alternator max output - how long until burn out

[ArgleBargle]

hi

how "unhealthy" do you think it is to allow an alternator (in this case standard yanmar 3YM30 60 amp alternator) to run at max output for several hours at a time numerous times per year?

i.e. are these alternators designed for continuous high output?

thanks in advance

[Maine Sail]

A little more info would help. Most alts will not put out their rated output when hot or warm. How big is your battery bank? What are you using for a voltage regulator? Do you have temperature sensors for battery & alternator? How many amps is it putting out? Do you know that it is actually putting out max amps for the specified period or are you guessing at that?

[ArgleBargle]

hi

alternator works fine now with two (nominal, likely quite degraded) Varta 110 Ah batteries and puts out max current only briefly even when batteries quite discharged.

want to change to three Enersys Odyssey PC2150 s, but they accept so much current when discharged, i'm worried about running my alternator at full output for, back-of-the-envelope-ballpark, 2 hours at a time multiple times per season if i do change to these.

cheers

[frankdrebin]

The diodes in the alternator will be quite happy to serve as long as you do not exceed their maximum forward current rating, which your regulator should prevent.