The alternator has had its internal regulator disconnected and the brush leads led outside so the new Next Step regulator can control the alternators field current.
The regulator is installed on the bulkhead in the engine room. Cable runs connect the regulator to the alternator on the engine and to the batteries for voltage and temperature sensing.
Getting the cables through the engine room wall was a hell of a job. Seems easy enough, drill a hole and poke the cable through....except it didn't appear on the other side. It was diverted by the heavy insulation, but after a lot of pushing and pulling and a few well chosen words to accompany the blood that was coming from my hands, I got it through. Then sealed up the hole with Sikaflex to preserve the watertight integrity of the engine room.
And here's the new battery charger replacing the 30A Dolphin charger and sitting underneath the 100A charger where the old one used to be.
These chargers run from 220VAC so are used with either shore power when at a marina or when the genset is running at sea.
This charger is programmable, which means that absorption and float voltages can be set to within 0.1 V.
So now we have the engine alternator and its regulator set to exactly the same voltages as the new charger.
This is the best way possible to look after the new batteries for maximum life.
These chargers run from 220VAC so are used with either shore power when at a marina or when the genset is running at sea.
This charger is programmable, which means that absorption and float voltages can be set to within 0.1 V.
So now we have the engine alternator and its regulator set to exactly the same voltages as the new charger.
This is the best way possible to look after the new batteries for maximum life.
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