Why to Buy a Marine Alternator

 

If anyone thinks an alternator is an alternator it is strongly advised to get a second opinion. If you have heard that a car alternator will suffice as an alternator on a boat ingore that opinion. Although the alternator will function, it is not recommended and could possibly be in violation with maritime regulations.

 

A marine power alternator has some unique safety features, including some characteristics that are not common on a vehicle alternator. There is also a difference between alternators for gas engines and diesel engines. One feature of a marine diesel alternator is that it provides an output signal for the tachometer.

 

A car alternator produces a current in the 40-120Amp range, while an alternator for your boat generates a current of around 300Amps. Additionally, a marine alternator has an extra cooling configuration since it is typically in a compartment which can become very hot. While cars are cooled naturally by flowing air. Lastly, a marine alternator is built to avoid moisture and salt.

 

Marine alternator manufacturers Sterndrive Engineering (fomerally API) or Balmar. Sterndrive Engineering typically sells aftermarket replacement marine alternators while Balmar specializes in high-output, high performance marine alternators.

 

When one needs to either repair, replace or upgrade a boat alternator it is tempting to dismiss a proper marine alternator merely on cost, but once the differences are understood it does make sense to stay with the marine options. Our ever-increasing reliance on electricity on board has created a huge industry to satisfy our need for electrical power.

 

Today the consumer has power generation options that where unheard of just a short time ago such as solar panels, wind generators, hydro generators to name a few, but none have rendered marine alternators a thing of the past. An alternator is a reliable source of electricity and as the demand for more electricity onboard has increased and so has the alternator output power. Batteries on board are typically larger than that found in vehicles, and it is not uncommon to find a slew of batteries aboard.

 

The practice to have more than one battery aboard is for power management and is mainly to prevent draining the battery or batteries down so low that one is unable to start the motor. Having multiple batteries ads a whole level of complexity to the electrical system. Now the charging system requires battery selector switches. With the complexity comes the need for more cabling and associated accessories.

 

Marine wiring and cable is tinned throughout and shouldn’t be substituted for any other grade . Battery banks provide the option of having dissimilar batteries work together within your boat's electrical system. An example would be, a battery that is good for starting an engine and a different battery that is designed to discharge slowly and charge rapidly that is used for the lights and the electronics.

 

This combination of different types of batteries places a huge strain on the original manufactures supplied alternators and regulators that will often cause these components to prematurely fail. Aftermarket smart components that are customizable to accommodate different battery types, can monitor charging capacity and provide a host of other beneficial electrical features. So whenever one needs a replacement marine alternator, is upgrading the charging system rest assured Go2Marine has the items you need, in stock, ready to ship at prices that will not break the budget.