Views on alternator to battery charging systems?

It will probably do exactly what it says in the blurb and, if it is like other Sterling products, will do it well. If your system falls into the categories described (ECU, warranty issues, etc.) then it may be the one for you but the simpler control unit like the Sterling Pro-Digital that increases the alternator output, + a VSR to split the charge, will do the job on most boats and doesn't need as much real estate or cooling as this unit and is about half the cost and comes with a simple reversion to the standard alternator regulator by simply disconnecting one wire.
 
Without some details of you existing system, it is difficult to advise, but the Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altreg.htm is what I have fitted. At about £120 it speeds up the charging from the alternator, so that the usual fairly short runs involved in entering and leaving moorings with a sailing boat, together with occasional longer runs when there is no wind, are sufficient to maintain my batteries fully charged from one winter lay-up to the next.

This unit does not need so much cooling, it is mounted on a bulkhead in the stern cabin, close to the engine covers.
 
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dgadee said:
I am thinking of installing an alternator to battery charger (a Sterling Alternator-to-Battery Charger - http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99197766). Has anyone any experience of these? Are there better/cheaper alternatives?

They aren't waterproof, need to be kept cool ... so not sure where I might locate it on a sailing boat.

Philip
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I have one of these, and it has totally transformed my ability to survive off the batteries (24v system) alone - without the need to run the suitcase generator so often. Instead of the 20A (and quickly dropping) charge into my domestic bank from the bare alternators I now get up to 37A that holds until the batteries are getting fully charged when it starts to drop as required - Just like my mains powered charger.
yes, very expensive, but I am very pleased with the results.
 
dgadee said:
I am thinking of installing an alternator to battery charger (a Sterling Alternator-to-Battery Charger - http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99197766). Has anyone any experience of these? Are there better/cheaper alternatives?

They aren't waterproof, need to be kept cool ... so not sure where I might locate it on a sailing boat.

Philip
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An advantage is that you can get alternator voltage boost without modifying the alternator. Other than that I would have thought that separate charge controller and splitter does the job just as well and probably cheaper in total.
My Driftgate units need no cooling, which presumably wastes energy.
 
The advantage of the Alternator-Battery chargers, I think you will find, is that they require no modification of or internal connections to the alternator.
They are purely add-on devices that can be disconnected at any time if needs be but which give simultaneous enhanced charging of the house battery bank and basic charging of the starter battery.
The alternator continues to be controlled by its original regulator, the rest being achieved by electronic wizardry.

By contrast I think you will find that the "Digital Advanced Regulator" requires internal connections to be made to the alternator. This may compromise the warranty. It takes over, at least in part, the controlling function of the alternators own regulator.
I don't think any of the Digital advanced regulators include provision for independent charging of two banks so a manual system, a diode splitter or a VSR is still required.


The VSR suggested by ghostlymoron is purely a means of charging two battery banks automatically from the one basic alternator. There is no element of alternator boosting, or advanced charge control. A basic, simple, no frills means of charging two (or more) batteries without user intervention.
 
I am trying to keep things simple and boat will be mainly on moorings. I intend to keep a charging battery and single house battery separate and charged off one alternator. The Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator documentation doesn't mention whether it charges one or two batteries. If the former, then I would need two of them?

If only electrical engineers could write in English.

Philip

Eygthene said:
Without some details of you existing system, it is difficult to advise, but the Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altreg.htm is what I have fitted. At about £120 it speeds up the charging from the alternator, so that the usual fairly short runs involved in entering and leaving moorings with a sailing boat, together with occasional longer runs when there is no wind, are sufficient to maintain my batteries fully charged from one winter lay-up to the next.
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dgadee said:
I am trying to keep things simple and boat will be mainly on moorings. I intend to keep a charging battery and single house battery separate and charged off one alternator. The Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator documentation doesn't mention whether it charges one or two batteries. If the former, then I would need two of them?

If only electrical engineers could write in English.

Philip
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The DART controls the alternator. One alternator, one DART.

To charge two batteries you will also either need manual switching, a diode splitter or a VSR. The DART will work well with a diode splitter. It is a "battery sensed" device and so compensates for the voltage drop across the diode splitter.

If it is a simple and basic add on system you require without all the boosting, and fancy multistage alternator control etc then Ghostlymoron's suggestion is the way forward.

If it is a fancy charging system, to squeeze the most out of the alternator and to charge the batteries brim full then there are various sytems to look at in addition to Mr Stirlings offerings. Diftgate has already been mentioned.
 
Simplest is a 1-2-OFF switch with your brain as controller, next a diode splitter - drops some voltage but your smart charger covers it - and stops one battery discharging into the other, then comes a VSR (voltage sensing relay) that charges one battery first then switches to the other.
I manage quite happily with a 1-2-OFF switch (actually separate switch for each battery), a voltmeter and a smart alternator controller. Boat is on a mooring and, since adding the controller, battery charge has been no problem.
 
