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  #1   IP: 24.152.131.155
Old 03-19-2012, 09:17 PM
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Alts, regs and volts again

It's always a treat to visit Lewco Electric in Newport Beach. By the time I leave I've had another excellent learning experience. I love that stuff.

When I dropped off my alternator for a regulator-ectomy and transplant, Dan at Lewco and I had a little chat about charging voltages. My alternator had (past tense) a measured output voltage of 14.7 and he said man, that's too much. He also said at charging voltages in that range you're almost guaranteed to cause lead acid batteries to boil. He said once in a while it's good for them to get maybe a half hour 'exercise' at 14.6 volts but that's it. It helps keep the lead plates clean. His preference by far is a charging voltage of around 14.2 or so for deep cycle lead acid batteries. I thought the adjustable regulator guys might like to hear his opinion.

I asked about the old standard, 13.8 volts and he said that was fine, a real safe voltage but the lowest output internal fixed point regulator he knew of for my alternator was 14.0 volts. I said great, works for me.

Interestingly, Lewco Electric occupies the building in the front of the same yard where I built my Westsail decades ago.
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Old 03-20-2012, 07:13 AM
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14.7 is pretty harsh
13.8 will take FOREVER to charge a big battery.
When I had gels I tried to stay around 14.0-14.1 and now I have AGMs I have turned it up to about 14.3-14.4.
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Old 03-20-2012, 08:37 AM
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Would it be possible to put a hefty rectifier forward biased to drop up to an
additional up to 1 volt? Could also put two back to back if concerned about
polarity at all. Check Digikey on line under silicon hv hi current (maybe 200A?) rectifiers.

Might need to make sure any sensing wires are closer to the alternator than the diodes so that it doesn't keep trying to get to 14 v when
measuring 13V.

Best Regards

Art

Last edited by ArtJ; 03-20-2012 at 08:47 AM.
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Old 03-20-2012, 08:45 AM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is offline
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Lightbulb Quik charge!

Neil, good catch! Going back a step or two is going to be fine, probably better! My alt has the 14.2 reg on it and works fine. I still have the 35 amp Motorola with one twist in it. I have an extra wire tied into my field and hooked to a manual switch to give the batteries that "JOLT" which cleans the plates off a bit once and a while, usually when the batteries are very low. I have 2 6V's on the house at 245 amp hour and a single grp 24 deep cycle on the start side. What I do is start and after the engine has settled I activate the switch and control voltage via RPM. I bring the volts up to around 16~17V's for about 15~20 minutes max so as not the raise the temp of the batteries and then switch back to automatic which continues my 14.2 charge rate. This practice really loads the alt as well so it's temp is also a consideration and the 15~20 minutes seems to work fine and keeps the plates in my lead acid batteries happy and un-boiled.

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Old 03-20-2012, 12:06 PM
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I have one of my batteries in my fathers garage right now getting the "treatment" from one of those battery maintainers. Do you guys have any product recommendations for those things? I see quite a few on the market, and I am always watching out for snake oil products that are just poor copies of the good ones.
This is the one that is being used right now:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2201_200332201


And Neil, what are those plants in front of the shop? They look like something I once saw in a postcard.

Ta,
Russ
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lat 64 View Post
And Neil, what are those plants in front of the shop? They look like something I once saw in a postcard.
I dunno, they pop up like weeds around here.
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:46 PM
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Russ,
I have used "cheap" trickle chargers in the past that tended to "boil" the batteries over time. My preferred "maintainer" now, is to carry the "seasonal" battery around with me in my daily driver and keep it plugged into an accessory port (cigerette lighter). I have a small wattage bulb in line which tends to limit the amount of current that it will draw.
Tom
P.S. Having worked in the movie industry for many years, we found that keeping those "tall weeds" out of shots was a major challenge. As you can imagine, scenes which were supposed to have taken place in Denver, look a little odd with palm trees in the background.
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Old 03-20-2012, 01:58 PM
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Neil: Very useful info. My alt/VR system puts about 13.8 into the battery. A little over a year ago I installed a solar panel, 60 watt, and a small regulator to help with the batteries on long trips. The first time I checked the water level in the bats after the panel installation the level was lower, needed more water, than expected. This puzzled me and I wondered if the panel had anything to do with it. I recently installed a voltmeter and can now monitor input any time I want to. I believe the panel/reg system is putting out about 14.4+. Will keep a eye on it this summer but your post explained/confirmed a lot.
Also. What a beautiful boat.
Dan S/V Marian Claire
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Old 03-21-2012, 06:09 AM
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I'm curious as to the photoshopping going on in the first photo. I can understand the license plates being blurred, but why does the power line have a step in it??
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Old 03-21-2012, 09:48 AM
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Probably ladies undergarment hanging there...
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:07 AM
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Question

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Originally Posted by Kelly View Post
I'm curious as to the photoshopping going on in the first photo. I can understand the license plates being blurred, but why does the power line have a step in it??
Kelly, I think Neil was adding in extra weeds to make the place look more tropical & make us all jealous.

