On our 4788 we have a 840 AH house bank that is charged by a Balmar alternator.
The challenge is that at low engine RPM settings, 1500 RPM for example I'm not getting enough charge current to actually recharge the batteries very effectively.
This is probably a common problem.
Ways to fix this would be to:
Use both engines to charge the house bank.
Decrease the pully size on the alternator, thus speeding it up.
Buy an alternator with better low RPM capability
Quit fussing over it. Use the generator to charge the batteries quickly and be happy.
BTW, its amazing the power it takes to run this size boat. At rest we're drawing between 30 and 50 amps DC all the time.
I've palyed with ways to minimize that, but with the inverter running the satcom link, and all the other stuff that makes life comfortable like the ice maker, etc... it just seems to take a bunch of power.
I can save about 10 amps off of that at anchor by shutting down one of the Furuno displays, and dimming the other one, but I've never ever seen the boat draw less than 20 amps.
The challenge is that at low engine RPM settings, 1500 RPM for example I'm not getting enough charge current to actually recharge the batteries very effectively.
This is probably a common problem.
Ways to fix this would be to:
Use both engines to charge the house bank.
Decrease the pully size on the alternator, thus speeding it up.
Buy an alternator with better low RPM capability
Quit fussing over it. Use the generator to charge the batteries quickly and be happy.
BTW, its amazing the power it takes to run this size boat. At rest we're drawing between 30 and 50 amps DC all the time.
I've palyed with ways to minimize that, but with the inverter running the satcom link, and all the other stuff that makes life comfortable like the ice maker, etc... it just seems to take a bunch of power.
I can save about 10 amps off of that at anchor by shutting down one of the Furuno displays, and dimming the other one, but I've never ever seen the boat draw less than 20 amps.
Comment