Regarding the Hitachi alternators, I believe these are "N" type alternators.
The smart regulators made by folks like Xantrex only work with "P" type
alternators. I think this N/P business is something to do with the way the
diodes are wired. I think you can make the necessary changes in the Hitachi
but it may not be cost-effective.

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Anyone out there have any experience or words of wisdom to offer on
removing the internal regulator from a small alternator like a Hitachi
LR135-31 so as hook up an external unit that will properly charge GEL or
AGM batteries?

--

Roger Long

The battery / alternator shop (which supplies a lot of the local
boatyards) assured me that the AGM batteries would do just fine with
the stock alternator/regulator. Since they easily could have sold me
a new one, I'm inclined to believe them.

If this was a power boat, I might still be inclined to look for a more
sophisticated charger. The 35 amp alternator isn't going to run
enough to do much charging on our sailboat anyway. I'll be putting in
a good shorepower driven charger with three step charging so that is
what the batteries will mostly see at the top end of the charge cycle
where it is most critical.

--

Roger Long

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 19:54:22 GMT, "Gordon Wedman"
wrote:

Regarding the Hitachi alternators, I believe these are "N" type alternators.
The smart regulators made by folks like Xantrex only work with "P" type
alternators. I think this N/P business is something to do with the way the
diodes are wired. I think you can make the necessary changes in the Hitachi
but it may not be cost-effective.


Basicly a "N' type alternator has the regulator hooked into the
Negative side of the alternator where a "P" type will be hooked to the
Positive or "IN" side.
It denotes which side of the alternator the regulator switches from.
Mark E. Williams