I’m really lost in the purpose of these units? Are they just a regulator or and a charger? Or do they regulate the current of a dc to dc charger from your alternator? Seems like an unnecessary redundancy to have this inline with a dc to dc. What about 12 to24v charging from alternator? I’ve got a 300ah high output alternator and use two dc to dc (15a) for my 850ah of battery. For the charging capabilities, honestly it’s a waste of money. And why are we not designing systems using old genny alternators to just use 120v pass through to our inverter while charging? Contractor genny at 6500w can be bought all day for around $500. Why not just use those for 120/240v charging?
They are used to convert,monitor, and make compatible the alternator DC current safely compatible with charging lithium batteries and other battery profile types. In my case I have a high performance 250amp alternator and I running a dual Lithium battery setup at 12v 135amp each without the Wakespeed WS500 my alternator would burn out my lithium battery internal circuitry as well as they won’t communicate with each regarding overcharging or undercharging. Also this unit keeps the alternator from overheating too. I hope this reply kinda answers your question.
Basically the unit lets you properly integrate your alternator into your house electrical system, and at the same time manage the alternator so that it actually behaves intelligently. In effect, they control the power generated by the alternator to manage a number of different paramters. Firt it will manage the output to ensure the alternator doesn't overheat itself and burn itself out. Especially important with large LFP banks, where you can push power into them as hard as you can (safely) drive the alternator. Secondly, they can manage the alternator so that it doesn't overload the engine. Important on my boat, as I have an 85A alternator on a 40 year old 10hp diesel. I also have it set up so that the alternator doesn't produce any significant power until I hit about 1200rpm, and again taper off when I go above 2800 rpm, as that probably means I really need a lot of power into my prop. Third, they can fully integrate the alternator with the battery, with the battery directing how much power it wants at any given moment in time. So, say, my battery is somewhat out of balance, the BMS will command the wakespeed to only allow 1A into the battery, no matter the voltage. Or, my battery is coming up towards full, the BMS will start tapering down the current and voltage limits so as to not overshoot full charge, and the Alternator will respect those limits set by the BMS. If the BMS detects any fault state, it sends an alarm signal over the CANBus and the wakespeed shuts down the output, hopefully avoiding a disconnect, and even if you get one it won't damage the alternator because it's already shutdown. Why not use one of those cheap generators? Well, first, it would mean I would need to carry gasoline on a diesel boat, and gasoline on a boat is best avoided if at all possible. Secondly those generators are noisy and consume space. Third, the dirty secret of saiilng is you're probably motoring half the time anyway, so you might as well put power into the battery while you're doing it. Lastly, those generators are noisy. Last thing i want to hear in a quiet anchorage is the sound of a generator.
Thank so much for share all this information Mr. Al Thomason. I find the WS500 a really a super system/device. I am working in a project in order to refit an old 38 feet aluminium sailboat and redone all the electric. The basic setup will be 170A 12V alternator with a WS500 and charge the Lipho House Battery ( 400 or 600 Amph /4.8Kwh or 7.2Kwh) The AGM starter battery will be charged via DC/DC from the House B. The House battery will be top up with solar panel and Wind G. as well. And at the bow 24 V AGM pack for the windlass and bow thruster also charged with a DC/DC from the House B. I like your idea of 2 alternators but with this power I prefer to have a brand new alternator in stock aboard as a spare parts for redundancy. Thank you again for your contribution to this technology. Cheers from Patagonia Argentia.
Great seminar. Any chance the second day of configuration related content will be uploaded as well?
I’m really lost in the purpose of these units? Are they just a regulator or and a charger? Or do they regulate the current of a dc to dc charger from your alternator? Seems like an unnecessary redundancy to have this inline with a dc to dc. What about 12 to24v charging from alternator? I’ve got a 300ah high output alternator and use two dc to dc (15a) for my 850ah of battery. For the charging capabilities, honestly it’s a waste of money.
And why are we not designing systems using old genny alternators to just use 120v pass through to our inverter while charging? Contractor genny at 6500w can be bought all day for around $500. Why not just use those for 120/240v charging?
They are used to convert,monitor, and make compatible the alternator DC current safely compatible with charging lithium batteries and other battery profile types. In my case I have a high performance 250amp alternator and I running a dual Lithium battery setup at 12v 135amp each without the Wakespeed WS500 my alternator would burn out my lithium battery internal circuitry as well as they won’t communicate with each regarding overcharging or undercharging. Also this unit keeps the alternator from overheating too. I hope this reply kinda answers your question.
Basically the unit lets you properly integrate your alternator into your house electrical system, and at the same time manage the alternator so that it actually behaves intelligently. In effect, they control the power generated by the alternator to manage a number of different paramters. Firt it will manage the output to ensure the alternator doesn't overheat itself and burn itself out. Especially important with large LFP banks, where you can push power into them as hard as you can (safely) drive the alternator.
Secondly, they can manage the alternator so that it doesn't overload the engine. Important on my boat, as I have an 85A alternator on a 40 year old 10hp diesel. I also have it set up so that the alternator doesn't produce any significant power until I hit about 1200rpm, and again taper off when I go above 2800 rpm, as that probably means I really need a lot of power into my prop.
Third, they can fully integrate the alternator with the battery, with the battery directing how much power it wants at any given moment in time. So, say, my battery is somewhat out of balance, the BMS will command the wakespeed to only allow 1A into the battery, no matter the voltage. Or, my battery is coming up towards full, the BMS will start tapering down the current and voltage limits so as to not overshoot full charge, and the Alternator will respect those limits set by the BMS. If the BMS detects any fault state, it sends an alarm signal over the CANBus and the wakespeed shuts down the output, hopefully avoiding a disconnect, and even if you get one it won't damage the alternator because it's already shutdown.
Why not use one of those cheap generators? Well, first, it would mean I would need to carry gasoline on a diesel boat, and gasoline on a boat is best avoided if at all possible. Secondly those generators are noisy and consume space. Third, the dirty secret of saiilng is you're probably motoring half the time anyway, so you might as well put power into the battery while you're doing it. Lastly, those generators are noisy. Last thing i want to hear in a quiet anchorage is the sound of a generator.
I would love to become a reseller/installer for these in Australia
Good info, good presentation
Thank so much for share all this information Mr. Al Thomason. I find the WS500 a really a super system/device. I am working in a project in order to refit an old 38 feet aluminium sailboat and redone all the electric. The basic setup will be 170A 12V alternator with a WS500 and charge the Lipho House Battery ( 400 or 600 Amph /4.8Kwh or 7.2Kwh) The AGM starter battery will be charged via DC/DC from the House B. The House battery will be top up with solar panel and Wind G. as well. And at the bow 24 V AGM pack for the windlass and bow thruster also charged with a DC/DC from the House B. I like your idea of 2 alternators but with this power I prefer to have a brand new alternator in stock aboard as a spare parts for redundancy. Thank you again for your contribution to this technology. Cheers from Patagonia Argentia.