Nice pix.

I'd be worried, however, about all the washers for depth. Not possible to
build in a bend to the tightening arm to bring it flush to the alternator?

L8R

Skip

--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
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"Believe me, my young friend, there is *nothing*-absolutely nothing-half so
much worth doing as simply messing, messing-about-in-boats; messing about in
boats-or *with* boats.

In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's
the charm of it.

Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your
destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get
anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in
particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and
you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Those of you who followed along with the updates from our Caribbean
cruise earlier this year, may remember that we experienced some
alternator issues along the way. This was disappointing for a number
of reasons because we had already spent a fair amount of time, effort
and boat bucks trying to find a high output alternator that was also
durable.

(Trimmed here.)


This is what you power-hog, environment-raping, motorboat cruisers should
install.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...bus.jpg/220px-

You use more power in your boat than the average small house uses. Pathetic!
Try staying home, why don't you.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_power_unit



Wilbur Hubbard

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Those of you who followed along with the updates from our Caribbean
cruise earlier this year, may remember that we experienced some
alternator issues along the way. This was disappointing for a number
of reasons because we had already spent a fair amount of time, effort
and boat bucks trying to find a high output alternator that was also
durable.

(Trimmed here.)


This is what you power-hog, environment-raping, motorboat cruisers should
install.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...bus.jpg/220px-

You use more power in your boat than the average small house uses.
Pathetic! Try staying home, why don't you.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_power_unit



Wilbur Hubbard





Try this instead for the first link which is incomplete:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...APU-Airbus.jpg

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:56:20 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:26:56 -0800, jps wrote:

Did you know about these?

http://www.balmar.net/Page13-98seriesalts.html

Yes. I installed a Balmar high output alternator on one of my old
sail boats. That boat had an Atomic 4 gasoline engine and needed to
have ignition protection which Balmar offered. I believe the 4000
series Leece-Nevilles are a better unit and I can buy 4 or 5 of them
for the price of one Balmar.

You have to know how to buy them. Not through the factory at retail,
that's for sure.

Not sure if he's still doing it but the owner used to bring all his
returns, remanufactured to the annual sidewalk parts swap at Fisheries
Supply. Prices were half or less and for every applications. Balmar
units look great with the white finish and for us, made a significant
dent in our genset hours.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...


You're going in the wrong direction. Using a huge battery bank kept charged
by a heavy-duty alternator is still going to be inadequate for spoiled motor
cruisers who really want a house with all the comforts of home that floats
and goes from place to place.

So, forget the huge battery bank and get one of these instead. (Save your
auxiliary engines for moving the floating home from place to place.)

https://secure.cascadesierrasolution...hp?prodId=0020


These tripacs are the cat's meow. They provide heat, air conditioning,
battery charging all in one compact package. You see more and more of them
on over-the-road tractor/trailers.

"The TriPac APU provides
? cab heating and air conditioning
? truck engine block heating
? truck battery charging
? 12Von-board power
? optional 120V household electrical power

"The system is powered by a diesel engine, running an automotive style 12V
alternator and belt driven air conditioning compressor. The APU HVAC system
is independent of the truck system. Cab heat is provided by a fuel-fired
heater, and engine block heat is provided by exchanging coolant between the
APU engine and the truck engine."


I hope this helps.


Wilbur Hubbard

"Mark Borgerson" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
Those of you who followed along with the updates from our Caribbean
cruise earlier this year, may remember that we experienced some
alternator issues along the way. This was disappointing for a number
of reasons because we had already spent a fair amount of time, effort
and boat bucks trying to find a high output alternator that was also
durable.

Our goal is to not run the generator at all when under way, and to
minimize generator time when anchored. The potential savings on
generator fuel and maintenance add up to a big number. To that end
we've installed a 2,000 watt inverter and a bank of 8 golf cart
batteries with a total capacity of about 1,000 amp-hours.

