Magnetti Merelli alternators

[oldjohnnyb]

I’ve been told that the 50 amp Magnetti Merelli alternator currently installed on ford engines cannot be fitted with a battery management system because the unit has an integrated brush and regulator assembly which means it is not practical to tap in an external regulator to supply the rotor.
Is this true?


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[chippie]

I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your management system (Sterling /Adverc etc.) They will have specific information.

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[oldjohnnyb]

Thanks for the suggestion Chippie. I’ve asked for advice from Adverc and they are not up to speed on this issue but as ever in their usual helpful way they are offering to look at the alternator. Unfortunately the unit is in constant use until lay up. Another manufacturer I approached about a week ago has still to reply.

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[charles_reed]

The Magnetti Marelli alternator can be modified to be used with the Adverc regulator - certainly my Hitachi could by cutting the field connection and attaching that to the regulator.

You may find that the output is somewaht inadequate - I now sport a 100 amp Magnetti Marelli instead of the original 35 amp Hitachi.



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[oldjohnnyb]

Yes I appreciate that way to adapt an alternator to work with all the fancy battery management system currently on the market is to tap into the field at the brushes. It has been suggested by the engine supplier that the 50amp alternator provided has a combined brush assembly which makes it impractical to tap in. It is not a problem with other Merelli alternators on the market.
Thanks Charles for your thoughts.


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[chippie]

Coming at the problem from another angle, could you get another brand of alternator from a wrecked vehicle and give it to Adverc to get up to spec for you?
Once done, its just a swap job.

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[charles_reed]

A new 70 amp "short" Lucas marinised alternator, ready modified, from Adverc will cost you about £160 - fit that and have the Magnetti Marelli converted at your leisure.
This will fit in place of your current one.

One of the spares I always carry is an alternator

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[charles_reed]

A new 70 amp "short" Lucas marinised alternator, ready modified, from Adverc will cost you about £160 - fit that and have the Magnetti Marelli converted at your leisure.
This should fit in place of your current one.

One of the spares I always carry is an alternator

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[chippie]

Do you carry a spare starter motor?

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[oldjohnnyb]

Thank you chippie and charles for your further suggestions. The boat is a club boat and I suggested installing a different alternator but was over ruled. The engine supplier was offering a battery management system which needed no modifications to the alternator. In the event the unit they were offering failed to materialise due to production difficulties. I posted the question on the PBO Forum hoping to confirm that the 50 amp merelli alternator cannot be modified is true. It has crossed my mind that they wanted to use the engine installation they provided as a candidate for their new unit.

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