alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

Posted by louis spitz (aronella@…>)

Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Posted by Jay Glen (britann9225@…>)
Louis,Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.louis spitz <aronella@…> wrote: Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30. Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max for extended
cruising. Thanks, Louis Spitz Jay Glen KI6JTK
s/v Fantasy Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60 San Francisco Bay 925-783-4132 svfantasy@…
Never miss an email again!Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.

Posted by jerry weinraub (zayde@…>)

I put in a Balmar 70 amp alt,digital regulator,and digital battery
combiner. All work as advertised,BUT,the alt is an heavier load on the
engine and belt,so the option of halving the alt output when underway is
advised,and proper belt tension is mandatory. JC Whitney sells a $10
item-a belt tensioner. I use it to assure the belt is tight enuf… Well
worth the money.Ive had the setup 2 years,and after some teething
problems,no complaints.

louis spitz wrote:

Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max
for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Posted by fredmolden@…> (fredmolden@…>)



As I recall the max that you should use is
limited by the amp hours of the battery. That limits the max charge rate which
in turn dictates the alternator size. I up graded my F35 3GM30 to charge
an 8D AGM house battery and went with the new Balmar 80 amp alternator.
The next size, 110 amp, would be capable of putting out too much charge and
charge too fast. I also replaced the regulator with a Xantrex 3 stage
regulator. In my cruising I run the fridge all day and night and an
anchor light and autopilot and radio through the day. This will bring a
well charged battery to about 12.0 vdc after 24 hrs and recharging will take a
couple of hours of engine time. The load on the engine at a 70 amp rate
of recharge is sufficient to drop the idle rpm too low for smooth running and I
have to goose the throttle up a bit. I also added a Xantrex battery
monitor and a three stage 110vac Xantrex charger. The monitor was well
worth the cost as it keeps you well informed of the battery charge state as
well as how much current is charging or discharging. The existing 3gm30 alternator
is an internal regulated 55 amp alternator so you need to either replace it
with the another internal regulated one or add an external regulator.
Check that any internal regulated alternator will be capable of charging your
battery type, wet, AGM or gel, each requires different charging voltages.

Xantrex, Jack Rabbit Marine and Balmar all
have web sites and good info on the subject.





From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of louis spitz
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:32
PM
To:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
alternator upgrade for Freedom 35





Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar
3GM30.


Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to
the max for extended cruising.


Thanks,


Louis Spitz

\



\

Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)



The previous owner of my F-33 with a 3gm
put in a 100 amp balmar alternator and a maxcharge regulator. With this type of
smart regulator and a temperature sense cable from the regulator to the
alternator and batteries there is no danger of too much of a charge load for
either the batteries or the alternator.
My house bank is currently 270 aH gel
cells.
Alan





From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of louis spitz
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:32
PM
To:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
alternator upgrade for Freedom 35





Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar
3GM30.


Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to
the max for extended cruising.


Thanks,


Louis Spitz

\



\

Posted by Jay Glen (svfantasy@…>)

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@…>
wrote:

Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max
for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Louis,

When I had a Yanmar 3GM30 on my last boat my mechanic advised against
installing a larger alternator. It will dramatically increase the side
loading on the crank shaft, causing the front bearing and oil seal to
wear prematurely. Yanmars are apparently not hefty enough to take the
increased loads. I’d check with Yanmar first.

