T&T: Alternators

[Robin]

If your battery bank accepts a maximum of about 110 amps you don't HAVE  to
use that big an alternator to charge.  Much depends on low your battery bank
is when you begin recharging.
I run three 8D deep cycle wet cells  in a house bank and charge with a 120 amp
Powerline. I try not to discharge more than 50% or 60% and at that level I
rarely see current of more than 90 amps when charging. And that's usually for
way less than an hour.

If you discharge much below 50% then likely you'd see charginf currents closer
to the ac ceptance maximum, but you'll reduce the life of your batteries
substantially.

If you anchor and charge from a genny, it's more critical to have a larger
charger so you don't have to run you genny longer than for other uses.

Rob Brueckner
Hatteras YF