Alternator Heating Up . . . Too Much !

[Dockhead]

For example:

"What is high temperature?
There was a time when a high temperature alternator was one that was rated for operating in temperatures of 93oC. That simply isn’t adequate anymore, as new EPA-compliant diesel engines are running hotter than ever before. Modern school buses require alternators that can survive in ambient air temperatures of up to 110oC, yet we see competitors claim that their alternators are ‘high temperature’ while operating at a much lower 80oC.
All Leece-Neville school bus alternators have been approved for true high temperature applications of 110oC"

http://www.prestolite.com/literature...nators_web.pdf

110 degrees C is fully 230 degrees F.

[Laidback]

The boiling point of distilled water at sea level -

BTW.. is this thread not better off in Electrical ?

[daddle]

Now this thread has drifted over to Provisioning.

Eggs can fry at 158 degrees F. Which is not too hot for an alternator.

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by daddle

Now this thread has drifted over to Provisioning.

Eggs can fry at 158 degrees F. Which is not too hot for an alternator.

In what viscosity of cooking oil ?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Laidback

The boiling point of distilled water at sea level -

BTW.. is this thread not better off in Electrical ?

. . .. is 100 degrees C.

[sailorboy1]

never checked how hot my alternator gets, but it sounds like what we are saying here is that if it isn't on fire it's OK

[gettinthere]

During bulk charging phase, my balmar screams like a banshee and gets a little over 200d F. When it switches to absorption phase, it quickly drops to around 140d F and the screaming stops.

Balmar recommends belt tension of about a 1/4" deflection. That is TIGHT. And the banshee scream is considered normal by Balmar.

I added a suction duct within 1 foot of the alternator to suck heat out. Not sure how much it's helping but it can't hurt.

[GordMay]

The more copper in an alternator’s windings, the cooler it will run under given circumstances (Amps Output & Ambient Temp).

The better the wire insulation is, the higher temperature rise* rating.

For example, NEMA Standard MG1 recognizes four classes of electrical insulation materials used in standby power alternators (maximum operating temperatures*):
A 125 degree C / 257 deg. F maximum
B 145/293
F 170338
H 190/374

* These maximum temperatures are actually made up of two parts – the ambient temperature of the environment and the heat, or temperature rise, created by the alternator windings.
MG1 uses 40 ̊C as its standard for ambient temperature.
Subtracting 40 ̊C from the maximum operating temperature gives us the temperature rise allowed for the heat generated by the resistance of the wire in the windings and other losses in the alternator.

[David M]

Originally Posted by daddle

Actually it's 355W of waste heat and noise by your numbers.

(1-1/.7)*60A*13.8V

Hah...I flunk

[rwidman]

Three things missing here. How hot is the alternator getting, how hot did it get before it was rebuilt, and why was it rebuilt in the first place?

If it overheated and burned out because of an electrical problem on the boat, it's likely that the repaired alternator will do the same.

If, for example, one of the batteries has a shorted cell, it will never charge and the alternator will supply maximum current continuously until it overheats and possibly fails (again).

[Chief Engineer]

Gord May is not Human.....It is some type of Artificial Intelligence delivered to earth to serve us.....His ISP is somewhere in the Nevada Desert........HAHAHAHAHA

[btrayfors]

Agree with ya, Chief. It just ain't right he can tap into all this stuff at the drop of a hat.

Like you say, not really human :-)

Bill

[btrayfors]

High temps in alternator windings -- wire and insulation -- are one thing.

High temps in solid state devices -- diodes, transistors, etc. -- are quite another.

Think that's why someone invented external rectifiers as well as external regulators for high-power alternators?

Just sayin... :-)

Bill

[hellosailor]

"All Leece-Neville school bus alternators have been approved for true high temperature applications of 110oC""

Dang! So a couple of wraps of narrow copper pipe, and there's finally a good way to make a cup of coffee with waste engine heat. And, actively cool the alternator at the same time!

"Mr. Scott, full power to the espresso coils!"

[Chief Engineer]

Make it a 'still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"All Leece-Neville school bus alternators have been approved for true high temperature applications of 110oC""

Dang! So a couple of wraps of narrow copper pipe, and there's finally a good way to make a cup of coffee with waste engine heat. And, actively cool the alternator at the same time!

"Mr. Scott, full power to the espresso coils!"

How about a pint of Delko-Rheumy, Mutterrolla, Lease N'Evil or
Ball-More?