Jay Glen
F-40 CK “Fantasy”
SF BAY

Posted by Fargo Rousseau (fargo_r@…>)
Thoughts on BIG alternators:1. Most deep cycle batteries like to be recharged at a rather gentle rate. The size of batteries we have on our Freedom boats probably don’t want to see much more than 30 amps coming back at them on a regular basis. Driving the energy back into the battery at a higher rate can over heat them, and potentially shorten their life.2. The alternator that comes standard on the Yanmar engines that Freedom has used in the last 20 years are a very good Hitachi unit. It is reliable and sized to run well with one belt (given the proper belt choice and tension ((painful lessons learned)).3. The problem is that these wonderful little Yanmar/Hitachi units are automotive type alternators and they have internal regulators that are not designed to return much energy back into the battery. Although they are nominally rated at 55 amps or more… they typically charge at less than 15 amps after a
short-lived peak output. And, their temp regulation is based on Alternator temp and not Battery temp (remember, the regulator is inside the alternator). The charge voltage should be based on the temp of the battery…and not on the temperature of the Alternator which operating in the overheated little engine room/space. 4. I have seen many folks with relatively small batteries (less than 400 amp-hours …to discharge…200 amp/hours usable for repeated, 50% discharge)…lust after massive alternators to recharge them. Simple logic tells them if they could only get a 120 or 150 amp alternator, they could recharge those damn batteries twice as fast… Well, maybe.5. If you look at all the numbers…you are kind of stuck. a. If you want to burn up 50 amp-hours a day…and want to recharge every 4 days…QUICKLY…what are you going to do? If you think that driving 100 amps back into your batteries
for a couple of hours is a healthy idea…then all you need is a alternator/regular that will actually put out 100 amps or more during most of its charge cycle. b. Or if you think that a charge rate of 30 or 40 amps is more reasonable…you still can’t be happy with a stock Hitachi…because it will dribble the charge in so slowly during most of its charge cycle (no problem if you are motoring along the Waterway all day).6. What is the solution? Probably an alternator that is no larger (higher in output capacity) than the Hitachi…but… BUT…with a smarter regulator…that will charge at a higher average rate…higher but still conservative (30 or 40 amps)… AND includes a battery temp sensor (the battery temp is a doubly important functon: a. The electochemistry of charging is temp sensitive, ie…ideal charge voltage varies with internal Battery temperature, b. The batteries should never be
overheated.7. Get a wind charger…that loves to put out 5 or 10 amp, hour after hour (and travel where the breezes waft over the boat 24/hours a day). Easy on the battery…quiet, if you choose the right wind unit…and very GREEN. 8. Plus… go LED where you can…and read less at night. Do something else when the sun goes down…something that can be best done by moonlight. Waiting for corrections and ideas… as I arm-chair my time between one Freedom (F30) and another (F??).Let me close with a memorable truism: “It’s not how big the Alternator is, it’s how much it puts in”. And while you Free thinkers transmography that into something completely nasty…I will be here waiting for answers.Fargo

Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)



The 3GMs came in a sea water version and
freshwater cooling version. On my F-3 (1982) Freedom installed a sea water
version using an aftermarket kit to convert to freshwater. Thus there are two
belts for the pumps on the opposite side from the alternator belt. So my
thinking is this helps reduce the sideloading.
One could also use an oversized alternator
but limit its maximum output via the regulator (mine has a small engine mode to
do this among other settings) . The problem with sizing the alternator smaller
is the smaller alternator may not actually output its claimed maximums
especially over time.
Alan





From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jay Glen
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 8:51
PM
To:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re:
alternator upgrade for Freedom 35




— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com,
louis spitz <aronella@…>
wrote:

Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max
for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Louis,

When I had a Yanmar 3GM30 on my last boat my mechanic advised against
installing a larger alternator. It will dramatically increase the side
loading on the crank shaft, causing the front bearing and oil seal to
wear prematurely. Yanmars are apparently not hefty enough to take the
increased loads. I’d check with Yanmar first.

Jay Glen
F-40 CK “Fantasy”
SF BAY

\

Posted by jerry weinraub (zayde@…>)

I have a wind generator- not worth much in winds less than 15
kt.Remember ,the wind has to blow for a period of time Also,you cannot
run an alt much more than 70 amps or so on only one 1/2"belt. Yan 3GM 30
has one sheave . It will charge 2 115 AH flooded Pb batteries in one
hour or so .It CAN put out 70 amp,but its real rate is more like 40 or
so . Temp sensors on the batteries to adjust the charge rate are
worthwhile. This is what I have on my F33,and it works for me

Fargo Rousseau wrote:

Thoughts on BIG alternators:

  1. Most deep cycle batteries like to be recharged at a rather gentle
    rate. The size of batteries we have on our Freedom boats probably
    don’t want to see much more than 30 amps coming back at them on a
    regular basis. Driving the energy back into the battery at a higher
    rate can over heat them, and potentially shorten their life.

  2. The alternator that comes standard on the Yanmar engines that
    Freedom has used in the last 20 years are a very good Hitachi unit.
    It is reliable and sized to run well with one belt (given the proper
    belt choice and tension ((painful lessons learned)).

