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Wed, February 05 2025, 04:48 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5], 6, 7, 8, 9 ]

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Date Posted: - Tuesday - 12/15/09 - 9:02am
Author: Paul - 1971 M31 - #106
Subject: Alternator
In reply to: Randall 's message, "alternator and hardwire" on - Tuesday - 12/15/09 - 1:44am

Here's a good link to an article on alternators: http://www.autoshop101.com/trainmodules/alternator/alt112.html

You can pick up a working alternator with built-in regulator at any wrecking place. Pulling them apart, cleaning and replacing worn components is a breeze.

Here's an article on rewiring - http://www.tongacharter.com/report-wire.htm

Careful with 12V - I almost burned my boat down because I let down my guard. 12V will not "blow" wiring or equipment, rather it will make it glow like a light bulb... Once I accidentally shorted a small line to hot and it instantly lit up, with burning insulation dripping off it, as far as I could follow it... I was waiting for it to fail (too hot to touch) but it never did - just kept on glowing bright orange and the boat was filling with toxic black smoke from the burning, dripping insulation. after what seemed an eternity (maye 2 seconds) I wrapped a screwdriver around the glowing wire and tore it loose. Not knowing what was set aglow in areas that I could not see, I stayed on the boat (in the fumes) for at least a half hour to make sure nothing would "puff" into flames behind my back.

12V is very dangerous because it gives most folks a sense of harmlessness because it doesn't bite. But believe me, it will set anything and everything on fire if you let it.

If you have a starting battery sitting around somewhere, just practice with a small piece of wire - accross the two terminals - it will light up and glow forever.

FWIW

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Replies:

[> [> Alternator regulators -- Steve M32 SEAN O'Sea, - Tuesday - 12/15/09 - 10:51am

I went with an older style Delco with an external regulator so that I could hook up one of the newer multi-stage marine regulators to it. My understanding is that can't be done with one of the newer internally regulated alternators. If you want a mind-numbing treatise on the subject muddle your way through Calders' "Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual" If you only have one battery bank and do not stay on the hook for more than two days or so you may not need a fancy setup and could go with an internally regulated model. I wanted two banks (starting and house) and the ability to keep the batteries topped off (see Calder). This is a subject with more opinions than there are boaters and it is changing all the time so take everything said with a big grain of salt and do your own research.


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