Watermota advice please.

[wooslehunter]

Hi All,

I have a Watermota Sea Panther fitted & am considering changing the electrics.

I'd be interested in hearing what anyone else has fitted or any ideas. I have a 24v bank for starting & a 12v bank for domestic. Therefore I can't cross couple for starting if the engine bank fails. Both systems are totally independant with two alternators. The 12v alternator is bodged on and not actually fitted to the engine so any vibration movement in the engine causes stresses on the alternator bearings.

I'm considering replacing the domestic bank with 24v and using a 24->12 dc-dc converter to run the domestics. That way I can remove the 12v alternator which is bodged on anyway and also be able to cross couple for starting if the engine bank fails. I can charge from the single engine mounted 24v alternator.

What do you have? Any other ideas please?

For those who don't know - the Sea Panther is basically a Ford 1600 cross-flow block (Cortina etc) marinised & converted to diesel. Hence the compression ratio is increased & the 12v starter is run at 24v for a limited engagement period. To fit a 24v starter is a major mod although I'm surprised it was never done when the Sea Panther was developed.

Best regards,

Dave

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[mtb]

I agree it's a good idea to have one voltage and the black box side of things is straight forwards as long as you allow plenty of spare amperage.

Re the vibrations affecting the alternator bearings !! not really a problem as long as the belt is not to tight and the alignment is good.

Cheers
Mick

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[celandine]

Dave

My Seapanther has always only functioned on a standard 12V system - as was originally fitted by Nicholson. I have not heard of them being run on 24V. I wonder if your original special Seapanther starter has been replaced with a standard Cortina starter, and consequently needs the extra volts in order to do the biz.

Good luck with it.

Mick

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