I see alternators spec'd from 160 amps on lower priced units, up to 220 amps on higher priced units. I know what an alternator does, how much difference would going to a higher amped alternator make? I can only guess that the higher amped alternator would charge your batteries faster, but only when you're driving around? Worth it to add a larger alternator to an M/H?
Tanks
Terry and Jo said
05:21 AM May 30, 2012
John and Patti,
While I don't have an answer for your question, I do want to welcome you to the RV Dreams forums. You will find a lot of knowledgeable folks here who are willing and able to answer your questions. Thus, we welcome your questions and comments.
Also, thanks for your service to our country.
Terry
bjoyce said
07:55 AM May 30, 2012
Yes, a larger alternator will charge your batteries faster when the engine is running if you have a large enough battery bank that is run down, 8 or more golf carts or 4 or more 8Ds (large batteries). Most motorhomes come with 2 to 4 golf cart batteries or equivalents for the house or 200 to 450 amp-hours of battery capacity. These are in addition to the chassis battery or batteries, which are for the engine. (Some motorhomes have more house batteries than 4 and some use larger batteries like 8Ds, which are rough equivalents to 2 normal size batteries).
For normal wet cell batteries you don't discharge them more than 50% and the maximum charging rate is C/5 or capacity divided by 5, so each set of two golf carts (most are around 220 amp-hours of 12-volts for two) can handle a maximum charging rate of 220 /5 or 44 amps. 160 / 44 = 3.6 so a 160 amp alternator can charge 6 (3 * 2) golf cart batteries at maximum charging rate. (AGMs can handle higher charging rates, my memory says C/3, but I could be wrong). If you have 8 or 10 golf cart batteries a 220 amp alternator might make sense, if you dry camp a bunch.
I see alternators spec'd from 160 amps on lower priced units, up to 220 amps on higher priced units. I know what an alternator does, how much difference would going to a higher amped alternator make? I can only guess that the higher amped alternator would charge your batteries faster, but only when you're driving around? Worth it to add a larger alternator to an M/H?
Tanks
John and Patti,
While I don't have an answer for your question, I do want to welcome you to the RV Dreams forums. You will find a lot of knowledgeable folks here who are willing and able to answer your questions. Thus, we welcome your questions and comments.
Also, thanks for your service to our country.
Terry
For normal wet cell batteries you don't discharge them more than 50% and the maximum charging rate is C/5 or capacity divided by 5, so each set of two golf carts (most are around 220 amp-hours of 12-volts for two) can handle a maximum charging rate of 220 /5 or 44 amps. 160 / 44 = 3.6 so a 160 amp alternator can charge 6 (3 * 2) golf cart batteries at maximum charging rate. (AGMs can handle higher charging rates, my memory says C/3, but I could be wrong). If you have 8 or 10 golf cart batteries a 220 amp alternator might make sense, if you dry camp a bunch.