Re: [Cal_Boats] charging quest

Peter, This is for a typical older engine electrical system, your's may have variations...if you want to contact me off-list I can be more specific to your application. The short (g) answer is get rid of the amp meter, Connect the wires (usually red and/or orange) together that went to the two studs on the ampmeter, except for the one going to the alternator positive output. There is probably a small blue and a small black going to the amp meter for the light bulb. Disconnect the positive wire from the alternator output to the amp meter and discard it. Run a new wire of sufficient size for your alternator's amperage and the length of the run to the battery switch (ABYC says install circuit protection at the switch end for that wire). I would suggest connecting to the house battery side, and install a Duo-Charge, ACR or similar automatic combiner between the house and start batteries. If you have a stock alternator it is very likely to be internally regulated. It may or may not have several small wires to it for voltage sense, a wire to turn on and off the internal regulator and perhaps a tachometer output wire. It may not have any of these, just an output wire. At any rate, the output one is the one you are concerned with. Replace the amp meter with a volt meter if you wish, connect it's positive terminal to the ignition terminal of the key switch, use the wires for the amp meter bulb to light the voltmeter, and tie the voltmeter negative to ground. Use your link to monitor amps, voltages, etc...it will tell you a lot more than the amp meter did. You may find that you are getting better charging from your alternator, as you have shortened the run, and gone with a higher ampacity cable from the alternator to the battery. Over time, that little #10 looses ampacity due to corrosion of the wire and connections. As always, YMMV Mark and Terry Rogers 1966 Cal 36 "Seirenia" Hull #22 American Yacht Club Newburyport, MA Mobile Marine Electrical Services, Inc. MMES Custom Panels _www.wewireboats.com_ (http://www.wewireboats.com) ya… [at] aol.com ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com