Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:

Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

I have both. Since the alt was a drop in replacement for the original
belt driven alt, it was a snap to install. Doing what you propose
will be a bit harder. High amp alts do not tolerate imperfectly
aligned belts and pulleys well at all. Also, verify with the
manufacturer that your engine's bearings will tolerate the side loads
from the new belt. Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

You may be interested in some wiring diagrams I put on my website. It
shows the stock alternator wiring as well as the wiring for the Balmar
setup, some cockpit accessories, and solar power panels. Read the
disclaimer on this page. It's important.

http://www.worldwidewiley.com/2boat.shtml

Consider placing properly sized fuses to protect the boat from shorts
in the high amperage cables. I haven't done this yet.


__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

I have had Balmar alternators and regulators in two of my last boats. Their
MaxCharge 612 regulator is a particularly well designed unit. Get the
alternator temperature probe to protect your alternator from overheating.
Balmar's new open frame design alternators look particularly good for
improved cooling.

David
"Jan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a
belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

They seem to cost more because of the nifty powder coating
and paint job. Check out Ample Power. I've been using them
for years with great success.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Jan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a
belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:
Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

I've been running a 160A Ample Power alternator for several years
on a single belt with no problem. You do need to be careful about
belt tension though. I wish I had the clearance for a large frame unit
(2 belts), but can't do.

Doug
s/v Callista

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 21:39:53 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:


"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:
Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

I've been running a 160A Ample Power alternator for several years
on a single belt with no problem. You do need to be careful about
belt tension though. I wish I had the clearance for a large frame unit
(2 belts), but can't do.

Doug
s/v Callista

Doug -

Interesting. If it works for you, it works for you. But to be clear
for the original poster, that is counter to Balmar's recommendation.
Ample Power prefers 2 belts as well for the 160 amp #4059 model,
though as you say, they tolerate a single belt config with frequent
maintenance. In any event, I stand by my recommendation to the
original poster. From your post, I suspect you agree on the principle,
even though circumstances forced you to go another way. Everything on
a boat is a compromise, isn't it?

For the original poster: Taking 160 amps as an example, you're looking
at a load of about 3 HP + friction losses, which is a *lot* of power
to transfer for a single belt. I imagine that heat dissipation is
also an issue. I'd also note that in practical terms, you don't
always need to allow for rated output, but rather for actual output.
Even 50% discharged, my tiny battery bank won't accept more than
about 65 amps, regardless of the alternator rating. But I still
change my belts often.

Cautionary tale, for whatever it's worth: A friend of mine went with
a single belt rig when he knew he really needed two. That may not
have had anything to do with what happened; no knowing after the fact.
In any event, the belt (a Gates Super HC with only a few engine hours)
seems to have delaminated under load like a retread tire. The outer
portion of the belt was still being driven round and round, but pieces
separated enough to flay the raw water input hose, cutting it almost
in two. Of course, the engine immediately overheated at a most
inopportune time. Not to mention the salt water spraying all over the
engine compartment. And the flooding. And the towing charge, which
could easily have become a salvage claim. By the time they got him
close to home, a gale was blowing and the towboat refused to try to
put him in a slip. So he anchored outside the marina, but didn't have
an engine to set the hook properly. He started dragging about
midnight and wound up about 10 feet from the rocks. He stayed up all
night watching, but there really wasn't much he could do. He still
uses a single belt, but he buys the best industrial belts he can find,
inspects them before every engine start, and changes them at the
first hint of wear or whenever he gets nervous.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:

Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a
belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

I have both. Since the alt was a drop in replacement for the original
belt driven alt, it was a snap to install. Doing what you propose
will be a bit harder. High amp alts do not tolerate imperfectly
aligned belts and pulleys well at all. Also, verify with the
manufacturer that your engine's bearings will tolerate the side loads
from the new belt. Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

You may be interested in some wiring diagrams I put on my website. It
shows the stock alternator wiring as well as the wiring for the Balmar
setup, some cockpit accessories, and solar power panels. Read the
disclaimer on this page. It's important.

http://www.worldwidewiley.com/2boat.shtml

Consider placing properly sized fuses to protect the boat from shorts
in the high amperage cables. I haven't done this yet.

Thanks for reply, my engine is only 10 HP, and I need an alternator approx.
60 amps. I have seen similar done earlier on these engines, as the flywheel
alternator is some job to maintain or change.

Jan

The Ample Power #4059 is a small frame single pulley unit which
is the one I have. I don't see where one can be had
with dual belts. All the dual belt units are large frame and unfortunately
I don't have the room for one. I've been using the same belt for 3 years
now and it isn;t showing any substantial and that includes a trip to down
the ICW, Bahamas and back. So, if adjusted properly a single belt
unit wil work although I would prefer to have dual belts if I could.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 21:39:53 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:


"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:
Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

I've been running a 160A Ample Power alternator for several years
on a single belt with no problem. You do need to be careful about
belt tension though. I wish I had the clearance for a large frame unit
(2 belts), but can't do.

