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#31
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Noise and generators
Alternator is a PowerTap PT59. Can;t remember the specifics
about the belt but I seem to recall it is a Goodyear that I had to special order from Canada. Not that the type of belt was unusual but the length was for some reason. I ordered 4 so I would always have some spares. Doug s/v Callista "Wayne.B" wrote in message ... On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 23:33:42 -0400, "Doug Dotson" wrote: All I can cite is the fact that I have run a 160 amp alternator on a single belt for about 4 years. No slip, no squeel, and full output when needed. =================================== What kind of alternator and what kind of belt? |
#32
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Noise and generators
Wayne.B wrote in
news On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 08:50:10 -0400, "Doug Dotson" wrote: You can go up to a 160 amp alternator without having to resort to a large frame dual belt model. ======================================== Doug, can you cite some references on that? I've never heard of anyone recommending 100+ amps without dual belts. I used to run a 120 amp Balmar on one of my old sailboats with a single belt. Frankly it left a lot to be desired even at 50 to 60 amps - lots of squealing and chewed up belts. It would never get even remotely close to 100 amps, even for short periods. The belt slip was just too much for it. Lionheart's big alternator has only one belt on the alternator's crooked pulley. It only draws 100+ amps for a few minutes, so if you keep the belt tight it's fine. Why does everyone think a 200A alternator is going to charge house batteries at full current for 20 minutes and end up with a fully-charged set of house batteries? That's CRAZY! The amount of current it will draw has NOTHING to do with the peak current an alternator puts out. The alternator puts out its rated output until the battery voltage rises somewhere near the regulator's set voltage, then the current drops DRASTICALLY to a more sane level to safely charge the plates. A surface charge quickly raises the voltage, then the real charging begins SLOWLY creating the chemical reaction, we hope, that recovers most of the lead sulphate in solution back to lead plates before it crystalizes and falls into the bilge of the battery. Your boat can no more fully charge your boat battery at really high currents than your local garage can fully charge your car battery in 20 minutes. It's just a SURFACE charge! To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! Sorry...... Larry The funniest thing at any marina is a boater with a new 4KW inverter carrying his electric heater down the dock with a big smile on his face. |
#33
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Noise and generators
On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 11:11:47 -0000, Larry W4CSC
wrote: To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! ========================================== That's true for a 100% full charge, but a more typical recharge going from 50% up to 75%, only takes a little over an hour with a high output charging system. |
#34
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Noise and generators
I agree - the affect Larry describes happens, but is not that pronounced. My
system (4 6-Volt golf bats, 100 Amp Balmar, Link 2000R) charges initially at a bit over 80 Amps, but spends about an hour gradually dropping through the 70's. When the charge rate goes under 70 Amps, the bank is at about 80%. "Wayne.B" wrote in message ... On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 11:11:47 -0000, Larry W4CSC wrote: To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! ========================================== That's true for a 100% full charge, but a more typical recharge going from 50% up to 75%, only takes a little over an hour with a high output charging system. |
#35
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Noise and generators
Hi, Group(s)...
This and other recent responses (left below for reference) just reinforce my thoughts on wind and solar. Where we're going, wind is nearly a given, all the time, and sunshine, too, for many hours a day. A constant (well, continuous) input at an appropriate rate seems to me to be the best charging, assuming you have the capacity to keep however much you are charging, up. I loved Steve's comment about his fridge running because he'd forgotten to shut it off when he disconnected the batteries, and the solar panels were keeping up with the draw. I'd a whole lot rather keep the batteries topped up and the engine(s) off. I'm into quiet in a big way. Even if it weren't entirely sufficient, perhaps the engine running could be limited to times per week rather than times per day. So, back to an earlier place, I'm getting more serious about the possibility of sale (see earlier for details, and my URL for some pix) of the genset. The few K it might be worth would go a long way toward the installation of a proper arch for solar and wind - and along the way I'd have what I've been told are a very good and pretty pricey set of davits available, too! Maybe selling the davits would allow another battery bank (after the genset left to provide the space, of course!). L8R Skip, and Lydia, by proxy PS for those who ca I'm doing absolutely famously post-op on my shoulder surgery. Checkup is in 4 days, and active rehab begins in 4 weeks. If it's anything like what I've experienced so far, we may have to move our timetable back up! -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig http://tinyurl.com/384p2 "And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are quite