Best Alternator?

[kmacdonald]

Balmar, Mark Grasser, ElectroMaax, etc?

[kiwin]

Look at electrodyne..

[Bruce K]

Electrodyne.

[kmacdonald]

Electrodyne are a little bigger than what I'm looking for. They start at 160 amps. I'm looking for about 100 to 120 amps.

[Jammer]

The biggest one that will physically fit. The larger ones, paradoxically, are usually cheaper too.

[kmacdonald]

I can only fit a small case alternator.

[alamoana]

Prestolite 8MR with external regulator worked well for me

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by alamoana

Prestolite 8MR with external regulator worked well for me

Do you know where I could find a 6pk pulley for a 8MR alternator? They have a 5/8" shaft and not a standard 17mm shaft.

[michaeld]

I took the "safer" path and installed a 120A Balmar alternator with the ARS-5 regulator. It was not the cheapest way to go, but I am relatively satisfied.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1NHatBVm5QC2Jh4k6

Good hunting. Keep us posted.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by michaeld

I took the "safer" path and installed a 120A Balmar alternator with the ARS-5 regulator. It was not the cheapest way to go, but I am relatively satisfied.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1NHatBVm5QC2Jh4k6

Good hunting. Keep us posted.

Looks good. I have the 6pk pulleys for the engine but not the alternator. I have a v belt pulley for the 90 amp 8MR and external regulator swap kit for it. Got the engine pulley kit on eBay from a parted out Beta 30 for $75. They already sold the alternator with the 6pk pulley. Might have to have one made.

[kiwin]

In another thread these were suggested. I have not used one.:
http://www.all-tek.ca/index.html

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Balmar, Mark Grasser, ElectroMaax, etc?

I don't know. All I can say is my Balmar 100A is 21 years old and going strong. First it's first 10 years it ran at 100%. Then I changed the belt loading to 95% and now I have it at 85% because I got tired of cleaning the belt dust and replacing the belts.

My last boat also had it OEM Balmar and was running fine and was 22 years old when I sold the boat.

[kmacdonald]

I wonder if they make them like they used to.

[alamoana]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

I wonder if they make them like they used to.

I think they are just as well built. We just run them harder now because our batteries are larger and we know how to extract more juice from them!

[d design]

Alternators supplying power to charge large battery banks or lfp should always have thermal management other than the alternator fan. Give your alternator cool air and regulate max output power via temperature compensation and your alternator should last many years.