T&T: DC Gensets

[Peter McCorison]

Coho has a dc genset. I built it by belting a 175A 24v Leece Neville 
alternator to a 4.4 KW Westerbeke ac genset. I kept the ac end of the 
machine, but don't use it. It's there as a backup if needed.

This has worked out well for us for the last three years, barring a 
series of alternator failures which were unrelated to the application. 
We do about what David suggests: charge full bore till the current drops 
down to 80A or so then turn on the HW heater. By the time the water 
heater shuts off, the batteries are back at 80% or so. Takes a little 
over an hour. Our 110v fridge stays on all the time, even tho it has 
coldplates from a prior incarnation of the electric system on the boat.

Regards,
Peter McCorison
M/B Coho, 50'Marco trawler, 1955
Westsound, WA

David&Joan wrote:
> More thoughts on DC gensets:
> 
> 
> So, I guess that is why 99.9% of all trawlers with a genset, have an AC 
> genset. Actually I have never seen or heard of a DC genset in a trawler and 
> have only heard about them in a sailboat.