VP 2003 high output Alternator

[mldpt]

HI
Has anybody had experience of 105A Prestolite alternator on a 2003, I am considering investing in one for next season, the original Paris Rhone 55A one has finally died having been repaired several times over the last 10 years, I have A TWC and two 120AH service batteries ans a dedicated starter battery. I gues I have been asking too much of the poor old ParisRhone, thats why it died, I also have a box to take another Battery so I could have three 120AH which 105A alternator could cope with, but will the existing single belt drive cope with it if not how do I double the belts, I know that its a simple job attaching another pully to the engine, and I can purchase a double pully to the alternator, but what about the water pump pully, or do I keep the two seperate and put an adjuster on to the water pump pully. I hope there is somebody who has already done this Modification.
Mike

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[tome]

Mike

Think you'll get more response on the PBO forum, but you will definitely need a double pulley for this mod. Unless you can buy them off the shelf I think my approach would be to go to an engineering firm and have the pulleys made to fit. Get someone down to the boat to check alignment before they make the pulleys. If you simply added another pulley back-to-front you'd be increasing the leverage on all supporting bearings beyond their design loads.

I'd make sure that the centres of the pulleys were well recessed so that the 2 new pulleys are centred fore-and-aft in the same place as existing ones looking from the side of the engine. This would minimise the extra load, especially on the water pump bearing. Also, make sure the fore-aft alignment of all 3 pulleys is spot on or expect alarming belt wear.

Stick this on PBO and I expect you''ll get someone who's done it and still has the wrappers.

Tom

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[petery]

I fitted a 105A Prestolite from Adverc on my 20hp Lister Petter - thinking it would be a straight replacement for the Lucas. The Lister Petter has a single pulley with multi-groove drive belt that doesn't slip while it's delivering 100 amp - but I had to have the pulley modified to take the key on the Prestolite shaft - the pulley doesn't just bolt on.

I made up an idler pulley to tension the drive belt, but in the end, I didn't need to fit it. Obviously the belt is under a lot more strain and I check it regularly and keep a couple of spares to hand

With only one positive output from the generator, I had to ensure that the alternator received some excitation current (as per Adverc literature). through a bleed resistor.

I was told that it takes about 3hp to deliver 100A and you can certainly hear the engine working in neutral when it's delivering the full charge!

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[MainlySteam]

We have a large framed 105 Amp Leece-Neville as a second alternator but on a larger Volvo engine.

You will definitely need two belts (and the comment about Gates ones being good and dust free on the PBO thread matches my experience after trying a few different ones). You may find you can get the engine pulley from Volvo but if not you should still check that the engine bearing loading is ok (our own is but we still set it up with two alternators opposed to each other), and the mount has to be very strong with care to gusset any welded joints at the bolting to engine end of sections if fabricated. The belt adjustment has to be by a threaded stay rotating the alternator, one cannot rely on just swinging the alternator and tightening the bolts through the frame and mount to hold it by friction as is usual on smaller alternators.

Ours is a low reving engine (ours is 2700-3000 rpm max) so is pulleyed to provide full charge at idle engine speed.

The general recommendation is that maximum charge current should be no more than 20% of battery capacity, so unless you plan on increasing your battery bank to 500 Amp Hour or more, it may be worth looking at whether a 105 amp peak charge is advisable for your batteries

John

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by MainlySteam on 19/10/2003 07:47 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Chris_Robb]

I installed a Prestolite 105 4 years ago on a Perkins 4236. It runs on a single belt, which delivers all the powevr needed. There is some black belt dust, but on 200 hours a year the belt shows minimal wear at the end of the year. I always replace the belt every year and have a couple of spares.

Get it from Adverc - who will hold your hand, and should have good info on your engine.


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[williamshugh]

What did you do in the end? I am in a similar situation however I am looking at the 90A prestolite as this uses the same mounting arrangement on the 2003T. Looking at the current output graph for the 90A I really want to fit a smaller pulley otherwise the output will be limited to approx 70A at normal cruising revs, and even less if running at 1500rpm for charging at anchor. It seems though that the oil filter will get in the way of the belt if a smaller (2" or 2.5") pulley is fitted. Any thoughts?

