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From: Flying_Cloud (no email)
Date: Thu Aug 19 1999 - 22:48:51 EDT
I have a similiar setup; and my responses reflect on how I'm doing it. I
have a Lehman as well (135hp); Heart 2500 (just upgraded to the new 3000);
Link2000r (Cruising Equip upgraded it for me free of charge); Balmar 200
amp; Had 4 gel cells 8Ds (banks 7 and 8 years old so upgraded to AGMs).
Here are my thoughts.
Why are you going with golf cart batteries? Regular lead acids can only
absorb 25% the rated amp hour capacity; gel cells 75%; and AGMs 100% of
capacity (AGMs can take twice as many deep cycles as gels which is way more
than reg lead acids). Also AGMs are 155 amp/hr per 8D which is 55 more
amp/hr than a gel 8D. (I paid $134 per 8D) Going with regular lead acid
rather defeats the purpose of going with a high output alternator because
they cannot absorb the amp the high-output the alternator puts out. If you
are insistent on going with the golf cart batteries - save yourself a lot of
money - and put a smaller capacity alternator on it.
I have a Lehman 135 (almost the same as the 120) and I had (because the
engine is out of the boat right now) mounted the Balmar 200 amp alternator -
only I use only one belt. I checked with my mechanic at the time of
purchase and he seemed to think this would be okay - just that I will go
through the belt a bit faster (since I never gone through one - seemed
reasonable to me). I have only done an overnight passage since then so I
have no real data to support the mechanics advise. You know how it goes -
there are more opinions that you know what.
Delco make a 140 amp which is single belt driven as well, as I'm sure other
manufacturers do too. I had one of those too. Actually in practicality, the
140 amp alternator was sufficient for my draw on a 54 footer - even with the
3/4 hp ac refrigeration running on top of the stereo and all the cruising
load etc. (the partial flooding is the reason for its demise).
Question re the alternator on the genset: I presume you were only talking
about doing this if you could not put the high output alternator on the
engine. I I see no reason why you have to buy another charger - go with the
alternator on your engine even it's a bit smaller than you'd like - for be
my advise. As for an alternator on the genset - why have one? - when the
engine is not running why not use the generator to run the Heart 175 amp
battery charger on the inverter to do the work? This is what I've been
doing.
Anyway you can add this to your list of opinions.
Sandra
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