G
Glenn Ashmore
I have lucked up on a Ecotech high output emergency vehicle alternator for
the boat project. This hyper expensive alternator puts out full output at
very low RPM which makes it very attractive for charging my bank of four L16
batteries. The problem is it is designed to output a constant 14.2V to
power all the lights and equipment a big fire truck needs. That is fine for
bulk and absorption charging but can fry the batteries once they get closer
to full charge. This alternator is rather unique. It has one section that
is permanent magnets and a second that is a field coil. When the magnets
can't supply the required current the field coil kicks in. When the magnets
output to much current the field coil is reversed to reduce output.
Obviously I can't use a normal external "smart" regulator so I need to find
another way to reduce the output voltage.
It does have a voltage sense line that goes to the battery which with some
experimentation I found that if you increase the voltage on that line the
alternator is fooled into reducing the output by about the same amount.
I need a circuit that I can switch into the sense line to boost the voltage
by about 1V so the alternator will drop down to a safe 13.2V when I am
motoring for a long time.
Any suggestions?.
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com
the boat project. This hyper expensive alternator puts out full output at
very low RPM which makes it very attractive for charging my bank of four L16
batteries. The problem is it is designed to output a constant 14.2V to
power all the lights and equipment a big fire truck needs. That is fine for
bulk and absorption charging but can fry the batteries once they get closer
to full charge. This alternator is rather unique. It has one section that
is permanent magnets and a second that is a field coil. When the magnets
can't supply the required current the field coil kicks in. When the magnets
output to much current the field coil is reversed to reduce output.
Obviously I can't use a normal external "smart" regulator so I need to find
another way to reduce the output voltage.
It does have a voltage sense line that goes to the battery which with some
experimentation I found that if you increase the voltage on that line the
alternator is fooled into reducing the output by about the same amount.
I need a circuit that I can switch into the sense line to boost the voltage
by about 1V so the alternator will drop down to a safe 13.2V when I am
motoring for a long time.
Any suggestions?.
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com