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[jleaworthy]

Volvo do a kit for your engine comprising an additional alternator, drive pulley, drive belt and assembly components. It keeps the same drive to the existing alternator and water pump. If you're interested the Order number is 828944-9. I've no idea of price nowadays but, as it's Volvo, you'll have a fair idea of how cheap it's likely to be!

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[mldpt]

Hi I have bought the Prestolite 105A from Adverc complete with there regulator, and pulley, unfortunatly this is not a straight swop though, the boss that attaches to the engine is not the same size so a spacer has to be made, I have just had one made this morning. I bought mine at the Boat show price £345 inc vat but excluding delivery I hope to have mine fitted either tomorrow or monday, but as engine is Winterised at the moment I wont be running it until the risk of frost has gone.
Mike.

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[williamshugh]

Is the pulley 3" diameter as per the original volvo fit or have you found a way of using a smaller pulley and keeping the belt away from the oil filter?

If you're using a 3" pulley still then the output graphs would suggest you will need plenty of engine revs to get any benefit from the 105A prestolite.

Comments?

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[williamshugh]

Mike,

Did the 105A unit fit OK?

Was there a reason for making up a spacer rather than using the 1" spacer available from Prestolite?

Did you consider the Driftgate controller in place of the Adverc?

I'm trying to finalise what I'm going to fit and finding it difficult to choose!

Hugh

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[mldpt]

Hello Hugh
Like you I was unsure which to buy, so in the end I went for the full Kit from Adverc I was not aware that Prestolite could supply a spacer or I would possibly have gone direct to them for the alternator, but when Ispoke to Adverc on the phone they told me I would need a spacer but not that I could get one from Prestolite, They also pointed out that the bolt hole in the boss was 1/2" and the bolt smaller so a bush was also needed to make the bolt a good fit in to the boss I fortunatly found a short length of steel pipe which did the job perfectly but I guess Prestolite would have supplied that too. any way its all fitted and wired up I have not run the engine yet as the engine is winterised and we are still getting frost. I must say that the detailed drawings Adverc were excellent and wiring was a simple job, I also bought a 150A splitting diode as the one I had was only 60A , some one mentioned the fact that the speed was not sufficient to produce 105A and that it is not possible to fit a smaller pully due to the oil fiter getting in the way, well thats right so I guess I will have to see how it works out, it is possible to mount another alternator above the fuel pump where the pully size is not a problem. I did get a good price from Adverc I thought. I paid £410 complete with splitter and delivery seems a lot of money but if it works it will be money well spent, I have now got 3X 120Ah service and one 50 Ah starter battery so with luck when we do the three peaks yacht race again this year the alternator wont pack up when motoring out to the start. We did the rest of the race with my generator tied down on deck to charge the batteries.
Hope this doesnt confuse you any more, I have a very tired Paris Rhone 55 A alternator 12 year old TWC and a 60A splitting diode going cheap.
Regards Mike.

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[Chris_Robb]

I installed one 4 years ago (from Adverc). Installed on a Perkins 4236, using a single belt, which does not slip even when pumping out 100 amps pulling up the anchor.

This is installed with the Adverc control system and a charge splitter from KDD in Cornwall.

Adverc were absolutely brilliant in their advice and help. Note that you will have to replace all your heavy loaded cables from alternator to battery etc as 100 amps will not run across your existing smaller cables without causing some excessive heat!

Go to Adverc and talk to them. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.adverc.co.uk>http://www.adverc.co.uk</A>

Chris

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[mldpt]

Hi Chris.
Thanks for the possitive responce, its a minefield out there trying to decide which to go for, I have messed about for many years with the original Paris rhone had it repaired several times the diodes seem to be suspect, so have decided to bin it and the TWC and go for the Adverc system I have spoken to them several times but not once did they mention the wire overlaod problem. I have considered changing it and its not a big job so will look at that tomorrow, I a not sure what size they are at the moment. One thing that Adverc did mention was that they fit a pulley that takes a belt of the next size up and to run it on the original crank and water pump pullies this seems strange but apparently this works well so we shall see. I dont have anything that draws as much as your windless so proberbly won't get the full use out of the 105A but at least it wont be working too hard all the time as the Paris Rhone was with the TWC.
Regards Mike

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