2 Ways Lithium KILLS Your Alternator (and how to prevent it)

Comments · 1.2K

• CA

  @CampPrevost · 3 years ago

  I use the Sterling Alternator Protection device $80 bucks specifically made for an alternator dump.

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• BE

  @bearchow1929 · 3 years ago

  I'm a highly accomplished electronic engineer in several things including power management systems and devices used in alternators and battery management systems. I passed by your video thinking "what is this non sense". I was quite surprised to find that you are quite technically correct in this video. Excellent job.

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• GO

  @GoCoyote · 2 years ago

  Electrician here: The voltage spike from open circuiting a large 12 volt alternator under max load can exceed 1k volts. This is why a TVSP device will help protect the alternator and all of the electronics in such events if you have a battery disconnect switch of any sort, including the BMS. If not using a lead acid battery in parallel, I would go with an adjustable external regulator that will connect to the BMS of the battery to regulate both current and voltage to provide optimal charging within the required range of the lithium battery. One can even set the output voltage of the alternator regulator slightly below that of the PV array charge controller settings so that the array will be prioritized over the alternator, plus the output of the alternator can be controlled to allow for de-rating if overheating is occurring. I believe that there are now can-bus controlled alternator regulators that will integrate with the entire system.<br><br>Those lithium iron batteries are a big investment, and one will want to get the longest life out of them.<br><br>The heat created by the alternator is a function of the winding resistance, the power output/field strength, the alternators cooling fan, and the temperature and volume of airflow in the engine compartment. The reason we use alternators over generators is that they have the ability to provide a fairly large output even at low RPMs by increasing the strength of the field windings, creating more current flow in the windings, thus more heat while the alternator fan and the engine fan are operating at low levels, thus causing more heat buildup under slow RPMs. <br><br>Normally this is not an issue in running basic electronics and keeping the starter battery topped off, as the alternator will just be idling well under its rated maximum output. But add a load like a lithium battery capable of keeping the alternator at max output continuously, and that can really stress the alternator. One can help overcome this by using the above mentioned regulator, and by also using electrically operated and thermostatically controlled fans to cool the engine compartment, along with de-rating a larger alternator. A 100Amp alternator will have 1/2 the winding resistance of a 50Amp alternator, and will run much cooler when outputting 50Amps than the 50Amp alternator running at its maximum output.

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• NE

  @Nerd3927 · 3 years ago

  Excellent! I use a DC DC converter from 12v to 24v since my house battery is 24v, but I never thought of a thermal switch as a protection. Very simple and cheap :-)

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• DO

  @douglasrobbie9998 · 3 years ago

  Great video, valuable info with minor amount of self-promotion. &nbsp;I see so many people switching to the external regulator alternators at great cost.

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• MI

  @michaelm6682 · 2 years ago

  The way the author of this channel explains and teaches reminds me of my enthusiasm for science as a youngster in class (late 70s-early 80s). I’ve had deafness since birth, and what little I could understand verbally was supplemented by visuals in the classroom. The author has many of the qualities of those teachers I admire and I appreciate that very much. Thank you so much. As an adult, with my deafness, YouTube, with its closed captioning, has made the educational aspects much more accessible thank goodness. <br><br>With the help of YT, I’m attempting to design &amp; build a 100ah lipo battery system for my truck with limited space. I’ve purchased a Renogy 12V 30A DC to DC Charger with MPPT, On-Board Battery Charger. At the moment, after learning from this video, It’s clear that I need a system that is plug and play. I don’t have the capacity to understand all the science at play here. I use my truck daily as part of my job doing outreach and reliability and safety is my utmost concern. As well as affordability, which is why I’m trying to design and build it myself. I just wish there was a complete system I could install myself with more confidence in those goals. Any suggestions? Thanks for “hearing” me explain my situation in advance. Kind regards.

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• CR

  @CruisingMaya · 3 years ago

  Thanks for the great breakdown, Clark! I&apos;m a marine electrician and have hesitated to do lithium installs on my customers&apos; boats because of the off chance that a BMS opens the circuit, frying the alternator and everything else. I REALLY like that the lead battery is there as a guardian.... and now with ways to thermally protect even internally regulated alternators I&apos;m even more excited. I&apos;m currently cruising, but will be back to work in a few months. I look forward to the next video and the possibility of installing a bank manager. Thanks again for the great video and sharing your knowledge!

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• TR

  @TreDeuce-qw3kv · 2 years ago

  And people mistakenly think batteries and charging systems are simple and don&apos;t understand why I think they aren&apos;t. This post and the following comments/discussion support my contention. I rarely read comments, but I took probably an hour or more to go through these. Very informative and time well spent....👍👍

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• JG

  @jgatkinson744 · 3 years ago (edited)

  I remember when alternators first come out I was working for the Ford company on the coast of Mississippi. They sent us to auto school in New Orleans and they explain the function of the alternator they were going to replace the generator on cars and they replace them &nbsp; were the last cars, we had that had generators 1960 alternators took their place &nbsp; &nbsp;the fields turned inside the armature right reversed to what a generator did and you had to have 1 1/2 volt to excite them to make them work. &nbsp; &nbsp;If you had a dead battery you could push that car all day long and it would never generate any power &nbsp;that was a long time ago we have come along way now with electronics &nbsp;. &nbsp; &nbsp;Grate job Clark as always

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• BR

  @brianwnc8168 · 2 years ago

  Your content and presentation is excellent. In the upper threshold of YouTube influencers that I&apos;ve watched over many years. I hope you keep up the good work and are taking care of financially for it

• SA

  @sailingjoco · 3 years ago

  We’ve been binge watching your content lately. I love the idea of a Lead/Lithium hybrid bank and it looks like you did a great job on your BBMS product. I’m looking forward to this upgrade soon!

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• AD

  @adelarsen9776 · 3 years ago

  I think it&apos;s wonderful that you&apos;re helping people. Thanks Clark. :-)

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