alone on a great, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly appreciated by your friends." - James S. Pitkin "Larry W4CSC" wrote in message ... Wayne.B wrote in news On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 08:50:10 -0400, "Doug Dotson" wrote: You can go up to a 160 amp alternator without having to resort to a large frame dual belt model. ======================================== Doug, can you cite some references on that? I've never heard of anyone recommending 100+ amps without dual belts. I used to run a 120 amp Balmar on one of my old sailboats with a single belt. Frankly it left a lot to be desired even at 50 to 60 amps - lots of squealing and chewed up belts. It would never get even remotely close to 100 amps, even for short periods. The belt slip was just too much for it. Lionheart's big alternator has only one belt on the alternator's crooked pulley. It only draws 100+ amps for a few minutes, so if you keep the belt tight it's fine. Why does everyone think a 200A alternator is going to charge house batteries at full current for 20 minutes and end up with a fully-charged set of house batteries? That's CRAZY! The amount of current it will draw has NOTHING to do with the peak current an alternator puts out. The alternator puts out its rated output until the battery voltage rises somewhere near the regulator's set voltage, then the current drops DRASTICALLY to a more sane level to safely charge the plates. A surface charge quickly raises the voltage, then the real charging begins SLOWLY creating the chemical reaction, we hope, that recovers most of the lead sulphate in solution back to lead plates before it crystalizes and falls into the bilge of the battery. Your boat can no more fully charge your boat battery at really high currents than your local garage can fully charge your car battery in 20 minutes. It's just a SURFACE charge! To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! Sorry...... Larry The funniest thing at any marina is a boater with a new 4KW inverter carrying his electric heater down the dock with a big smile on his face. |
#36
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Noise and generators
COmments Below.
Doug s/v CAllista "Skip Gundlach" wrote in message ... Hi, Group(s)... This and other recent responses (left below for reference) just reinforce my thoughts on wind and solar. Where we're going, wind is nearly a given, all the time, and sunshine, too, for many hours a day. A constant (well, continuous) input at an appropriate rate seems to me to be the best charging, assuming you have the capacity to keep however much you are charging, up. Continuous isn;t a requirement, but enought to keep up is. If wind and solar is continuous then just a decent alternator should be able to fill in the gaps. I loved Steve's comment about his fridge running because he'd forgotten to shut it off when he disconnected the batteries, and the solar panels were keeping up with the draw. Why did you love that? A decent set of solar panels can keep up with typical constant-cycling fridge units as they only draw about 5 amps. I'd a whole lot rather keep the batteries topped up and the engine(s) off. I'm into quiet in a big way. Even if it weren't entirely sufficient, perhaps the engine running could be limited to times per week rather than times per day. That is entirely possible, we look forward to that mode. So, back to an earlier place, I'm getting more serious about the possibility of sale (see earlier for details, and my URL for some pix) of the genset. The few K it might be worth would go a long way toward the installation of a proper arch for solar and wind - and along the way I'd have what I've been told are a very good and pretty pricey set of davits available, too! Maybe selling the davits would allow another battery bank (after the genset left to provide the space, of course!). L8R Skip, and Lydia, by proxy PS for those who ca I'm doing absolutely famously post-op on my shoulder surgery. Checkup is in 4 days, and active rehab begins in 4 weeks. If it's anything like what I've experienced so far, we may have to move our timetable back up! -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig http://tinyurl.com/384p2 "And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are quite alone on a great, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly appreciated by your friends." - James S. Pitkin "Larry W4CSC" wrote in message ... Wayne.B wrote in news On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 08:50:10 -0400, "Doug Dotson" wrote: You can go up to a 160 amp alternator without having to resort to a large frame dual belt model. ======================================== Doug, can you cite some references on that? I've never heard of anyone recommending 100+ amps without dual belts. I used to run a 120 amp Balmar on one of my old sailboats with a single belt. Frankly it left a lot to be desired even at 50 to 60 amps - lots of squealing and chewed up belts. It would never get even remotely close to 100 amps, even for short periods. The belt slip was just too much for it. Lionheart's big alternator has only one belt on the alternator's crooked pulley. It only draws 100+ amps for a few minutes, so if you keep the belt tight it's fine. Why does everyone think a 200A alternator is going to charge house batteries at full current for 20 minutes and end up with a fully-charged set of house batteries? That's CRAZY! The amount of current it will draw has NOTHING to do with the peak current an alternator puts out. The alternator puts out its rated output until the battery voltage rises somewhere near the regulator's set voltage, then the current drops DRASTICALLY to a more sane level to safely charge the plates. A surface charge quickly raises the voltage, then the real charging begins SLOWLY creating the chemical reaction, we hope, that recovers most of the lead sulphate in solution back to lead plates before it crystalizes and falls into the bilge of the battery. Your boat can no more fully charge your boat battery at really high currents than your local garage can fully charge your car battery in 20 minutes. It's just a SURFACE charge! To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! Sorry...... Larry The funniest thing at any marina is a boater with a new 4KW inverter carrying his electric heater down the dock with a big smile on his face. |
