I’m planning on going LiFeOP4 on my sailing boat and use a Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30A between the battery and the alternator of a Yanmar 2GM20, which probably is rated at 35A nominal output.
Will 30A burn the alternator so I have to step down to the 18A-version?
Personally I wouldn’t recommend using that big of a charger on it, if the alternator is truly only 35a. It will work, yes…. It will also not work for very long!
The 12/12-30 if I remember correctly is fused at 60a and will pull ~40a. Remember nothing is free, their are efficiency losses, if it’s putting out 30a it is going to draw more than that to do it
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Yeah, I’m convinced now that the Orion-Tr 30A isn’t the way to go with the present alternator.
But in another forum I was recommended to choose the Orion Xs 50A instead, since you can set the output power in 0.1A increments, so there I can go below 30 to perhaps 15-20A instead.
Exactly. I wish the whole Orion lineup was adjustable, it would be a much more versatile unit.
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@marlu you could fit an external regulator to the alternator. The idea is to ensure the alternator does not overheat. The external regulator has a temperature sensor that is bolted to the alternator body. In the case of the Balmar regulators the temperature sensor reduces alternator excitation by 50% if the alternator reaches 100 degrees C.
By current limiting the alternator current with a DC-DC converter you are only guessing at what level the alternator is in its safe operating region. By using the external regulator you can be sure the alternator is being used to full capacity without damaging it.