high output, externally regulated alternator recommendations?

 Hi,
     I need a high output alternator, up to 150-200 amp capacity, that
will allow me to regulate field current (hence charging current) with
my own charge controller.
It will be used to charge a bank of deep cycle batteries, plus needs
to have enough capacity left over to provide enough current for any
reasonable load that my inverter is using during charging.
Can anybody recommend some model numbers?

Possibly even some older ones that I could get at the junkyard and
have my auto electric guy rebuild/modify.

I'm presently using a Delco 65 or 70 amp (don't remember which) this
way to charge two series connected 6 volt Trojan L16H deep cycle
batteries, plus provide current for light inverter loads during
charging.
I've been limiting alternator output to 55 amps to not strain the
alternator. (it's held up well for 6 years of vacations)

I now want to increase my battery bank to four Trojan L16H deep cycle
batteries, and need a bigger alternator that has capacity to spare.

Thanks for any input.

  wrote:


Just a few brief comments.
1. Presumably your homebuilt charge controller limits the charging to
about C10 (35 amps or thereabouts I think for L16?)
If the batteries have done 6 years with an intermittent charging
regime (vacations) - I guess you must have it about right.
2. I wonder whether adding a new bank to an old bank (presumably you
mean in parallel) is a good idea? Perhaps you will have a isolation
switch to keep them seperate when not in use. It would be sad to have
the old set die and take the new set with them!
3. If finding such an alternator is difficult, how about 2 x 70amp
ones, running on a single belt drive (maybe a cogged belt).

Eric Sears

 On Aug 16, 4:43 am, phon...@025379386.for.email.address (Eric Sears)
wrote:

   Thanks for the reply.
1. The L16H has a higher amp hour rating, and I usually charge
initially at about 45amps.
Also, these aren't the original batteries I started with 6 years ago.
I'm only on the second year for these, and I've done a reasonably good
job of keeping a plug in charger on them during the off season.
2. I see your point, and I had planned on buying 4 new batteries, and
selling these 2 to a friend.
3. I hadn't thought of running 2 alternators in parallel. Are you
saying I can just drive the two fields together, and tie the outputs
together to charge the batteries?

 

If they are identical, you might get away with putting the fields in
series and tieing the outputs together - though there is some question
about whether one might do more of the work if they were a bit
unbalanced.

Alternatively, if you are building your own regulator circuit to
control the field, you might build two and drive each one separately.
But you need to be sure they are adjusted to input the same current
from each to the battery. Remember that a meter in series with the
output may affect the reading with such low impedances.

I know someone who did something similar for 24v, but I don't think it
was regulated - just "watched" until the battery was charged! Clearly
it is better to control the field windings as you suggest.

Eric Sears.

 On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:09:38 GMT, phoneme@025379386.for.email.address (Eric
Sears)
wrote:


Just hook the fields in parallel and the outputs in parallel.  The two don't even
have to be identical.  Each will accept load according to its capacity.

John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
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Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
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