GL: Battery-inverter-charger questions

[Jim Fidler]

If/when you install a large house bank (four or more golf carts) be 
careful about your alternators.  Many small frame original equipment 
alternators will overheat and self destruct if they are used 
to recharge a large bank of discharged batteries.  A 40 amp 
alternator isn't really designed to output 40 amps continuously 
for a long period of time.

It would be great to replace both alternators and install smart 
regulators but it's really expensive.  After spending  a night or two 
at anchor we would use the generator and 110 amp charger in 
the inverter to bulk charge our golf carts for an hour or so 
while underway.  Then the generator could be turned off and 
the engine alternators would finish the job over the next 6 or 
8 hours.  Our little 40 amp oem alternators survived.

Maybe someone else mentioned it and I didn't notice but one 
other thing you really should include is a battery monitor such 
as the Link 10 or Link 1000.  They are great if you learn how 
to use them to manage the state of your house battery.  I think 
you really don't need a battery monitor for your starting 
batteries.  They are rarely a problem.

Jim Fidler  "Fiddlesticks"