#37
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Noise and generators
Just make sure solar panels are mounted flat as mine are mounted on an angle
and if prevailing wind is in the wrong direction they do not pick up much sun. "Skip Gundlach" wrote in message ... Hi, Group(s)... This and other recent responses (left below for reference) just reinforce my thoughts on wind and solar. Where we're going, wind is nearly a given, all the time, and sunshine, too, for many hours a day. A constant (well, continuous) input at an appropriate rate seems to me to be the best charging, assuming you have the capacity to keep however much you are charging, up. I loved Steve's comment about his fridge running because he'd forgotten to shut it off when he disconnected the batteries, and the solar panels were keeping up with the draw. I'd a whole lot rather keep the batteries topped up and the engine(s) off. I'm into quiet in a big way. Even if it weren't entirely sufficient, perhaps the engine running could be limited to times per week rather than times per day. So, back to an earlier place, I'm getting more serious about the possibility of sale (see earlier for details, and my URL for some pix) of the genset. The few K it might be worth would go a long way toward the installation of a proper arch for solar and wind - and along the way I'd have what I've been told are a very good and pretty pricey set of davits available, too! Maybe selling the davits would allow another battery bank (after the genset left to provide the space, of course!). L8R Skip, and Lydia, by proxy PS for those who ca I'm doing absolutely famously post-op on my shoulder surgery. Checkup is in 4 days, and active rehab begins in 4 weeks. If it's anything like what I've experienced so far, we may have to move our timetable back up! -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig http://tinyurl.com/384p2 "And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are quite alone on a great, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly appreciated by your friends." - James S. Pitkin "Larry W4CSC" wrote in message ... Wayne.B wrote in news On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 08:50:10 -0400, "Doug Dotson" wrote: You can go up to a 160 amp alternator without having to resort to a large frame dual belt model. ======================================== Doug, can you cite some references on that? I've never heard of anyone recommending 100+ amps without dual belts. I used to run a 120 amp Balmar on one of my old sailboats with a single belt. Frankly it left a lot to be desired even at 50 to 60 amps - lots of squealing and chewed up belts. It would never get even remotely close to 100 amps, even for short periods. The belt slip was just too much for it. Lionheart's big alternator has only one belt on the alternator's crooked pulley. It only draws 100+ amps for a few minutes, so if you keep the belt tight it's fine. Why does everyone think a 200A alternator is going to charge house batteries at full current for 20 minutes and end up with a fully-charged set of house batteries? That's CRAZY! The amount of current it will draw has NOTHING to do with the peak current an alternator puts out. The alternator puts out its rated output until the battery voltage rises somewhere near the regulator's set voltage, then the current drops DRASTICALLY to a more sane level to safely charge the plates. A surface charge quickly raises the voltage, then the real charging begins SLOWLY creating the chemical reaction, we hope, that recovers most of the lead sulphate in solution back to lead plates before it crystalizes and falls into the bilge of the battery. Your boat can no more fully charge your boat battery at really high currents than your local garage can fully charge your car battery in 20 minutes. It's just a SURFACE charge! To fully charge the house batteries takes HOURS of SLOW charging to re-plate the lead which takes TIME!! Sorry...... Larry The funniest thing at any marina is a boater with a new 4KW inverter carrying his electric heater down the dock with a big smile on his face. |
#38
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Noise and generators
On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 08:35:17 GMT, "Andrew and Carmen Foster"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Just make sure solar panels are mounted flat as mine are mounted on an angle and if prevailing wind is in the wrong direction they do not pick up much sun. I've heard of sound being affected by wind, but _sunlight_? G |
#39
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Noise and generators
"Old Nick" wrote in message ... On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 08:35:17 GMT, "Andrew and Carmen Foster" vaguely proposed a theory Just make sure solar panels are mounted flat as mine are mounted on an angle and if prevailing wind is in the wrong direction they do not pick up much sun. I've heard of sound being affected by wind, but _sunlight_? G If the solar panels aint producing any voltage... the fridge is silent |
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