----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig"
To: "Sam"
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 9:11 PM
Subject: Alternator


Looks like we are in this together. I have been working on this for 10
years. I was burning up 2 Presolite Alternators a year. Then I switched to
the Balmar 70 series. It did not work properly then and spent over $600 to
service people troubleshooting it. My mechanic finally said I had a 1/2
inch pulley and my belt and other pulleys are 3/8 inch. That fixed some of
the problem but I still had the thing kicking out as you did. I have been
talking to Balmar for over a year with not much success. I finally
disconnected the alternator temp sensor and it worked great putting out 70
Amps. I asked Balmar to send me a new temp sensor. It took them 2 months
to finally send it to me. I have not installed it yet. Anyhow, I have put
more cooling on the alternator. Before that it got hot, up to 230-240
degrees in the rear. Once the batteries are charged it drops to 150. My
exhaust manifold is in the back of the alternator and it gets up to 350
degrees. I also have a problem when the batteries are fully charged the
tech go wild then dies. If I shut of the engine and restart it seems to
work. I was told it was a setting on the regulator but no one knows what
that setting is including Balmar. Oh well, It will probably burn up
sometime. PS. I asked the guy who rebuilds alternator and all kinds of
motors. He said it was ok for it to get up 230-240 degrees. Who are you
going to believe ? I asked my friend who has one on a Hallsberg Rassey and
his only gets up to 150 degrees. I'll let you know what happens when I put
the new temp sensor on. Good luck. Let me know how you make out.







----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam"
Newsgroups: rec.boats.cruising
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 4:38 PM
Subject: Alternator


I have been struggling with alternator overheating for 3 months now. I
installed a Balmar 612-110 (new model) on my system (420Ah battery bank)
and
am experiencing overheating. Within minutes, I reach 230F, which is the
point at which my regulator reduces output by half (I have a temperature
controller installed on the alternator). Balmar is trying to help and has
sent me 2 other alternators (another 612 and one 700 series), but they
all
overheat. Neiter I nor Balmar understands what is going on (they claim
they
tested the alternators before they shipped and they ran at full output at
around 180F). My engine compartment is pretty tight, especially in front
of
the alternator there is the engine hatch. May be there is not enough air
flow. I checked everything else and it all looks correct.

I finally mounted a blower with tubing bringing cool air from the outside
right to the back of the alternator. With that the alternator does not go
into small engine mode (as I am blowing air on the temperature sensor...)
but the face (front side) of the alternator reaches a temperature of
244F. I
wonder how long the alternator will last this way.

Temperature was measured using a thermocouple attached to the alternator
using thermal grease.

Any experiences? Any suggestions welcome.

Sam

"Craig Stuart" wrote in message
nk.net...
I have a Balmar alternator and when it is charging the temp of the
alternator is around 230 degrees. Is this normal ?

--
Craig & Marcia Stuart








--
Craig & Marcia Stuart