  3. The problem is that these wonderful little Yanmar/Hitachi units are
    automotive type alternators and they have internal regulators that are
    not designed to return much energy back into the battery. Although
    they are nominally rated at 55 amps or more… they typically charge
    at less than 15 amps after a short-lived peak output. And, their
    temp regulation is based on Alternator temp and not Battery temp
    (remember, the regulator is inside the alternator). The charge voltage
    should be based on the temp of the battery…and not on the
    temperature of the Alternator which operating in the overheated little
    engine room/space.

  4. I have seen many folks with relatively small batteries (less than
    400 amp-hours …to discharge…200 amp/hours usable for repeated, 50%
    discharge)…lust after massive alternators to recharge them. Simple
    logic tells them if they could only get a 120 or 150 amp alternator,
    they could recharge those damn batteries twice as fast…

Well, maybe.

  1. If you look at all the numbers…you are kind of stuck.

a. If you want to burn up 50 amp-hours a day…and want to recharge
every 4 days…QUICKLY…what are you going to do? If you think that
driving 100 amps back into your batteries for a couple of hours is a
healthy idea…then all you need is a alternator/regular that will
actually put out 100 amps or more during most of its charge cycle.

b. Or if you think that a charge rate of 30 or 40 amps is more
reasonable…you still can’t be happy with a stock Hitachi…because
it will dribble the charge in so slowly during most of its charge
cycle (no problem if you are motoring along the Waterway all day).

  1. What is the solution? Probably an alternator that is no larger
    (higher in output capacity) than the Hitachi…but… BUT…with a
    smarter regulator…that will charge at a higher average rate…higher
    but still conservative (30 or 40 amps)… AND includes a battery
    temp sensor (the battery temp is a doubly important functon: a. The
    electochemistry of charging is temp sensitive, ie…ideal charge
    voltage varies with internal Battery temperature, b. The batteries
    should never be overheated.

  2. Get a wind charger…that loves to put out 5 or 10 amp, hour after
    hour (and travel where the breezes waft over the boat 24/hours a
    day). Easy on the battery…quiet, if you choose the right wind
    unit…and very GREEN.

  3. Plus… go LED where you can…and read less at night. Do
    something else when the sun goes down…something that can be best
    done by moonlight.

Waiting for corrections and ideas… as I arm-chair my time between
one Freedom (F30) and another (F??).

Let me close with a memorable truism: “It’s not how big the
Alternator is, it’s how much it puts in”.

And while you Free thinkers transmography that into something
completely nasty…I will be here waiting for answers.

Fargo

Posted by sodaksparrowhawk (sodaksparrowhawk@…>)

A Honda generator has served quite well for battery recharging both
on my Freedom 35 and a long cruise in the Pacific. (Not on the F35)

A short cable from the generator to normal shore power receptacle is
handy and then use the onboard battery charger. Lash down the gen in
a convenient spot and when not in use store in the seat locker on the
Freedom. Battery monitor is a very good idea.

Arguments against–
It’s gasoline; yeah, but you’ve propably got an outboard for the
dinghy, so??

Onboard charger is antique technology; yeah, but if you use it at
the dock, it should be alright at sea.

It likely will give a “reverse polarity light” shen running; yeah,
but that is some kind of abberation due to Honda’s circuitry and in
lots of hours of use has not been a problem.

I happen to have a 2000 watt gen but think a 1000watt would work
quite well and it’s smaller and lighter.

These are great little units. Very quiet and reliable and hold up
amazingly well in saltwater environment.

Stan

Posted by sodaksparrowhawk (sodaksparrowhawk@…>)

A Honda generator has served quite well for battery recharging both
on my Freedom 35 and a long cruise in the Pacific. (Not on the F35)

A short cable from the generator to normal shore power receptacle is
handy and then use the onboard battery charger. Lash down the gen in
a convenient spot and when not in use store in the seat locker on the
Freedom. Battery monitor is a very good idea.

Arguments against–
It’s gasoline; yeah, but you’ve propably got an outboard for the
dinghy, so??

Onboard charger is antique technology; yeah, but if you use it at
the dock, it should be alright at sea.

It likely will give a “reverse polarity light” shen running; yeah,
but that is some kind of abberation due to Honda’s circuitry and in
lots of hours of use has not been a problem.

I happen to have a 2000 watt gen but think a 1000watt would work
quite well and it’s smaller and lighter.