Doug
s/v Callista

Doug -

Interesting. If it works for you, it works for you. But to be clear
for the original poster, that is counter to Balmar's recommendation.
Ample Power prefers 2 belts as well for the 160 amp #4059 model,
though as you say, they tolerate a single belt config with frequent
maintenance. In any event, I stand by my recommendation to the
original poster. From your post, I suspect you agree on the principle,
even though circumstances forced you to go another way. Everything on
a boat is a compromise, isn't it?

For the original poster: Taking 160 amps as an example, you're looking
at a load of about 3 HP + friction losses, which is a *lot* of power
to transfer for a single belt. I imagine that heat dissipation is
also an issue. I'd also note that in practical terms, you don't
always need to allow for rated output, but rather for actual output.
Even 50% discharged, my tiny battery bank won't accept more than
about 65 amps, regardless of the alternator rating. But I still
change my belts often.

Cautionary tale, for whatever it's worth: A friend of mine went with
a single belt rig when he knew he really needed two. That may not
have had anything to do with what happened; no knowing after the fact.
In any event, the belt (a Gates Super HC with only a few engine hours)
seems to have delaminated under load like a retread tire. The outer
portion of the belt was still being driven round and round, but pieces
separated enough to flay the raw water input hose, cutting it almost
in two. Of course, the engine immediately overheated at a most
inopportune time. Not to mention the salt water spraying all over the
engine compartment. And the flooding. And the towing charge, which
could easily have become a salvage claim. By the time they got him
close to home, a gale was blowing and the towboat refused to try to
put him in a slip. So he anchored outside the marina, but didn't have
an engine to set the hook properly. He started dragging about
midnight and wound up about 10 feet from the rocks. He stayed up all
night watching, but there really wasn't much he could do. He still
uses a single belt, but he buys the best industrial belts he can find,
inspects them before every engine start, and changes them at the
first hint of wear or whenever he gets nervous.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

In that case, you won't have to worry about a single belt.

Doug
s/v CAllista

"Jan" wrote in message
...

"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:27:58 +0200, "Jan"
wrote:

Does anyone have some experience with Balmar alternators and regulators
they can share? I am concidering replacing built in alternator with a
belt
driven on a BMW D12 engine.

thanks
Jan

I have both. Since the alt was a drop in replacement for the original
belt driven alt, it was a snap to install. Doing what you propose
will be a bit harder. High amp alts do not tolerate imperfectly
aligned belts and pulleys well at all. Also, verify with the
manufacturer that your engine's bearings will tolerate the side loads
from the new belt. Generally, alternators over 100 amps need double
belts to tranfer adequate horsepower. The Balmar regulator is a first
class piece of kit. I'm happy with my setup. That said, I don't
think that there is a huge difference between the top vendors. Ample
Power, for instance, is also highly regarded.

You may be interested in some wiring diagrams I put on my website. It
shows the stock alternator wiring as well as the wiring for the Balmar
setup, some cockpit accessories, and solar power panels. Read the
disclaimer on this page. It's important.

http://www.worldwidewiley.com/2boat.shtml

Consider placing properly sized fuses to protect the boat from shorts
in the high amperage cables. I haven't done this yet.

Thanks for reply, my engine is only 10 HP, and I need an alternator
approx.
60 amps. I have seen similar done earlier on these engines, as the
flywheel
alternator is some job to maintain or change.

Jan

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:19:06 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

The Ample Power #4059 is a small frame single pulley unit which
is the one I have. I don't see where one can be had
with dual belts.

It's really not important, since you're happy with your setup and it's
not relevant to the OP. But from the Ample Power website:

http://www.amplepower.com/products/alt/index.html

"Standard pulley dimensions are 1/2 inch, (12.7 mm), single belt by
2.6 inch, (66 mm) outside diameter for model #4023. For the #4059,
#4060 and #4109, a double 1/2 inch, (12.7 mm), belt by 3 inch, (76.2
mm), outside diameter pulley is standard. Two belts are recommended,
but the #4059 will operate on a single belt if the belt is tensioned
frequently."

Also, the #4023 is the only true small frame unit, though Ample power
says on the same page:

"Alternators #4059 and #4060 also have a 2 inch, (50.8mm) mounting
foot and will often replace small frame units where there is a couple
more inches, (50-75mm) available around the engine."

I only mention this because someone reading this and shopping for a
small frame alternator should know that the #4059 might not fit. It
certainly wouldn't on my engine.

I'm glad your setup is working well for you. And with that, I bow out
of this thread.

__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/