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dgadee said:
I am trying to keep things simple and boat will be mainly on moorings. I intend to keep a charging battery and single house battery separate and charged off one alternator. The Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator documentation doesn't mention whether it charges one or two batteries. If the former, then I would need two of them?

If only electrical engineers could write in English.

Philip
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My one has two outputs, firstly it charges to the starter battery.
Once the starter battery is charged it switches over to the domestic bank, and charges them in exactly the same way as a 'smart' mains charger. - As others have said, it is very simple to install and requires no modification the the alternators.
 
BGW said:
My one has two outputs, firstly it charges to the starter battery.
Once the starter battery is charged it switches over to the domestic bank, and charges them in exactly the same way as a 'smart' mains charger. - As others have said, it is very simple to install and requires no modification the the alternators.
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That being an Alternator to Battery charger as per the original post!

It is stated above that the AB1290 has been discontinued but that presumably leaves the 80 and 130 amp versions as well as the 160 amp and 210 amp units
 
dgadee said:
I am thinking of installing an alternator to battery charger (a Sterling Alternator-to-Battery Charger - http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99197766). Has anyone any experience of these? Are there better/cheaper alternatives?

They aren't waterproof, need to be kept cool ... so not sure where I might locate it on a sailing boat.

Philip
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Yes, had one on last boat, they are great. I dont think they are actually that expensive, a standard alternator controller + VSR or Diode costs + hassle of install costs about the same, certinaly not loads more expensive.
I managed to squeeze it in the same locker as the batteries to keep the cables as short as possible.
 
VicS said:
The DART controls the alternator. One alternator, one DART.

To charge two batteries you will also either need manual switching, a diode splitter or a VSR.
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I think this is the direction I'm leaning in (using a SmartBank as VSR since I already have a SmartGauge). However, what I can't get my head around is what happens to the fully-charged engine battery while the DART is busy encouraging the alternator to produce lots of Rich Chunky Volts for the benefit of the discharged house battery. Does the engine battery not end up being overcharged?

Pete
 
The alternator to battery charger seems quite a good idea. I did not buy one when I was looking at based on cost, but then I was able to fit my system myself.

So I ended up with the sterling booster with a spliting diode feeding each battery: starter and domestic. There is a direct feed to the starter motor from the starter battery. There is also a 1-2 both switch.

The whole thing works well as I do not have to switch the switch to charge either battery or both: both banks are charged what ever position the 1-2 both switch (except off). Additionally the booster battery sensor wire is the battery side of the diode so there is no voltage lose and on the bigger generally more discharged domestic batteries.

The fixing of the wires to the alternator is slightly scarry but quite doable, but to be cost effective against the alternator to battery charger I guess it needs to be a DIY job.
 
I fitted a Sterling Alternator to Battery Charger at the start of the year and am very happy with the results.

It charges up the batteries much quicker than before. It also seems to keep the batteries in better condition.

There is now also no issue with a crew member actually turning a battery switch when the engine is running. All the batteries will be charged whatever the switch settings.

Cooling hasn't been an issue, but it took me a while to work out where best to mount it. I managed to fit it unobtrusively in one of the aft cabins, so close to the alternator & batteries.
 
dgadee said:
I am trying to keep things simple and boat will be mainly on moorings. I intend to keep a charging battery and single house battery separate and charged off one alternator. The Stirling Digital Advanced Alternator regulator documentation doesn't mention whether it charges one or two batteries. If the former, then I would need two of them?
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What problem are you trying to solve?

If you have a 1-2-both battery switch it will do that, if you get a VSR it will do that for you, if your alternator isn't charging properly there may be a problem with the alternator

Looking at the image on your original link it suggests it will charge both batteries, but the VSR and the 1-2-both switch are much cheaper :)
 
snooks said:
What problem are you trying to solve?

If you have a 1-2-both battery switch it will do that, if you get a VSR it will do that for you, if your alternator isn't charging properly there may be a problem with the alternator

Looking at the image on your original link it suggests it will charge both batteries, but the VSR and the 1-2-both switch are much cheaper :)
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The alternator is reasonably new and working - it's not the problem. Stupidity, lack of care, and poor memory are the problems I want to solve. I want to be in the position not to have to worry about batteries and always have a charged starter battery available (engine can't be hard started) an also not to have batteries being undercharged. My ideal system is one where I switch on the engine for a bit, it sorts out the batteries as required, and I don't have to think about switching switches between batteries etc.

I am coming to see that there are two Sterling approaches. Either you have a system which is wired into the alternator and controls it, or there is a system which controls the output from the alternator without actually having to add wires etc. to the alternator. The first is half the price of the second, so it's down to how much work I want to do.

Philip
 
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