These are great little units. Very quiet and reliable and hold up
amazingly well in saltwater environment.

Stan

Posted by Thomas Wales (twales@…>)

Leave it to Fargo to think about this from every angle. These are
actually excellent points which I appreciate. I have stayed with my
original Hitachi alternator on my 3GM as it still works, and keeps
the batteries charged, even during the limited amount of motoring
that I do. I subscribe to the KISS theory of sailing. Instead of a
wind generator, I have a solar panel which keeps the batteries
charged between engine runs. Works like a charm. And, green.
So, Fargo, why are you stuck in the armchair???You had that pretty
little F30 with the shiny white bottom. How could you let that
go? By the way any thoughts on bio diesel? Has anyone tried it yet?
Best,
TW F32 Anoush Koon Pemaquid, ME


At 08:53 PM 7/6/2007, you wrote:

Thoughts on BIG alternators:

  1. Most deep cycle batteries like to be recharged at a rather gentle
    rate. The size of batteries we have on our Freedom boats probably
    don’t want to see much more than 30 amps coming back at them on a
    regular basis. Driving the energy back into the battery at a higher
    rate can over heat them, and potentially shorten their life.

  2. The alternator that comes standard on the Yanmar engines that
    Freedom has used in the last 20 years are a very good Hitachi
    unit. It is reliable and sized to run well with one belt (given the
    proper belt choice and tension ((painful lessons learned)).

  3. The problem is that these wonderful little Yanmar/Hitachi units
    are automotive type alternators and they have internal regulators
    that are not designed to return much energy back into the
    battery. Although they are nominally rated at 55 amps or more…
    they typically charge at less than 15 amps after a short-lived peak
    output. And, their temp regulation is based on Alternator temp and
    not Battery temp (remember, the regulator is inside the alternator).
    The charge voltage should be based on the temp of the battery…and
    not on the temperature of the Alternator which operating in the
    overheated little engine room/space.

  4. I have seen many folks with relatively small batteries (less than
    400 amp-hours …to discharge…200 amp/hours usable for repeated,
    50% discharge)…lust after massive alternators to recharge
    them. Simple logic tells them if they could only get a 120 or 150
    amp alternator, they could recharge those damn batteries twice as fast…

Well, maybe.

  1. If you look at all the numbers…you are kind of stuck.

a. If you want to burn up 50 amp-hours a day…and want to recharge
every 4 days…QUICKLY…what are you going to do? If you think
that driving 100 amps back into your batteries for a couple of hours
is a healthy idea…then all you need is a alternator/regular that
will actually put out 100 amps or more during most of its charge cycle.

b. Or if you think that a charge rate of 30 or 40 amps is more
reasonable…you still can’t be happy with a stock
Hitachi…because it will dribble the charge in so slowly during
most of its charge cycle (no problem if you are motoring along the
Waterway all day).

  1. What is the solution? Probably an alternator that is no larger
    (higher in output capacity) than the Hitachi…but… BUT…with a
    smarter regulator…that will charge at a higher average
    rate…higher but still conservative (30 or 40 amps)… AND
    includes a battery temp sensor (the battery temp is a doubly
    important functon: a. The electochemistry of charging is temp
    sensitive, ie…ideal charge voltage varies with internal Battery
    temperature, b. The batteries should never be overheated.

  2. Get a wind charger…that loves to put out 5 or 10 amp, hour
    after hour (and travel where the breezes waft over the boat 24/hours
    a day). Easy on the battery…quiet, if you choose the right wind
    unit…and very GREEN.

  3. Plus… go LED where you can…and read less at night. Do
    something else when the sun goes down…something that can be best
    done by moonlight.

Waiting for corrections and ideas… as I arm-chair my time between
one Freedom (F30) and another (F??).

Let me close with a memorable truism: “It’s not how big the
Alternator is, it’s how much it puts in”.

And while you Free thinkers transmography that into something
completely nasty…I will be here waiting for answers.

Fargo

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Posted by louis spitz (aronella@…>)

I did-(at Mack Boring Parts)
They said that the engine could take a Balmar 70 Series 110 amp, with a Mack #500 regulator.
Did anyone do this?
Did anyone increase the house battery bank from 2 to 4 batteries?
Lou Spitz
F35 #23 “Ripple Effect”

----- Original Message -----
From: Jay Glen
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


Louis,Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.louis spitz <aronella@optonline.net> wrote:



Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Jay Glen KI6JTK s/v Fantasy Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60 San Francisco Bay 925-783-4132 svfantasy@myyacht.com


Never miss an email again!Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.

