Ok, my alternator went out on me this weekend. Lucky I was able to wire my engine over to my other one and finish out the weekend with no issues. Is there anyone other than the big marine stores that carry alternators for a chevy 350 marine grade? Anyone got a used one you want to sell. Thanks.
Chevy 350 alternator help
- Thread starter GAredneck
- Start date
DanielApplin
New member
GAredneck your pm box is full
There is very little difference between a "marine" alternator and an automotive one. Marine ones usually have an anti spark shield on them but as alternators don't spark it really doesn't make any difference.
The more common ones are very easy to rebuild. If the core charge is not too much, you may want to keep it and rebuild it for a spare. You should be able to get a "marine" grade alternator at most any parts store.
The more common ones are very easy to rebuild. If the core charge is not too much, you may want to keep it and rebuild it for a spare. You should be able to get a "marine" grade alternator at most any parts store.
Not all alternator are the same
Marine and standard automotive-type alternators all have brushes an a armature, as the armature turns it make and break the connection between the two causing sparks.
Safety: your replacement alternator should meet U.S. Coast Guard Title 33 safety protection standards. If the alternator is being installed on a gasoline engine, the alternator should also comply with international SAE and ISO standards for ignition protection.
Heavy-duty construction: marine alternators operate at sustained high output for much of their lives. This requires high-temperature grease, large cooling passages, large or multiple fans, heavy-duty bearings, high-amperage diodes, etc. Standard automotive-type alternators rarely offer the construction required to meet the demands of large marine charging systems.
Temperature compensation: the ambient temperature of your batteries and alternator both effect charging efficiency. Max Charge and ARS-5 regulators both sense battery temperature and can regulate charging voltage accordingly. Alternator temperature sensing can also save your alternator by reducing output if the alternator overheats. Both alternator and battery temperature sensing features require optional temperature sensors (MC-TS-A and MC-TS-B).
Internal or external regulators: In automotive type alternators, current for the alternator is supplied by an internal regulator, which drives the alternator to a specific voltage value (usually about 14.1 volts), which works great for a starting battery, just like the one in your car.
Deep cycle and sealed gel and AGM marine batteries require a more complex program of charging voltages to achieve their optimal charge. Multi-stage external voltage regulators, like the Balmar Max Charge and ARS-5 enable the alternator to vary charging voltages, based on the battery’s temperature, chemistry (flooded, gel or AGM types) and level of discharge, to ensure that batteries are recharged quickly and safely.
Belt load limitations: Drive belt width is a critical factor in selecting a replacement alternator. Commonly-installed vee-belts and multi-groove serpentine belts have specific limits regarding the amperage and horsepower loads they can support.
As a rule of thumb, 12-volt alternators use one horsepower for every 25 amps of output, or to put it another way, their ratio of output to horsepower load is 25:1. So, when selecting a new alternator, you need to size it for the limits of the capacity of its drive belt. Otherwise, your system will be plagued by premature belt wear, belt slippage and potential damage to your alternator and engine.
Marine and standard automotive-type alternators all have brushes an a armature, as the armature turns it make and break the connection between the two causing sparks.
Safety: your replacement alternator should meet U.S. Coast Guard Title 33 safety protection standards. If the alternator is being installed on a gasoline engine, the alternator should also comply with international SAE and ISO standards for ignition protection.
Heavy-duty construction: marine alternators operate at sustained high output for much of their lives. This requires high-temperature grease, large cooling passages, large or multiple fans, heavy-duty bearings, high-amperage diodes, etc. Standard automotive-type alternators rarely offer the construction required to meet the demands of large marine charging systems.
Temperature compensation: the ambient temperature of your batteries and alternator both effect charging efficiency. Max Charge and ARS-5 regulators both sense battery temperature and can regulate charging voltage accordingly. Alternator temperature sensing can also save your alternator by reducing output if the alternator overheats. Both alternator and battery temperature sensing features require optional temperature sensors (MC-TS-A and MC-TS-B).
Internal or external regulators: In automotive type alternators, current for the alternator is supplied by an internal regulator, which drives the alternator to a specific voltage value (usually about 14.1 volts), which works great for a starting battery, just like the one in your car.
Deep cycle and sealed gel and AGM marine batteries require a more complex program of charging voltages to achieve their optimal charge. Multi-stage external voltage regulators, like the Balmar Max Charge and ARS-5 enable the alternator to vary charging voltages, based on the battery’s temperature, chemistry (flooded, gel or AGM types) and level of discharge, to ensure that batteries are recharged quickly and safely.
Belt load limitations: Drive belt width is a critical factor in selecting a replacement alternator. Commonly-installed vee-belts and multi-groove serpentine belts have specific limits regarding the amperage and horsepower loads they can support.
As a rule of thumb, 12-volt alternators use one horsepower for every 25 amps of output, or to put it another way, their ratio of output to horsepower load is 25:1. So, when selecting a new alternator, you need to size it for the limits of the capacity of its drive belt. Otherwise, your system will be plagued by premature belt wear, belt slippage and potential damage to your alternator and engine.
