T&T: Inverter Problems

[Mark Richter]

<< The alternators are supplying 2 - 12 volt batteries
to the engines and 6 - 6 volt batteries for the house supply. He asked for a
larger alternator on one engine. The technician said the alternator supplier
said a larger alternator would not work because of the different batteries
(12
and 6 volt ) Technician said it would charge the weakest battery and then
quit.>>

Trying to charge the start battery and house bank together is not the best
plan, as the technician pointed out.  Why not put the large alternator on
one engine, and hook that engine up to the house bank only?  A 6 or 8
golf-cart bank will have no problem starting the 4BT Cummins, even if it's
become half discharged overnight.  A 100-120 amp alternator will do some
serious charging into a house bank like that, but it will need an external
regulator (smart or manually adjustable, your choice) to get the most out of
it.  There's probably already a cross-connecting manual switch for
paralleling the start batteries; it will still be available if the house
gets discharged sometime.

Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee Waterway
Mark's Mobile Marine, Electrical system design, installation and repair.