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Richard Casady

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:16:11 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:06:34 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:30:06 -0500, wrote:

In fact, I have to monitor things carefully and turn on interior
lights to bleed off the surplus, so I don't overcharge the batteries
when motorsailing with the outboard running - even at low speeds.

Voltage regulator? Evidently the one you have is not smart enough.

Casady

Oh course it's not, Dummy. It's a small outboard motor charging
system. They are primitive. If I wanted to add more complexity to it,
I could add an external regulator. I don't feel the need for that,
anymore than I need a regulator to adjust the mainsail trim by itself.

I don't recall any battery problems with the old electromechanical
ones. Those were huge, of course. If you have to adjust the load to
suit the regulator, it isn't worthy of the name. These days smart
costs next to nothing, and takes up next to no space. No excuse for
primitive, when it doesn't work. You can supervise an alternator, if
you like: some are busy driving the boat. or whatever.

Casady