Battery system for distance cruising

[Ted Pounds]

Paul,

Steve aka waterdog, sold his boat a few years ago and I do not think he's around here anymore, he's sailing a 40 ft catamaran, most likely in MX by now.

Scroll up. Steve just posted here 1 March. 

[KWKloeber]

Tacking onto Stu's observation about simplicity - how I read Steve's comments is:

(not necessarily recommending it but) IF you go big (say 100a) you need to consider all that junk he lists.  SO INSTEAD consider going moderate Leece (say 70-ish, the trade off being it would be internally reg.) ie, keep it KISS.

THAT SAID, the new drop in Universal replacements that Rod will soon (if not already) have available look like a REALLY GOOD compromise.
Billet pulley
Drop in foot
72a
On the back reg w/ 2-stage, remote sense able
What else am I missing?
(beside that if it's Rod's, you know it's a 2x quality piece of machinery for the money.)

It's not a $70 reman, but it's a nice compromise between that and a full blown $$$$$ charging system re-do (if your style doesn't require that.)

[mainesail]

Tacking onto Stu's observation about simplicity - how I read Steve's comments is:

(not necessarily recommending it but) IF you go big (say 100a) you need to consider all that junk he lists.  SO INSTEAD consider going moderate Leece (say 70-ish, the trade off being it would be internally reg.) ie, keep it KISS.

THAT SAID, the new drop in Universal replacements that Rod will soon (if not already) have available look like a REALLY GOOD compromise.
Billet pulley
Drop in foot
72a
On the back reg w/ 2-stage, remote sense able
What else am I missing?
(beside that if it's Rod's, you know it's a 2x quality piece of machinery for the money.)

It's not a $70 reman, but it's a nice compromise between that and a full blown $$$$$ charging system re-do (if your style doesn't require that.)

Just building the first ones now.  We can also build them in a 90A or 105A version too. Still, for cruising, an external regulator correctly wired is the way to go, unless you have lots of solar...

[Stu Jackson]

Paul,

Steve aka waterdog, sold his boat a few years ago and I do not think he's around here anymore, he's sailing a 40 ft catamaran, most likely in MX by now.

Scroll up. Steve just posted here 1 March. 

Ted,

I am AN IDIOT!!!   

Thanks for noting.

Hey, Steve, hi to Tracy!  Great to see you still hangin' with us po' folk! 

[KWKloeber]

Just building the first ones now.  We can also build them in a 90A or 105A version too. Still, for cruising, an external regulator correctly wired is the way to go, unless you have lots of solar...

RC, clear up my confusion -- are you saying that the 90a/105a w/ the back-on adj regulator is a drop-in for a Universal M25 (etc.)?
I thought you don't want to push that high w/o getting into WP/crank pulley/belt changes?

-ken

[mainesail]

Ultimately, if pushing beyond 90A or so, especially with high acceptance batteries or even large flooded banks, the optimal solution is a serpentine kit. Unfortunately these serpentine pulleys do not fit the LN frames and you'd need to be into a Delco style frame. Lots of options... 

Good points here.  One thing MS and I have discussed over the years is external regulators and how Small Engine Mode can help, too.  If you look at Elec 101 you'll see those discussions.

[KWKloeber]

Thanks RC, perfect explanation.

"Catalina Special"..

I hope you'll market it beyond that - there's lots others out there with M-25s!

-k

[DaveBMusik]

As an aside for anyone dealing with belt issues, I put on a Balmar serpentine kit on my Yanmar 3YM30 and works beautifully.

[KWKloeber]

Lots of options...

RC,

Do I interpret it correctly that your slap-on adjV LN regulator CANNOT be used on the 2049K (the alternator that I believe was most typical one used on the M-25s?  I would need the ER adapter and an $$$$ER ?

-ken

[Stu Jackson]

Ultimately, if pushing beyond 90A or so, especially with high acceptance batteries or even large flooded banks, the optimal solution is a serpentine kit. Unfortunately these serpentine pulleys do not fit the LN frames and you'd need to be into a Delco style frame. Lots of options... 

Good points here.  One thing MS and I have discussed over the years is external regulators and how Small Engine Mode can help, too.  If you look at Elec 101 you'll see those discussions.

Just so you know, what I have is a 100A Blue Circle alternator , Balmar MC-612 external regulator, AO to house bank, Yandina combiner, Freedom 15 I/C.  I started out with a stock alternator with an AutoMac.

I still run a 3/8" Gates belt, nothing special other than Gates.  I have carefully adjusted my bracket based on MS's excellent advice (also posted in both Critical Upgrades and the 101 Topics).

Operationally, the Small Engine Mode use is discussed in the Elec 101s.