The inverter and battery bank work well together but the batteries
eventually need to be recharged, and when underway, the alternator
needs to supply inverter amps, recharge amps and onboard house loads
like navigation equipment, lights, auto pilot, engine room blowers,
etc. Peak alternator loads can easily approach 250 amps and average
well over half of that.

To make a long story short, no automotive alternator that we've tried
has been capable of these loads over a long period of time, even those
that have been beefed up with heavy duty components. We burned out a
total of 4 over the course of 6 months in the islands. Repair and
replacement was problematic to say the least.

After consulting with Tim, our cheerful, ever helpful, resident
alternator expert on "rec.boats", and a number of other sources, I
decided that a fresh approach was needed. Enter a company called
Leece-Neville, a division of Prestolite, that has been making heavy
duty alternators for a long time. LNs are used all over the world on
fire trucks, ambulances, busses, big trucks, heavy duty construction
machinery, etc. Their big alternators make everything else look like
a toy, weigh over 35 pounds and are priced accordingly. Many of the
really big ones are north of $2K at full retail. Thanks to the
internet and EBAY however, they are now becoming available at more
reasonable prices. I was recently able to buy a unit that had been
remanufactured to like new condition for about $400, a bargain
compared to some of our previous repair/replace experiences. It is
rated at 270 amps continuously at high temperatures, and is designed
for fire trucks, ambulances and busses.

http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_products/specs.php?item_detail_id=951&item=A0014867JB&produ ct=ALTERNATOR

There are some downside issues however: It is designed for a so
called J180 mounting bracket; requires multiple drive belts since it
can use as much as 6 or 7 horsepower; and is not ignition protected
for gasoline engines.

Ignition protection is not an issue for our diesels, and fortunately
the front pulley on a Detroit 6-71 can accomodate up to three belts.
The mounting bracket was problematic however since the existing mount
was for a Delco 2 inch foot. In exchange for a sizable boat buck
fraction, a local machine shop fabricated a custom made J180 bracket
from 1/2 inch cold rolled steel. In combination with some Grade 8
steel mounting hardware and a new adjusting arm, everything is now
solidly attached, lined up and looking good with 3 brand new Gates
Green Stripe belts installed. In testing it has put out well over 200
amps while maintaining reasonable temperatures.

Stay tuned for the long term durability reports... :-)

New alternator and bracket prior to installation with a beverage can
for size reference:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3557/preinstallwithnewbracke.jpg

After installation, with new HD belts and adjusting arm. The black
detritus in the background is left over from the many previous
alternators and belts which gave up their lives in that spot:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1462/installedimg0573.jpg


It looks like the right piece of equipment for the job----however,
I find the washer stack and bolt on the belt-tensioning arm a
bit troublesome. There's an inch or so of lever arm and it looks
like about half an inch of thread into the alternator front plate.
If that front plate is cast aluminum, how long will it be before
that bolt loosens with thermal cycling and vibration?

For a few more boat bucks, you could replace the washer stack with
steel block of the appropriate thickness---perhaps with some filed
'tooth' on each side. Spend a few more bucks and get a bolt
a half inch longer. You might also have clearance for a thin nut
on the front to act as a lock nut.


When you're cranking out 200 amps, there's going to be substantial
load on that bracket.

TINS: Back in the 70's I drove a Chevy Vega with an aluminum
block. That never gave me problems, but I did have an alternator
problem. I was careful with belt tension and kept that bolt tight.
However, the belt kept getting looser. I finally disassembled the
system and found that the bottom of the alternator was pivoted
on a 4" long steel pin through the alternator housing. The housing
had worn away so that the 3/8" hole through the housing was now a
slot about 3/8" wide and over 1/2" long. At the belt end, you could
see the pin coming out of the side of the alternator housing.
I replace the alternator and the new one lasted until the car
was totaled by a teenager who ran a stop sign and crunched my
passenger side quarter panel.

Boat, with new alternator well hidden, docked last weekend on the
Caloosahatchie River in southwestern Florida:

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/6797/img0567i.jpg



Mark Borgerson


I thought the same thing about the washers.
I wonder if there is enough clearance to put a couple of bends in the
tension adjuster arm to eliminate most or all of the spacer washers. If
necessary, a stiffener bar could be welded to the back of the arm.