Posted by Melissa (kalicinm@…>)

What kind of batteries do you have now? I upgraded my batteries last season to two 8D AGMs. All I can say is that was probably overkill. I can cruise for a week on one of those batteries…refrigerator on continuously, using lights and water pump whenever desired, and I don’t have a separate starter battery—engine has always started with no hesitation…and I’ve never come close to draining it!!! Want the other one?! It seems as I don’t need two!

Cheers,
Melissa
s/v Acedia F38 “Pollution is a silent form of violence”-Ralph Nader

“Plastics, like diamonds, are forever!”-The Earth Resource Foundation

(for more information on the adverse effects of plastics on human health and the environment, please visit–http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-overview.html)

----- Original Message ----From: louis spitz <aronella@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 10:01:04 AMSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


I did-(at Mack Boring Parts)
They said that the engine could take a Balmar 70 Series 110 amp, with a Mack #500 regulator.
Did anyone do this?
Did anyone increase the house battery bank from 2 to 4 batteries?
Lou Spitz
F35 #23 “Ripple Effect”

----- Original Message -----
From: Jay Glen
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


Louis,Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.louis spitz <aronella@optonline. net> wrote:


Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Jay Glen KI6JTK s/v Fantasy Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60 San Francisco Bay 925-783-4132 svfantasy@myyacht. com

Never miss an email again!Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.
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Posted by fredmolden@…> (fredmolden@…>)



I upgraded from three Gp 27 wet cells to
one 8D AGM and one Gp27 AGM. I also changed alternators to a new Balmar
80 amp and added a 3 step Xantrex external regulator. I also changed my
110vac charger to a new Xantrex 3 step charger to accommodate the different AGM
voltage requirements. The best upgrade however was the addition of a
Xantrex Link 20 battery monitor. I added this before upgrading the rest
of the electrics and found that after a night of usage the charge current into
the wet cells would drop within 15 minutes to less than a 10amp rate.
Thus requiring hours of engine time to get a full charge. The new system
runs at 70 amps for 15 minutes then slowly starts to drop. Charging time
is much less now but that is with the new 8D battery. Even running the
refrig all night I still can use the 8D to start the engine.

Fred
Molden
F35 Volant





From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of louis spitz
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
10:01 AM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
alternator upgrade for Freedom 35





I did-(at Mack Boring Parts)


They said that the engine could take a Balmar 70 Series 110
amp, with a Mack #500 regulator.


Did anyone do this?


Did anyone increase the house battery bank from 2 to 4
batteries?


Lou Spitz


F35 #23 “Ripple Effect”

\


\




----- Original Message -----


From: Jay Glen


To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com



Sent: Friday, July 06,
2007 1:22 PM


Subject: Re:
[FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

\



Louis,

Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so
places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive
wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.



louis spitz <aronella@optonline.net>
wrote:



Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar
3GM30.


Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to
the max for extended cruising.


Thanks,


Louis Spitz

\







Jay Glen KI6JTK
s/v Fantasy
Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60
San Francisco Bay
925-783-4132
svfantasy@myyacht.com



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miss an email again!
Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives.
Check it out.



\

Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)



I have a 60 series Balmar 100 AH
alternator (about 5 years old) with a Balmar MC-612 regulator and alternator and
battery temp sensors. 270 AH house bank (3 gel cells). I’ve never seen
the output to be above 70AH from the alternator and that very rarely when deeply
discharged and running engine at higher RPM.
Next year I will be replacing my gel cells
(about 7 years old and capacity is decreasing) probably with optimas (I have an
optima AGM battery for the start battery and may put 3 or 4 of their larger
deep cycle batteries in the shallow part of the bilge as they will fit well
there.)

Alan





From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of louis spitz
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
10:01 AM
To:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup]
alternator upgrade for Freedom 35





I did-(at Mack Boring Parts)


They said that the engine could take a Balmar 70 Series 110
amp, with a Mack #500 regulator.


Did anyone do this?


Did anyone increase the house battery bank from 2 to 4
batteries?


