| Muliple Alterators (5) [message #156705] |
Sat, 14 January 2012 19:42  |
 |
John Heslinga
Messages: 632
Registered: February 2011
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma:
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Aaaahaaa!!!
I knew you wanted to drive some sound or communication electronics!! Not many standard creature comforts in a standard RV would need that much power. For curiosity sake, I've tried finding how to control all of those alternators and how to wire them up but have not been able to.
Finally: someone who knows. Looks like your the expert I've been looking for. I have a lot of questions but these two would give clues to their answers.
I know that some installations are simply twin, isolated systems but once you get into 3 or more alternators they aren't
Question 1
My thoughts are that each internal regulator would not be exactly the same and wiring resistances to each regulator would mean that the field coils would not energize exactly the same. That would mean that the output voltage of some would be slightly different. That difference would mean that the higher output voltage alternators would disable the lower voltage alternator resulting in unequal loading of each alternator and your total available current would not be as expected. Do you only use one regulator with a sense wire to the system that controls all field windings? And is the output of each alternator simply hooked to each other and the battery?
Question 2
As long as the battery will maintain system voltage there would be no problem. (good battery) But given that a battery needing charging will just about take all the current a charging system is able to give until it's voltage is high enough. ( the regulator only controls voltage) (especially if it is close to dead or with a dead cell). Would the high current want to boil the batteries (or maybe fry is a better word).
Would you mind please outlining how they are wired and controlled.especially if one is using 5 or 6 alternators.
BTW. I cannot see myself ever doing this to my GMC , but I know of a few people who want to shake the windows of 20 cars on either side of them.
John and Cathie Heslinga
1974 Canyonlands 260
455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS,
Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd.
Edmonton, Alberta
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
