lifepo4 batteries

Today we were out testing the Sterling AB12130 Pro Alt C.

I only saw 33 amps when charging halffull batteries.

But the Alternator got really hot.

33 amps is only a bit more than half of it's rating.

15 minutes after power off it was still 86 degrees Celcius.

How hot should an Alternator get? Is it about to fail?

UPDATE

Looks like Balmar Alternators cut off at 109 degrees celcius.

So This is very much near the limit.

From other forums is looks like it also could be due to wrong belt tension. I also noticed a Warm Rubber smell in the beginning. Another reason could be the cabling.

My alternator is a LR160-741, but there was an option for an 80 amps version LR180-03C.The 80' version have fan-blades outside the housing.

I consider to upgrade to the 80 amps alternator but I will look at the belt-tension first.

/H8jer

With the new 125A - do you then have to get a bigger cable from the alternator? I cant remember but the cable looked like only 25mm2 or less.

Even the 15hp has this new 125A. This looks like a good idea, but I think this upgrade is too big a project so close to our holidays.

A good quality 80 Amp is only 150 Euro and will be a drop-in replacement. I will take one along as a spare.

/H8jer

In my setup the Orange cable is used and it goes straight to the charge splitter.

There must also be a thick cable for the starter.

Your 50mm2 goes through the Engine Manual Switch Key?

Perhaps I can join the starter and alternator like you and at the batteries I can make a new wire from the Engine Manual Switch Key.

I asked my local Yanmar Pusher for a quote for a similar 125A upgrade kit

But I am running out of time for doing all this upgrading.

I will need to KISS until the holidays...

Just had some minutes to go the boat and back.

The Alternator only has the Orange cable and the IG and a connector with 2 small wires in a connector. 

The Belt Tension is WAY off, more like 20mm-30mm-ish than 10mm required. The belt is only about 1 year old but filled with rubber powder. I thought it would have been possible to hear it slipping, but no.

It looks like the Sterling is really making the Alternator work for it...

The minus (blue) from the engine to the bus-bar is 95mm2. The positive to the starter (black -why don't they use red) looks to be similar size.

I like the Idea of not using a relay that makes an direct connection between the Starter battery and the House batteries.

So if I make a new 25mm2 to join the Orange 25mm2 to get 50mm2 - it is possible to keep the setup with the splitter.

During the weekend I will try and sort the heat-issue. I am thinking of a custom "Belt cover" with more ventilation holes and perhaps a computer fan to blow more air into the alternator. The old batteries are kept not fully charged so I can pull max amps from the Alternator. So this heat-issue is major priority and needs to be solved. After this the lifepo4 batteries can be installed.