In support of peace and quiet

I NEVER liked the idea of carrying a generator, smelly and inflammable petrol and then creating noise when we are moored up, so I agree with Peter Ponting. writes Bob Hallam.

Some years ago, I installed a Sterling battery management panel which keeps me informed of all things about the batteries, voltage, charging current, alternator output currents and domestic power usage.

Sterling

Like Peter, I have also a Sterling inverter and use it as required when cruising, normally during the day to run the washing machine and especially the slow cooker.

In the same way as Peter, I have installed a Sterling Alternator to Battery charger and a remote control for it. (I only use it with one alternator, leaving the starter alternator and battery as standard.) It has been in use for a little over a year.

Charge in an hour

My domestic batteries are 3 x 110 ah batteries (open lead acid). Now I can recharge the the batteries after a full night's (and the following day if stopping) use in a little over an hour of normal cruising. Previously that amount of charge would take all day! I have uprated the standard 65A domestic alternator to a 90A Prestolite unit.

What Peter doesn't say is that there are temperature sensors fitted to the alternator and battery (they come with the charger unit). The one on the alternator shuts the charger unit down if the alternator temperature exceeds 90 deg C, restarting it when the temperature falls to 80 deg C.

Bear in mind that now rapid and very full charging of the batteries in this way does require them to be regularly topped up with distilled water!