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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 19:43:30 GMT
The idea with Beta marine is you won't need after sales service as you won't get problems...
I've not put many hours on my Beta 90 due to it being on a boat on a residential mooring but my mum had a Beta 35 and did several thousand hours with it while I was the person servicing it. That really was a good unit. Incredibly reliable.
When I bought my Beta 90 I went to their facility and paid in person for it. I asked the bloke (Andrew Growcoot) how long it would last. He said "twenty years" so I asked "what happens after that" he said "I don't care - I will be retired". This was in 2011.
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Post by ianali on Sept 22, 2020 19:53:44 GMT
The idea with Beta marine is you won't need after sales service as you won't get problems... I've not put many hours on my Beta 90 due to it being on a boat on a residential mooring but my mum had a Beta 35 and did several thousand hours with it while I was the person servicing it. That really was a good unit. Incredibly reliable. When I bought my Beta 90 I went to their facility and paid in person for it. I asked the bloke (Andrew Growcoot) how long it would last. He said "twenty years" so I asked "what happens after that" he said "I don't care - I will be retired". This was in 2011. Our Barrus is 13 years old. The alternator is the first problem we have had. Not bad really.
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Post by ianali on Sept 22, 2020 19:55:35 GMT
Re Beta, what make of alternators do they use?
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Post by Telemachus on Sept 22, 2020 20:03:40 GMT
Re Beta, what make of alternators do they use? Not sure about the small engine one, but the large domestic one is Iskra on our engine. But I expect the alternator manufacturer varies according to what is the best / most suitable product at the time.
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Post by ianali on Sept 22, 2020 20:08:06 GMT
Re Beta, what make of alternators do they use? Not sure about the small engine one, but the large domestic one is Iskra on our engine. But I expect the alternator manufacturer varies according to what is the best / most suitable product at the time. Ours was a prestolite? Problem was that the unit was obsolete, no spares available, that we could find anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 20:15:13 GMT
Beta's service is second to none, even managing to provide me with the hand drawn circuit diagrams for my 27 year old engine.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 20:19:03 GMT
Not sure about the small engine one, but the large domestic one is Iskra on our engine. But I expect the alternator manufacturer varies according to what is the best / most suitable product at the time. Ours was a prestolite? Problem was that the unit was obsolete, no spares available, that we could find anyway. Did you contact Balmar/Prestolite ? I find it surprising that it couldn't be repaired. www.Sahibs.com have fixed some very obscure stuff for me
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Post by ianali on Sept 22, 2020 20:25:35 GMT
Ours was a prestolite? Problem was that the unit was obsolete, no spares available, that we could find anyway. Did you contact Balmar/Prestolite ? I find it surprising that it couldn't be repaired. www.Sahibs.com have fixed some very obscure stuff for me I didn’t. We are out cruising. Just wanted it sorted to be honest. Will take old unit home and see if it can be sorted for a spare. Thanks for the pointers though.
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Post by ianali on Sept 23, 2020 9:34:28 GMT
Should add to this thread, that the new alternator is kicking out almost twice the amps that the last one was. I’m guessing there output diminishes with wear? Anyway, it’s quite a plus.
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Post by Jim on Sept 23, 2020 9:45:07 GMT
I can't see how it would diminish with wear, only the bearings wear, the rest is all magnetic fields and electrickery. Faulty parts maybe.
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Post by ianali on Sept 23, 2020 10:01:00 GMT
I can't see how it would diminish with wear, only the bearings wear, the rest is all magnetic fields and electrickery. Faulty parts maybe. You may well be right, I’ve no idea. All I can say for sure is they are both supposed to be 110amp. New one shows output at around twice what the old unit produced.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2020 10:01:44 GMT
Maybe the rectifier. Perhaps that's what the burning smell was originally. Just out of interest ianali with this RCR thing do they charge you the normal rate for parts ? Interesting that you got to keep the existing alternator as often these things are a service exchange arrangement.
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Post by ianali on Sept 23, 2020 10:19:09 GMT
Maybe the rectifier. Perhaps that's what the burning smell was originally. Just out of interest ianali with this RCR thing do they charge you the normal rate for parts ? Interesting that you got to keep the existing alternator as often these things are a service exchange arrangement. RCR sent out a local contractor. After he diagnosed the fault he spoke with RCR. They were adamant that he should replace like for like. We rang Barrus who wanted, wait for it...£988 for new alternator which included pulley and clamp etc. Couldn’t repair as obsolete. I told them no thanks. Mechanic then tried to repair but in end we had to have a new unit. He visited boat 4 times. Good chap indeed. RCR replace parts FOC if they they are vital to moving the boat. i.e engine and gearbox.
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Post by Telemachus on Sept 23, 2020 11:00:51 GMT
I can't see how it would diminish with wear, only the bearings wear, the rest is all magnetic fields and electrickery. Faulty parts maybe. You may well be right, I’ve no idea. All I can say for sure is they are both supposed to be 110amp. New one shows output at around twice what the old unit produced. There are 9 diodes in the (3 phase) machine, 3 to rectify the positive, 3 for the negative, and 3 for the field (rotor) current which produces the magnetic field. If one of the first 6 fails, you only get about 2/3rds the output. If one of the 3 field diodes fails, you will probably end up with the warning light glimmering. So most likely one or more of the main (first 6) had failed at some earlier time thus reducing the output. If the alternator is working hard in a hot environment, the diodes can get very hot (as in 150C or so) and this shortens their life. I think it is highly unlikely that you can’t get suitable diodes and regulator for the old one - when back home, take it to an auto-electrical specialist. Certainly Prestolite is still in business.
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Post by ianali on Sept 23, 2020 15:44:12 GMT
You may well be right, I’ve no idea. All I can say for sure is they are both supposed to be 110amp. New one shows output at around twice what the old unit produced. There are 9 diodes in the (3 phase) machine, 3 to rectify the positive, 3 for the negative, and 3 for the field (rotor) current which produces the magnetic field. If one of the first 6 fails, you only get about 2/3rds the output. If one of the 3 field diodes fails, you will probably end up with the warning light glimmering. So most likely one or more of the main (first 6) had failed at some earlier time thus reducing the output. If the alternator is working hard in a hot environment, the diodes can get very hot (as in 150C or so) and this shortens their life. I think it is highly unlikely that you can’t get suitable diodes and regulator for the old one - when back home, take it to an auto-electrical specialist. Certainly Prestolite is still in business. Wish is Had you as a science teacher in my schooldays. I will be looking to have the old unit repaired. Be good too have a spare. Thanks.
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