90A alternator and have not changed the belt for a few years, so perhaps 200 hours, but I agree 90A is probably the limit for a single V belt.

 

[Lightwave395]

If you decide not to fit the Sterling AB12160, I may be interested in giving it a home. Incidentally I have a VP2030 with a 90A alternator and have not changed the belt for a few years, so perhaps 200 hours, but I agree 90A is probably the limit for a single V belt.

I'll get back to you on the AB12160 - Are you running a plain 'V' belt or one with'ribs' on the inside face ?

 

[Boater Sam]

I'll get back to you on the AB12160 - Are you running a plain 'V' belt or one with'ribs' on the inside face ?

"one with'ribs' on the inside face "
Known as poly vee.
The Vee belt with cogs in is known as cogged vee. They go around smaller pulleys better than a plain smooth sided vee belt.

 

[yotter]

I'll get back to you on the AB12160 - Are you running a plain 'V' belt or one with'ribs' on the inside face ?

It is a Presolite and the belt is ribbed on the inside, its a standard VP belt made by Gates, I do carry a few spare but they seem to last well. I got the alternator from the Starter Alternator company in Plymouth and was a straight swap for the 60A VP Valeo one, except perhaps sone slight changes to the small wires, from a ring to a spade so pretty simple. Only slight downside is its need the engine around 800 to 900 rpm for it to wake up / excite, but no great issue, just avoid tickover, or the no charge alarms go off