"The Floating Bear" wrote in message
k...

drop on the engine even with my poor little 35A alternator. However, a
controller that let me get more of the 35A out usefully would be very
handy.

I think something should be clarified here.

You can't get more amperage out of an alternator than it is rated. Your 35
amp alternator will only output something slightly less than 35 amps, no
matter what kind of charge controller you use.

The main advantage of the any charge controller is the ability to keep the
alternator charging at or near it's max. for a longer period of time, until
a charge level has been reached. The alternator regulator begins tapering
off at an earlier stage than is normal required for boat batteries and
engine run requirements.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Steve" wrote in
om:

you want to charge a large battery bank in short order

Help IS on the way, guys! This is Toshiba's new Li-Ion battery, on its way
into your new electric car.....and boat.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm

Lead acid batteries, no matter how much you spend on AGM or some other
amazingly hyped technology, cannot be recharged fast, as fast as the poster
would like. The chemistry is not up to it....Toshiba's is.

80% charge in 60 seconds.......100% in 3 minutes.....1% capacity loss after
1000 cycles....soon to be used in industrial and automotive applications,
which means it'll have some very serious amp-hour capacities.

I think we FINALLY have a quick-charge battery on the horizon. Golf Cart
and AGMs will soon be forgotten relics of the Edison Age. Read about how
SMALL AND LIGHT they are per amp-hour rating!

--
Larry

In article ,
(Steve) wrote:

I think something should be clarified here.

It's OK, I already realised all that. I am looking for a way of getting
the most efficient use from my 35A unit within its capacity in the short
time of engine running available anyway in normal use of the boat.

Regards,
Jerry

AGMs can be charged very fast. But not like the LiIon technology.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Steve" wrote in
om:

you want to charge a large battery bank in short order

Help IS on the way, guys! This is Toshiba's new Li-Ion battery, on its
way
into your new electric car.....and boat.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm

Lead acid batteries, no matter how much you spend on AGM or some other
amazingly hyped technology, cannot be recharged fast, as fast as the
poster
would like. The chemistry is not up to it....Toshiba's is.

80% charge in 60 seconds.......100% in 3 minutes.....1% capacity loss
after
1000 cycles....soon to be used in industrial and automotive applications,
which means it'll have some very serious amp-hour capacities.

I think we FINALLY have a quick-charge battery on the horizon. Golf Cart
and AGMs will soon be forgotten relics of the Edison Age. Read about how
SMALL AND LIGHT they are per amp-hour rating!

--
Larry

CAn;t get something for nothing. Doesn;t matter how fast they can be charged
if you are limited in charging capacity (ie alternator). I can just see the
marketing. CHarges in
5 minutes (opps! Need a 2000A altrnator to do it).

Doug

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Steve" wrote in
om:

you want to charge a large battery bank in short order

Help IS on the way, guys! This is Toshiba's new Li-Ion battery, on its
way
into your new electric car.....and boat.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm

Lead acid batteries, no matter how much you spend on AGM or some other
amazingly hyped technology, cannot be recharged fast, as fast as the
poster
would like. The chemistry is not up to it....Toshiba's is.

80% charge in 60 seconds.......100% in 3 minutes.....1% capacity loss
after
1000 cycles....soon to be used in industrial and automotive applications,
which means it'll have some very serious amp-hour capacities.

I think we FINALLY have a quick-charge battery on the horizon. Golf Cart
and AGMs will soon be forgotten relics of the Edison Age. Read about how
SMALL AND LIGHT they are per amp-hour rating!

--
Larry

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in news:t-
:

AGMs can be charged very fast. But not like the LiIon technology.



Let's charge a 500AH AGM battery in 30 minutes from 50% at 500A and watch
it happen.

I'll be some 500 yards off observing the proceeding through HEAVY
lenses..(c;

Question - If AGMs are such great chargers, so fast, why don't Honda and
Toyota hybrids have AGM batteries...instead of Ni-MH??

--
Larry

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in
news:5fmdnbJp2bOrirrenZ2dnUVZ_s2dnZ2d@cablespeedmd .com:

Need a 2000A altrnator to do it

AT this point, we pull the shaft out of the boat and connect the 2000A
alternator to where the transmission used to be. Then, propulsion will be
by traction motor, similar to every submarine under you, driven by the
diesel-electric, which also doubles as a 2000A alternator on the hook to
charge the massive Li-Ion banks.

It's time to think ELECTRIC! They'll charge slower, several minutes, at
the dock. We only gots 50A 115VAC, you know...(c;

--
Larry

In article , (Larry)
wrote:

Read about how
SMALL AND LIGHT

.. . . and EXPENSIVE, no doubt :-)


Regards,
Jerry

The Floating Bear wrote:
I found in a wonderful resource I had not seen before,

http://www.practical-sailor.com/news...Questions4.pdf

a reference today to a design in The 12 Volt Doctor's Practical Handbook
for an alternator controller. It's not an easy book to get in the UK and I
wonder if anyone who has a copy would be able to tell me more about the
section of the book that deal with this project, or perhaps scan and mail
it if it's not too long.

Regards,
Jerry (Remove the obvious from my address to mail me)

You don't need plans to build a manual alternator controller. Just buy
a rheostat rated for 12 volts and however much current will be going
into the alternator field wire and hook it up between the battery and
the alternator field wire. Thats what I did when my regulator died
when I was cruising, and it worked like a charm; charged the batteries
much quicker than the old regulator. You have to have a good voltage
meter on your battery bank and know at what voltage to start tapering
down the charge so you don't fry your batteries.

Andy