Good catch, though..hard to pull a fast one 'round these parts! Also, notice the window underneath the disjointed powerline is at a different height than the others.

I am sure Neil has a valid explanation. probably two pics taken on different days & neither had the whole building in it.

The next thing we gotta do is figure out when the Westsail was built looking at the vintage of cars in the pic. Looks early to mid 80's to me with that Suzuki Sprint in the foreground(or early Geo Metro...nah..I think the wheel cover says "Suzuki" on it, although Susuki was making the cars for Chevy & they were just re-branding them). Also, about 1986-87 is when all the car manufacturers started going to composite headlamps, & that blue car is definitely pre-that era. The yellow Chevy van is maybe a few years old in the pic..it looks to be from the late 70's. I think by the early 80's, they were screwing on larger side markers & tail lights (with visible screws) on those vans, wrapping the chrome bumpers a little farther around, & the badging was a little different.

I am gonna guess 1983.
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Last edited by sastanley; 03-21-2012 at 10:21 AM. Reason: geeking out on vehicles
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:23 AM
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Trick Photography!

Neil has also posted pictures that make his Catalina 30 look reeely nice. Just goes to show you what can be done with a digital camera and a sinister mind.
Tom
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:26 AM
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As to the questionable picture, ask Google Earth Street View. I suspect it's as Shawn suggested, a montage of two pictures taken as the Google-mobile drove down the street.

I can't explain the window heights but now that it has been mentioned I'll pay special attention the next time I'm there and report back. Clearly that building has been remodeled in the past 25 years. Maybe I should take my tape measure?

edit:
May I suggest you all volunteer for the Amelia Earhart photo forensics team?? And Tom's ratted me out. I don't really have a boat, just a camera, a computer and lots of stories.

edit 2:
It looks like the roof line takes a jump above the higher window too. I expect to find the windows properly aligned.
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Last edited by ndutton; 03-21-2012 at 10:50 AM.
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:26 AM
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From Neil's album in his MMI Profile...

"Betty Boop"
My Westsail 32 Project
Bare Hull Delivered - March 1984
Launched - July 1987
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:35 AM
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Talking

C'mon now roadnsky..that's cheating!!!

edit - Kelly...not to worry, this google maps pic shows the powerlines intact & the windows all at the same level!

Now, if you open up Google Maps and view the full street view pic (Neil's is cropped to match his boat pic I assume), the same white pickup with the bedliner & the white VW Beetle are both still in the parking lot. - however, the Suzuki Samari over in the parking lot to the left next to the fork lift is turned around.

Can you tell I am bored at work today!??!?!
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Last edited by sastanley; 03-21-2012 at 10:57 AM. Reason: wasting time
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:57 AM
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Red face Forensics

Me too, note in the window on the left under the "jog" in front of the silver car that there ios an ole VW in the reflection.

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Old 03-21-2012, 11:01 AM
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You guys watch toooo much TV.
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Old 03-21-2012, 11:05 AM
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Sure does Dave...good eye!
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Old 03-21-2012, 11:38 AM
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What the H?

This is the 19th post on the thread, 7 pertinent to the subject, 11 on a picture and this one just to be grumpy - AGAIN.

What did I do to deserve this??
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Old 03-21-2012, 11:49 AM
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back on track

Sorry Neil..we gotta get you outta your funk. Sounds like what you need is Lewco Electric to move along with your alternator mods toute suite.

I am gonna double check my alternator again this spring when I fire the engine up and make sure I have 14.1-14.2 and no higher going into the battery bank.
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Old 03-21-2012, 11:49 AM
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It's all done for good-natured fun. No worries. But don't EVER try to pull the wool over our eyes!!

Edit: Post #21
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Old 03-21-2012, 11:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelly View Post
But don't EVER try to pull the wool over our eyes!!
Do you mean from now on or do my past transgressions count??
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Old 03-21-2012, 02:17 PM
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I not as dumb as I think I am.

That' not a real boatyard. That's where the Apollo "moon landing" was filmed.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me again because a wasted mind is a terrible thing.
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Old 03-21-2012, 02:33 PM
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Exclamation I found Waldo

Ha Ha, I found Waldo the VW again in the ole' pic Shawn posted and it's the right color.

Russ, those shrubs are a form of California grass, not necessarily California grass though. I have actually seen snow on one of those in San Pedro about 20 years ago, I htink the root systems actually started growing in a southerly direction that day.

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Old 03-21-2012, 02:56 PM
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By the way - I did a little google map satellite surfing today...those marina systems you all have on the West Coast are amazing. Those basins near Cabrillo Beach & Redondo Beach are chock-a-block with boats & then places like Balboa Is. has about 8 gazillion moorings.

(staying on topic) - any update an your alternator yet?
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