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electrical:12v:alternator_details [2023/10/16 19:43] frater_secessus [heat] |
electrical:12v:alternator_details [2024/03/29 18:57] frater_secessus [voltage] mastervolt |
A separate alternator (see below) is not required to use external regulation but that is a common scenario. If one externally regulates the vehicle's sole alternator the chassis could be exposed to higher or lower voltages than it was designed for. | A separate alternator (see below) is not required to use external regulation but that is a common scenario. If one externally regulates the vehicle's sole alternator the chassis could be exposed to higher or lower voltages than it was designed for. |
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Common external regulators include: | External regulators include: |
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* Balmar ARS-5 (no external voltage sensing) | * Balmar ARS-5 (no external voltage sensing) |
* Xantrex Xar (no external voltage sensing) | * Xantrex Xar (no external voltage sensing) |
* Wakespeed WS500 (CANBUS) | * Wakespeed WS500 (CANBUS) |
| * [[https://theyachtrigger.com/arco-zeus-alternator-regulator/|Arco Zeus]] - new to market |
| * [[https://www.mastervolt.com/products/alpha-pro-mb-charge-regulator1/alpha-pro-iii/|Mastervolt]], more often seen in marine installs |
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=== tricking the regulator === | === tricking the regulator === |
=== thermal switches === | === thermal switches === |
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In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjeHJd6OO2Y&lc=Ugyusa6wH9p3jNMKbmh4AaABAg.9m5OeSgBRtB9m5UO1ANIfF|a comment]] on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjeHJd6OO2Y|an excellent video about charging lithium from the alternator]] WorkingOnExploring talks about adding overtemp protection with: | In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjeHJd6OO2Y&lc=Ugyusa6wH9p3jNMKbmh4AaABAg.9m5OeSgBRtB9m5UO1ANIfF|a comment]] on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjeHJd6OO2Y|an excellent video about charging lithium from the alternator]] WorkingOnExploring talks about adding overtemp protection with a thermal switch (a small bimetallic switch):((see [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4Yxo9C9DM|this teardown and demo video]] on youtube)) |
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>> [[https://amzn.to/3luTwwx|a KSD9700 120C]], normally closed thermal switch epoxied to your alternator case. That way, if some abnormal event occurred and the alternator overheated, it could deactivate the [combiner] till the alternator cooled. It would likely cost less than $20 to install this thermal safety. | >> [[https://amzn.to/3luTwwx|a KSD9700 120C]], normally closed thermal switch epoxied to your alternator case. That way, if some abnormal event occurred and the alternator overheated, it could deactivate the [combiner] till the alternator cooled. It would likely cost less than $20 to install this thermal safety. |
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Note: a thermal switch is a tiny bimetallic device. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4Yxo9C9DM|this teardown and demo video]] (youtube). | |
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==== external regulation ==== | ==== external regulation ==== |
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External regulation can provide overtemperature protection (see section on Heat above), and can also cause the alternator to behave like a smart charger with [[electrical:12v:charging|multistage charging]]. | External regulation can provide overtemperature protection (see section on Heat above), current limiting, and can also cause the alternator to behave like a smart charger with [[electrical:12v:charging|multistage charging]]. |
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