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:28:30 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
tanews.com...
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Those of you who followed along with the updates from our Caribbean
cruise earlier this year, may remember that we experienced some
alternator issues along the way. This was disappointing for a number
of reasons because we had already spent a fair amount of time, effort
and boat bucks trying to find a high output alternator that was also
durable.

(Trimmed here.)


This is what you power-hog, environment-raping, motorboat cruisers should
install.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...bus.jpg/220px-

You use more power in your boat than the average small house uses.
Pathetic! Try staying home, why don't you.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_power_unit



Wilbur Hubbard





Try this instead for the first link which is incomplete:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...APU-Airbus.jpg


That'd double the value of Wayne's boat!

In article s.com,
llid says...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...


You're going in the wrong direction. Using a huge battery bank kept charged
by a heavy-duty alternator is still going to be inadequate for spoiled motor
cruisers who really want a house with all the comforts of home that floats
and goes from place to place.

So, forget the huge battery bank and get one of these instead. (Save your
auxiliary engines for moving the floating home from place to place.)

https://secure.cascadesierrasolution...hp?prodId=0020


These tripacs are the cat's meow. They provide heat, air conditioning,
battery charging all in one compact package. You see more and more of them
on over-the-road tractor/trailers.

"The TriPac APU provides
? cab heating and air conditioning
? truck engine block heating
? truck battery charging
? 12Von-board power
? optional 120V household electrical power

"The system is powered by a diesel engine, running an automotive style 12V
alternator and belt driven air conditioning compressor. The APU HVAC system
is independent of the truck system. Cab heat is provided by a fuel-fired
heater, and engine block heat is provided by exchanging coolant between the
APU engine and the truck engine."


I hope this helps.


Wilbur Hubbard

Are they approved for marine use? Can you operate them in an enclosed
engine room or do you have to hang it off the gunwale?

"BAR" wrote in message
. ..
In article s.com,
llid says...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...


You're going in the wrong direction. Using a huge battery bank kept
charged
by a heavy-duty alternator is still going to be inadequate for spoiled
motor
cruisers who really want a house with all the comforts of home that
floats
and goes from place to place.

So, forget the huge battery bank and get one of these instead. (Save your
auxiliary engines for moving the floating home from place to place.)

https://secure.cascadesierrasolution...hp?prodId=0020


These tripacs are the cat's meow. They provide heat, air conditioning,
battery charging all in one compact package. You see more and more of
them
on over-the-road tractor/trailers.

"The TriPac APU provides
? cab heating and air conditioning
? truck engine block heating
? truck battery charging
? 12Von-board power
? optional 120V household electrical power

"The system is powered by a diesel engine, running an automotive style
12V
alternator and belt driven air conditioning compressor. The APU HVAC
system
is independent of the truck system. Cab heat is provided by a fuel-fired
heater, and engine block heat is provided by exchanging coolant between
the
APU engine and the truck engine."


I hope this helps.


Wilbur Hubbard

Are they approved for marine use? Can you operate them in an enclosed
engine room or do you have to hang it off the gunwale?



You'd have to duct it and exhaust it to the outside via cowlings and forced
air but it would provide the electricity to do that, no problem. As for some
government, marine use approval, who cares? It's high time the government
took a hike out of our everyday personal lives with their red tape. A
commercial boat is one thing, a private yacht is another thing entirely.


Wilbur Hubbard

In article s.com,
llid says...
Are they approved for marine use? Can you operate them in an enclosed
engine room or do you have to hang it off the gunwale?



You'd have to duct it and exhaust it to the outside via cowlings and forced
air but it would provide the electricity to do that, no problem. As for some
government, marine use approval, who cares? It's high time the government
took a hike out of our everyday personal lives with their red tape. A
commercial boat is one thing, a private yacht is another thing entirely.

Your insurance company cares.