Tooluser
Flǎneur
I recently purchased an E38 and was flabbergasted to discover that the alternator attached to the Universal diesel is *4* amp. Not "forty" but "four". I didn't know anyone even made alternators so low-amperage. Have you ever heard of such a thing? I'm trying to understand why anyone would do that.
I'll be replacing it shortly. The whole electrical system is odd, with two chargers, one for the house and one for the starter battery, probably because of their distinct chemistries. The alternator charges only the starter, and there is no way to bond the two banks (the inbuilt Ericson 1/2/B switch connects to the forward windlass battery - which, amusingly, ALSO has a 1/2/B switch. It's all very puzzling.
I assume the original wiring had the forward 1/2/B switching between the windlass battery and the house bank, and the nav table 1/2/B switched between the starter and house batteries. That seems more functional.
I'll be replacing it shortly. The whole electrical system is odd, with two chargers, one for the house and one for the starter battery, probably because of their distinct chemistries. The alternator charges only the starter, and there is no way to bond the two banks (the inbuilt Ericson 1/2/B switch connects to the forward windlass battery - which, amusingly, ALSO has a 1/2/B switch. It's all very puzzling.
I assume the original wiring had the forward 1/2/B switching between the windlass battery and the house bank, and the nav table 1/2/B switched between the starter and house batteries. That seems more functional.