Joe, What is your alternator rated at? I was lucky to charge my FLA batteries at half rating, but now I easily charge at 110A. You may want to consider the Renogy DCC1212-60A or the DCC50S \(w/ MPPT).
Balmer sells these alternator protectors which are basically a short wire with a Zener in the middle. You connect one end to +V alternator terminal and the other end to the alternator GND terminal. But as you pointed out, you get one life protection, but worse is figuring that out. Paul - Paul E. 1981 C&C Landfall 38 S/V Johanna Rose Fort Walton Beach, FL http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ > On Sep 14, 2021, at 1:30 PM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > My alternator might hit 50 amps on a really good day, so a 40 amp DC-DC > charger would be plenty. > BTW, the usual alternator protectors are 16 or 18 volt Zener diodes. I had > occasion to test that once and it did burn the diode up, but the alternator > was saved 😊 > > > Joe Della Barba > Coquina > > > > > From: Dreuge via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com > <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> > Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 1:17 PM > To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Cc: Dreuge <dre...@gmail.com <mailto:dre...@gmail.com>> > Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Re: anyone gone lithium? > > Hi Joe, > > I made the change to LiFePO4 this year. And yes, I chose to keep the > lead-acid start battery with the alternator directly connected to it. I > originally planned on using a DC-DC charger (both w/ and wo/ MPPT solar > charging) for charging the LiFePO4 battery. The issue with DC-DC chargers > are the limiting charging current, 30A for Victron units, and 50A/60A for > others. I have a 120A alternator and to get the most out of it, would > require using multiple DC-DC chargers in parallel. > > My solution was rather simple. Use the existing Blue Sea SI-ARC but in a > switched control mode. I first installed a manual push-pull switch and then > built an Arduino smart switch which senses the ignition power to control a > relay switch for the ACR. I even added temp sensors: one for alternator > temperature and the other for the LiFePO4 battery(don’t charge LiFePO4 > batteries at temps below freezing). I have it documented on my blog (see > links below). > > I do like Sterling Power’s alternator protector and will likely install one > in the future. > > My recommendation is to focus on the battery system first. LiFePO4 drop-in > replacements are economical, but putting together a DIY LiFePO4 battery is > simple and affordable. I replaced 2 group 31 deep cycle 110AH batteries with > a 560AH LiFePO4 battery. > > LiFePO4 battery build > https://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/2021/06/adding-new-lifepo4-to-house-battery.html > > <https://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/2021/06/adding-new-lifepo4-to-house-battery.html> > > Solar System > https://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/2021/07/electrical-power-system-w-solar.html > > <https://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/2021/07/electrical-power-system-w-solar.html> > > > - > Paul E. > 1981 C&C Landfall 38 > S/V Johanna Rose > Fort Walton Beach, FL > > http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ <http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/> > > > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > <https://www.paypal.me/stumurray> Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
