On 9/23/2012 12:24 AM, David Beierl wrote: > At 11:49 PM 9/22/2012, Stuart MacMillan wrote: >> That is the continuous duty rating. All alternators are rated for >> continuous duty. 90 amps x 14 volts equals 1.26 kw, which is what it's > > Stuart, there's a reason that a Balmar [alternators are expensive]... Sure. They're made for marine use, which means having to handle a corrosive environment, a hot, enclosed location, and expectations of reliability bordering on "life critical." Below is how Delco-Remy uses the term "continuous," its focus is on determining the average amount of current drawn for more than brief intervals, and they then add 50% to alternator size. It's making sure you have enough capacity to not drain the battery during normal operation. Balmar would probably say "continuous" means 7x24 operation - something quite different. "Electrical output must provide adequate current for all normal continuous loads. Twenty-five percent of intermittent loads such as brake lights, turn signals and radio transmitters should be added to continuous load; 50% for school buses, twenty percent...for battery charging...Generator output should be 50% more than vehicle load requirement." |
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