Can you fry an alternator

[bruceb58]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

Ok so back to the original question. When I said fry I was refering to damaging the alternator weather it be melting something, over heating it or burning Diodes out. Bank 1 is just a starting battery Bank 2 is 2X group size 24 batteries. I do have a charger when I am on shore power or the generator so my primairy method of recharging would not be alternator unless I spend the night on the hook, did not fire up the generator and drove around with the switch in the ALL position. Happens a few times a season.

I think you are fine. A few others have reservations. I personally have done exactly what you are doing and never had a problem. We were running a Norcold fridge off our house battery and were recharging the battery the next day, every day, off the alternator.

Maybe the the others have more experience with failures than I do.

You can always upgrade alternators as well. These have internal as well as battery temp sensors to make it a little more safe.
http://www.electromaax.com/product/electromaax-high-output-marine-alternator/

 

[agallant80]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

I think you are fine. A few others have reservations. I personally have done exactly what you are doing and never had a problem. We were running a Norcold fridge off our house battery and were recharging the battery the next day, every day, off the alternator.

Maybe the the others have more experience with failures than I do.

You can always upgrade alternators as well. These have internal as well as battery temp sensors to make it a little more safe.
Electromaax High Output Marine Alternator

How in the world does one get 180A out of an alternator? That thing is crazy. I know it takes energy to make energy so I wonder if it will burn more fuel.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

How in the world does one get 180A out of an alternator? That thing is crazy. I know it takes energy to make energy so I wonder if it will burn more fuel.

That's 2500W. Not hard at all. I am sure your generator puts out something like that. Of course it uses more fuel at its max load but it it will be the same as your present one if they were both putting out the same output.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

How in the world does one get 180A out of an alternator? That thing is crazy. I know it takes energy to make energy so I wonder if it will burn more fuel.

Only when it's running at 180A. And that wouldn't be continuous, only when the batteries are down or you have a heck of an electrical load.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

Out of curiosity, what are you running off your house bank?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Can you fry an alternator

Technically speaking it all depends on the duty cycle of the alternator.

For example, if this is say a modern day Motorola or Delco alternator, they are pretty much a 100% duty cycle alternator. And can give you full output all of the time. And they also have current and thermal protection built into it so that if the alternator senses its overheating, it can shut the field off and allow it to cool itself off.

However, if this is like a 25 year old Valeo that has a 50% duty cycle and no protections built into it. Yes you can cook the windings right out of it if you tax it to much.

There are very cheap alternators out there, to middle of the road, to higher end but still consumer grade, to industrial. It really all depends on specifically what you are talking about.