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Daily consumption is not what directly determines the size alternator you should install. An excellent primer on calculating the electrical input you need for a given electrical installation.
[SailNet, 26 April 2004]
How to choose an alternator that fits your battery bank and a three-stage regulator to fit your alternator. The attractions and limits of solar and wind power. 2 pages.
[Sail Magazine, September 2001]
A 40-year-liveaboard couple describe their home-designed prop-shaft alternator. It provides unusual charging abilities when combined with the engine alternator.
[SetSail.com, Charlotte, NC, USA]
Brief grab bag of facts and commentary about how an alternator works. Contains excerpts from hard-to-find bulletin board and newsgroup postings, as well as links to useful sites and vendor pages.
[Bill Dietrich, USA]
Unmoderated forum on marine electrical and electronic equipment. Good advice and resources here, but you have to dig and you have to be selective.
[Usenet, USA]
A discussion board and photo gallery for cruising sailors and wannabes focused on the best ways to generate, distribute, and control electricity on a cruising boat.
[Cruisers Forum, Buskerud, Norway]
This is a chapter of the 366-page U.S. military field manual on Marine Electricity, maybe a pirate copy published for would-be soldiers and mercenaries. It′s a very good primer on the basics - direct and alternating current, circuit measurement, distribution, etc. - but if you read it on line, you have to put up with banner ads aimed at high-testosterone men.
[Free Military Training Manuals, USA]
A wide and deep list of inspections and tests you can do to be sure your (or your prospective) boat has no electrical or related problems. An excellent reference when adding or refitting electrical components. The pages are shareware; the author requests a small donation from users.
[Robb Zuk, Salt Spring Island, Canada]
Comments on replacing a standard output 35-55 amp alternator with a significantly higher output alternator. Speaks only of the company′s own product, but gives an idea of what′s involved.
[Foley Marine & Industrial Engines, Inc., Worcester, MA, USA]
One vendor′s list of things you need to determine or decide when retrofitting a high-output alternator to your engine. Includes fuel type, mounting style, belt configuration and other considerations.
[Balmar, Arlington, WA, USA]
Calculating Your Electrical Needs
Contrary to popular belief, daily onboard consumption is not what directly determines the size of the alternator you should install.
Don Casey
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