Is there a way to get a Tach or "W" output from a Balmar "Smart Ready" regulator?

[DougMc]

Hello,

I'm planning to install a Balmar "Smart Ready" regulator to the Valeo 125A alternator on our Yanmar.

The reason for doing this is to have an easy way to provide a field input to the regulator for use with a WS500 external regulator. The Balmar regulator replaces the factory internal regulator and is sold for this purpose but with the Balmar external regulators in mind.

The WS500 regulator can use a tach/stator/W signal from the alternator for RPM sensing, but this doesn't seem to be available on the Balmar regulator. It has Ign, Field, and battery sense as its external connections, and the alternator's B+ connection comes out on its own post. There is a connection labelled Ps1 on a drawing of the regulator, but this is not routed outside. Is this a stator connection perhaps? If I finagled a connection to that, would I get a waveform I wonder?

Any thoughts?

Doug,
P.S. Balmar tech support isn't answering the phone, and I can't find an email for their tech support department.

[Wotname]

Perhaps - try it and see.

'Finagle' an external connection and measure with an AC voltmeter; if it's a stator connection (like a W connection), it should read around 5 to 8 VAC.

A web search for the Valeo 125A alternator internal wiring may give you the answer.

[SV Confianza]

Looks like the manual states: “ The white “tach wire” on the Balmar wiring harness is normally used to connect the tachometer to a
Balmar alternator. In this case the white tach wire is not used (as the Valeo alternator connects to the tach independently), so you may fold it back and tape it off.”

Sounds like you need to follow the connection instructions for the tach from the alternator itself to the wakespeed.

[wholybee]

The W connection would be to the alternator directly, not the regulator. That is why the regulator doesn't have one.
Here is a random pic from the Internet that shows where it would be, if available. https://smithcoelectric.com/blogs/te...wiring-diagram

[DougMc]

Originally Posted by SV Confianza

Looks like the manual states: “ The white “tach wire” on the Balmar wiring harness is normally used to connect the tachometer to a
Balmar alternator. In this case the white tach wire is not used (as the Valeo alternator connects to the tach independently), so you may fold it back and tape it off.”

Sounds like you need to follow the connection instructions for the tach from the alternator itself to the wakespeed.

Yes, but I don't have a Balmar regulator, so no white wire in its harness. And, indeed, the Yanmar installation does not use an alternator tach output for RPM.

The Balmar "smart ready" internal regulator has only a red wire, which is V_sense, and two posts, hence the problem.

[DougMc]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Perhaps - try it and see.

'Finagle' an external connection and measure with an AC voltmeter; if it's a stator connection (like a W connection), it should read around 5 to 8 VAC.

A web search for the Valeo 125A alternator internal wiring may give you the answer.

Unfortunately, I don't have practical access to try such an experiment right now.

[FPNC]

If you have a mag pickup tach drive, it is not required that you route the alternator tach signal through the Balmar regulator.

Balmar does this with alternator generated tach signals to help prevent complete cutout of the tach signal by stopping the alternator from completely shutting off when batteries are fully charged.

[SV Confianza]

Originally Posted by DougMc

Yes, but I don't have a Balmar regulator, so no white wire in its harness. And, indeed, the Yanmar installation does not use an alternator tach output for RPM.

The Balmar "smart ready" internal regulator has only a red wire, which is V_sense, and two posts, hence the problem.

That’s actually the manual for the Smart Ready that you mentioned that you have. What it’s saying is that you connect the tach sense to the valeo directly in this case. Check the manual for the valeo to see where to attach.