"Smart" alternator regulator choice

[eddystone]

I have Volvo 2002 with 50 ah alternator (1986/7 vintage) and 1 x 85ah sealed engine and 2 X 85 ah parallel domestic bank . Would a Sterling Power Digital Advanced 12v Alternator Regulator – AR12VD be an appropriate regulator?

 

[VicS]

I have Volvo 2002 with 50 ah alternator (1986/7 vintage) and 1 x 85ah sealed engine and 2 X 85 ah parallel domestic bank . Would a Sterling Power Digital Advanced 12v Alternator Regulator – AR12VD be an appropriate regulator?

Thats one option. You may wish to also add a diode splitter if you do not already have one.
The downside is that you have to make a small modification to the alternator.

The alternative is an Alternator to Battery charger eg AB1280 which will give you enhanced charging of the domestic bank and bog-standard charging of the engine battery without requiring any alternator mod and without any other split charging device

 

[prv]

The alternative is an Alternator to Battery charger eg AB1280 which will give you enhanced charging of the domestic bank and bog-standard charging of the engine battery without requiring any alternator mod and without any other split charging device

It is significantly more expensive, though, and for the difference in price I'd live with opening the alternator

Pete

 

[Cardo]

It is significantly more expensive, though, and for the difference in price I'd live with opening the alternator

Pete

That's what I did.

 

[eddystone]

It is significantly more expensive, though, and for the difference in price I'd live with opening the alternator

Pete

Do you think that is a step too far for someone who's ability with electrics stretches to changing a plug? When I spoke to Sterling technical support they strongly advocated alternator to battery charger as an easier DIY fit (they would say that wouldn't they and even suggested a battery to battery charger although I can't see how that addresses the original requirement. The alternator to battery charger as I understand it, doesn't charge the engine battery more efficiently, only the service bank, although it seems to have built in split charging (isn't that a contradiction?).

 

[sailorman]

Do you think that is a step too far for someone who's ability with electrics stretches to changing a plug? When I spoke to Sterling technical support they strongly advocated alternator to battery charger as an easier DIY fit (they would say that wouldn't they and even suggested a battery to battery charger although I can't see how that addresses the original requirement. The alternator to battery charger as I understand it, doesn't charge the engine battery more efficiently, only the service bank, although it seems to have built in split charging (isn't that a contradiction?).

Just how much charge does an engine battery actually require after starting the engine, virtually nil.

 

[VicS]

Do you think that is a step too far for someone who's ability with electrics stretches to changing a plug? When I spoke to Sterling technical support they strongly advocated alternator to battery charger as an easier DIY fit (they would say that wouldn't they and even suggested a battery to battery charger although I can't see how that addresses the original requirement. The alternator to battery charger as I understand it, doesn't charge the engine battery more efficiently, only the service bank, although it seems to have built in split charging (isn't that a contradiction?).

Yes as I said earlier it gives enhanced charging of the domestic bank and standard charging of the engine battery. That is all that is necessary for the engine battery, even if there is a perceived requirement to charge the domestic bank to some higher level .

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