[todc]

I know this is an OLD thread, but I can't find much on alternator specs for Tiara's. I'm currently on the hunt for a 2005 (ish) 3600 Open and wonder about the alternators. My understanding is that stock (i.e. Delco) alternators might not be designed to put out the spec level current (e.g. "100 amps) for the long periods necessary to charge a large house bank. They might be designed to put out this current level for the short time it takes to recharge a battery bank after starting the engines (including inlet heater operation) but can overheat if asked to put out a high level for the hour or more required to recharge a large (200+) amp hour house bank.

Also, internally regulated alternators will work fine if you don't ask them to recharge large battery banks from deep discharge conditions however they do a very poor job of managing charge rates, specially on deeply discharged battery banks. To do this, you want an externally regulated alternator(s) (smart three step regulation) that can be set for battery type (e.g. flooded or AGM) and takes battery temperature into account.

Does anyone know if/when Tiara started installing proprietary high output alternators (e.g. Balmar) on 3600 opens? Do they use the "Max Charge" external regulators on them or what? If they install them, do they do it on both engines?

I've looked at several but I forgot to check this feature.

Thanks for any info, Tod