Bavaria Owners Forum

Member Forums => Bavaria Yacht Help! => Topic started by: Ross on December 17 2015, 00:48

Title: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Ross on December 17 2015, 00:48
Hi,
The alternator now does not charge the house batteries, but charges the ships battery normally.
Shore power or gen set charges both ship and house batteries normally.
Any help appreciated
Thanks
Ross
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Lyra on December 17 2015, 06:44
Probably a defective charge splitter.
Don't know where it  is on the 38, on my boat it is installed on the bulkhead at the back of the engine compartment.
follow the + wire from the alternator to a "box" where it splits to two wires.
Check voltage at each output - should be about 1V below the voltage at the input.
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Symphony on December 17 2015, 09:46
If it has failed consider replacing with a VSR rather than a diode as there is less voltage drop with a VSR.
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: patprice on December 17 2015, 20:39
Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Nigel on December 17 2015, 22:41
Quote from: Symphony on December 17 2015, 09:46
If it has failed consider replacing with a VSR rather than a diode as there is less voltage drop with a VSR.
I agree, although a smart charge controller can overcome this.

My ex-boat-partner had exactly the same problem on his boat, for a whole week, after being on the one we shared. Then he remembered that his boat had a 1-2-B-0 switch. :)
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Ross on December 18 2015, 05:44
Thanks for your replies
Changed the "multi battery isolator" this morning which appears to have solved the problem.
Will probably change to a vsr in the new year.

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers

Ross
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Symphony on December 18 2015, 11:24
Quote from: patprice on December 17 2015, 20:39
Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.

I used one from BEP Marine on my old 37. also added a switch cluster which isolates each bank and has a parallel switch for emergencies. You can get them from Merlin Equipment www.powerstore.com
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: tiger79 on December 18 2015, 11:57
Before any of you go rushing out to buy a VSR, take a moment to check the spec of your existing charge isolator.  For some time, Bavaria have been fitting low-loss isolators.  My boat has a Quick ECS163, which has a maximum volt drop of only 0.2V, and is quoted as having a miniscule loss of 0.05V at 20A charging.  There's little point replacing that with a VSR!
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: ANTREVELL on December 18 2015, 20:53
Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: tiger79 on December 18 2015, 21:03
Quote from: ANTREVELL on December 18 2015, 20:53
Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: patprice on December 18 2015, 21:23
Quote from: Symphony on December 18 2015, 11:24
Quote from: patprice on December 17 2015, 20:39
Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.

I used one from BEP Marine on my old 37. also added a switch cluster which isolates each bank and has a parallel switch for emergencies. You can get them from Merlin Equipment www.powerstore.com

Thanks for that....
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: Symphony on December 19 2015, 10:00
Quote from: tiger79 on December 18 2015, 21:03
Quote from: ANTREVELL on December 18 2015, 20:53
Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!

This is a recent thing and older boats will have a blocking dioded which is easily and inexpensively replaced with a VSR.
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: dawntreader on December 19 2015, 10:53
Quote from: ANTREVELL on December 18 2015, 20:53
Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

This may help
Title: Re: Bavaria 38 alternator problem
Post by: tiger79 on December 19 2015, 14:27
Quote from: Symphony on December 19 2015, 10:00
Quote from: tiger79 on December 18 2015, 21:03
Quote from: ANTREVELL on December 18 2015, 20:53
Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!



This is a recent thing and older boats will have a blocking dioded which is easily and inexpensively replaced with a VSR.

Isn't Tony's boat rather recent?