461 Alternators - Tip

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   If you are considering your spec on a new 461 please check out the alternator size that will come with your engine and I'd suggest you think about your battery charging needs carefully.
We've had one season with some electrical issues (all sorted thanks) but found a fundamental miscalculation in our alternator v battery specifications.
Due to the added electric winches plus our Maxpower thruster, the battery count with the boat rose to 8.  We had also specified the lower maintenance 80 ah gel batteries.
So our charging need is therefore to fill 8 x 80 ah - 640 ah capacity - and gel batteries take longer to recharge than conventional lead / acid anyway.
Our 'standard' alternator on our 75 hp Yanmar came as 60 ah - and it's proved woefully too low an output.  Conventional wisdom is the alternator v battery rate should be 1 v 3 - ours is around 1 v 10!
The answer is to obviously increase alternator output and really consider if gel battereis make sense.  If we were we to order again I'd re-spec the alternator up to at least 80 if not 120, ensure I had a smart regulator fitted to ensure maximum output when the engine is running, and go for the cheaper lead acid batteries.
It is a lot easier to do this before you buy the boat - as opposed to retrofitting after!  Hoping this experience helps others.
JOHN

Edited by John Allison - 27 November 2005 at 07:52

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John Allison Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 23 November 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote John Allison Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 461 Alternators - Tip Posted: 27 November 2005 at 07:50
	If you are considering your spec on a new 461 please check out the alternator size that will come with your engine and I'd suggest you think about your battery charging needs carefully. We've had one season with some electrical issues (all sorted thanks) but found a fundamental miscalculation in our alternator v battery specifications. Due to the added electric winches plus our Maxpower thruster, the battery count with the boat rose to 8. We had also specified the lower maintenance 80 ah gel batteries. So our charging need is therefore to fill 8 x 80 ah - 640 ah capacity - and gel batteries take longer to recharge than conventional lead / acid anyway. Our 'standard' alternator on our 75 hp Yanmar came as 60 ah - and it's proved woefully too low an output. Conventional wisdom is the alternator v battery rate should be 1 v 3 - ours is around 1 v 10! The answer is to obviously increase alternator output and really consider if gel battereis make sense. If we were we to order again I'd re-spec the alternator up to at least 80 if not 120, ensure I had a smart regulator fitted to ensure maximum output when the engine is running, and go for the cheaper lead acid batteries. It is a lot easier to do this before you buy the boat - as opposed to retrofitting after! Hoping this experience helps others. JOHN Edited by John Allison - 27 November 2005 at 07:52
	No longer a Hanse owner - but loved the one we had!

keith goodall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 25 October 2005 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 89	Post Options Post Reply Quote keith goodall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2005 at 14:46
	John we also have some electrical problems with the alternator. It would be great if you can let me have the name and contact details of the electrician you have used. I presume he is in Palma? I am thinking of moving Savarna over there in January from Denia. Keith
	Keith Goodall Savarna 531#36 www.sailblogs.com/member/savarna

John Allison Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 23 November 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote John Allison Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 December 2005 at 10:37
	Hi Keith, Just remember it is an expensive yacht location compared with Denia before you decide to relocate - lovely but pricey.............. Our guys name is Erich Forner. He is a German (so can chat direct to Hanse Germany if ever required) and was recommended to us by Hanse Palma's Michael Heinig (a V useful local contact point). Erich charges 30 euros per hour and his mobile is +34 630081092. He found quite a number of 'inappapropriate connections' when sorting out our issues (and Hanse actually agreed) and some may indeed be common to your model. Good luck JOHN
	No longer a Hanse owner - but loved the one we had!



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