Anyone know the max charging current from a typical alternator?

Just to clarify; I'm not actually trying to fit a high rate charging system.

My original question is what the charging current on a standard 2.5 litre diesel alternator would likely be when charging one or two (say) half discharged leisure batteries. This is to make sure if I fit a trip switch it is high enough rated.

My charging system is likely to be super safe because (a) It will have a very thick cable and (b) It will (likely) have trip in the circuit.

Fitting a bigger cable doesn't make it into a high rate charging set up. For that you need upgraded alternators and a charging management system ;)
 
The only problem is likely to be how a marine electrician runs the earthing cables. Slightly different method to a vehicle. :eek:
 
maingate said:
The only problem is likely to be how a marine electrician runs the earthing cables. Slightly different method to a vehicle. :eek:
Click to expand...

I don't know if you have read through it or not, but it talks about the return (earth)
through the metal hull or in our case bodywork, and using a cable for the return (earth)

Cheers Big Trev.
 
Very useful if you are new to electrical systems.

I did most of that in the first year of my apprenticeship but I can appreciate it that it is double dutch to many people.

I did`nt realise I knew as much about boats. :D
 
That is actually a very good source. Most of the marine domestic stuff is relevant to a motorhome, even more so because it has to cope with harsher salt water conditions, and is thus over specified for a vehicle. They also have to deal with generally longer cable runs with attendant voltage drops.

In fact that's how I'm doing my wiring, as he describes on the domestic side, with cabled earth returns rather than relying on some local return through the bodywork, which isn't always convenient and not always reliable or maintainable either.
 
Are you going to smash a bottle of Champagne on the bonnet when its finished? :eek:

You could park it at the top of a hill to do it and then let the handbrake off. :D
 
I was thinking of welding up the floor pan and just giving it a gentle shove out into a lake a la Top Gear....

anyway you've got the 747, why don't you push it off a cliff to test out the wing mirrors :p :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top