Lou Spitz


F35 #23 “Ripple Effect”

\


\




----- Original Message -----


From: Jay Glen


To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com



Sent: Friday, July 06,
2007 1:22 PM


Subject: Re:
[FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

\



Louis,

Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so
places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive
wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.



louis spitz <aronella@optonline.net>
wrote:



Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar
3GM30.


Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to
the max for extended cruising.


Thanks,


Louis Spitz

\







Jay Glen KI6JTK
s/v Fantasy
Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60
San Francisco Bay
925-783-4132
svfantasy@myyacht.com



Never
miss an email again!
Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives.
Check it out.



\

Posted by louis spitz (aronella@…>)

I have 1 starter battery, and 2 house batteries. They look to be in great shape; they are Sears Diehard M3, 575CCA (= 102 amps ea.)
That’s good news that you can really use the boat as is. How big is your alternator?(not to get too personal :slight_smile:
Lou

----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35





What kind of batteries do you have now? I upgraded my batteries last season to two 8D AGMs. All I can say is that was probably overkill. I can cruise for a week on one of those batteries…refrigerator on continuously, using lights and water pump whenever desired, and I don’t have a separate starter battery—engine has always started with no hesitation…and I’ve never come close to draining it!!! Want the other one?! It seems as I don’t need two!

Cheers,
Melissa
s/v Acedia F38 “Pollution is a silent form of violence”-Ralph Nader

“Plastics, like diamonds, are forever!”-The Earth Resource Foundation

(for more information on the adverse effects of plastics on human health and the environment, please visit–http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-overview.html)
----- Original Message ----From: louis spitz <aronella@optonline.net>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 10:01:04 AMSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


I did-(at Mack Boring Parts)
They said that the engine could take a Balmar 70 Series 110 amp, with a Mack #500 regulator.
Did anyone do this?
Did anyone increase the house battery bank from 2 to 4 batteries?
Lou Spitz
F35 #23 “Ripple Effect”

----- Original Message -----
From: Jay Glen
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


Louis,Be very careful putting a large frame alternator on a Yanmar 3GM30. Doing so places a high side loading on the front of the crankshaft, causing excessive wear of the oil seal and bearings. Talk to Yanmar before going ahead.louis spitz <aronella@optonline. net> wrote:


Any experience with upgrading the alternator for a Yanmar 3GM30.
Current alternator came with the boat; I want to upgrqde to the max for extended cruising.
Thanks,
Louis Spitz

Jay Glen KI6JTK s/v Fantasy Freedom 40 Cat-Ketch Hull # 60 San Francisco Bay 925-783-4132 svfantasy@myyacht. com

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Posted by ptecca63 (paul.tecca@…>)

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

Posted by louis spitz (aronella@…>)

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on the mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electric winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t for another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie, he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due to alot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35


Louis,My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater and a charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no problems.PaulF35 #8 Midnight Star

Posted by ptecca63 (paul.tecca@…>)

Lou,

My battery setup has two banks. Bank 1, used to start the engine,
is a single 12 volt deep cycle wet cell lead acid battery. It is a
golf cart battery (not sure of the brand).

Bank 2 is the house system and is made up of two “logical” 12 volt
batteries hooked up in parallel. I use the term “logical” because
each 12 volt “logical” battery is made of up two 6 volt batteries
hooked up in series. The two “logical” 12 volt batteries are hooked
up in parallel. In total, the house bank has 4 6 volt deep cycle
wet cell lead acid batteries. They are also golf cart batteries.

The prior owner was really high on the golf cart batteries. He
bought them at “Sams Club”. I don’t know who the real manufacturer
is. I don’t have enough experience with them to have an opinion.
They seem to be doing okay for the moment. To date we have been
doing weekends on the boat. We get on Friday night and go home
Sunday night. We run the fridge 24x7 over the weekend. Then
lights, instruments, etc as needed. Running the engine an hour a
day seems to keep up with the power demand. We’ll see how they
perform on an extended bases in August when we do our annual 2 week
cruise.

By the way, we plan on cruising Long Island sound this year. I
think that is your area. It would be interesting to get together
and compare notes on our F35s. Are you interested?

Paul

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz
<aronella@…> wrote:

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on
the mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the
electric winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it
weren’t for another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off
his foulie, he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be
released due to alot of presssure. The winch switches are located
incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the
winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom
35

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater
and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no
problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star