[jonsobi]

Anyone know what the ratio is on the Transit alternator? Apparently alternator ratio is not necessarily 1:1 with engine rpm, but a ratio of crank pulley size to alternator pulley size.

Looking at page 86 of the BEMM alternator rpm and amp curves, for the 230a HD alt, the meat of the amps come between 2000 - 3000 rpm. I hope that the alternator ratio would be at least 2 or 3 to 1 so that at idle, there are some serious amps happening.

Anyone with a Transit wanna go out with a flashlite and measure their crank and alternator pulley sizes and get right back to me?:blush:

 

[orton]

Anyone know what the ratio is on the Transit alternator? Apparently alternator ratio is not necessarily 1:1 with engine rpm, but a ratio of crank pulley size to alternator pulley size.

Looking at page 86 of the the BEMM alternator rpm and amp curves for the 230 HD alt, the meat of the amps come between 2000 - 3000 rpm. I hope that the alternator ratio would be at least 2 or 3 to 1 so that at idle, there is some serious amps happening.

Anyone with a Transit wanna go out with a flashlite and measure their crank and alternator pulley sizes and get right back to me?:blush:

Go back to that graph page. I think there is a note that gives the ratio. Ratio is there somewhere in that section of BEMM.

 

[jonsobi]

Thanks Orton, found a footnote a few pages back under the diesel alternator section:

NOTE: For equivalent engine revs per minute
(RPM), the alternators revolutions, axis (B) should
be divided by the following factor: 2.7 for Gas
Engines.

So if I understand this correctly, at a 2.7:1 ratio, at idle (650rpm), the 230a HD alt will be rotating at 1,800 or so, and producing 120-130 amps, if needed.
So at cruising speed (ecoboost) at, say 1800 rpm, the alternator will be rotating at 4,860 rpm and capable of producing Max output, 235 amps, if the load requires it.

Good to know.

 

[Longboard]

So if I understand this correctly, at a 2.7:1 ratio, at idle (650rpm), the 230a HD alt will be rotating at 1,800 or so, and producing 120-130 amps, if needed.

Good to know.

Yep, good to know. I have the HD Alt., but am curious what the standard alternator would put out at idle, just for comparison. Has anyone determined that?

 

[jonsobi]

For the standard alternator the output chart in the BEMM would suggest about 85 amps available at idle, and about 145 amps available at cruise.
In my planned application, I want to idle the engine when I use my inverter to power things like coffee makers and perhaps an induction plate. I do not know if the HD alternator at idle (120-130a) will suffice.
Hope someone out there can weigh in with some experience in these matters (hi Orton!!)

 

[Chance]

For the standard alternator the output chart in the BEMM would suggest about 85 amps available at idle, and about 145 amps available at cruise.
In my planned application, I want to idle the engine when I use my inverter to power things like coffee makers and perhaps an induction plate. I do not know if the HD alternator at idle (120-130a) will suffice.
Hope someone out there can weigh in with some experience in these matters (hi Orton!!)

If only doing it for a few minutes the battery/batteries will provide the deficit. It doesn't have to balance perfectly if only for short periods. You can estimate the deficit in current for the duration you plan and then convert to Amp-hours to see how it would affect your batteries.

Another option, you can also fast idle.

 

[jonsobi]

Fast idle.... Good point. From the BEMM chart, the hd alt puts out close to max 230 amps at about 1481 engine rpm. It is somewhat temperature dependant so could be more or less rpm needed. 1400 rom doesn't sound too drastic to hold for a few minutes?

 

[orton]

Hope someone out there can weigh in with some experience in these matters (hi Orton!!)

I had a 600 watt pure sine inverter in the Sprinter powered by the Sprinter 12 volt system. Inverter was wired so it could not start until engine 220 amp alternator was running. Did not have a problem. Never made any measurements. Also load on inverter never was at the full 600 watts. Sprinter had an automatic approx. 1000 watt electric heating element that warmed cab before engine water temperature could do it. No way to turn off the heater.

Transit will have a 1000 watt inverter powered by the 12 volt Transit system. I will find out if there is a problem. Not installed yet. Will have much larger battery pack in Transit and the approx. 1000 watt electric air heater can be turned off. Just do not turn the air temperature knob to the full hot position.

I use the 120 volt "shore power" to power the charger or heat shower water with 625 watt element or run the 750 watt baseboard heater in back of van.

Plan on heating the van in the morning by using the remote start while in bed. Just set all the HVAC controls where you want them the night before. Will use the Transit 1000 watt electric heater but not the baseboard heater or I may use the baseboard heater and not the Transit heater. Not both. Will see how well this works this winter. Worked well in the Sprinter.

 

[jonsobi]

Orton,
"Plan on heating the van in the morning by using the remote start while in bed. Just set all the HVAC controls where you want them the night before."

I had a conversation with an F350 King Ranch owner who told me his remote starter would NOT activate any inside controls. Can you verify that the Transit does? I ordered my RS specifically to use as you do.

 

[orton]

Orton,
"Plan on heating the van in the morning by using the remote start while in bed. Just set all the HVAC controls where you want them the night before."

I had a conversation with an F350 King Ranch owner who told me his remote starter would NOT activate any inside controls. Can you verify that the Transit does? I ordered my RS specifically to use as you do.

The King Ranch owner is correct. All you can do is start the engine and with the stock setting it will run for 10 minutes. Apparently it can be reprogramed to run for 15 minutes.

You set the heater controls the night before where you want them in the morning:
1. Fan on high setting.
2. Heat on the highest setting. You will notice a "notch" at the extreme high heat setting. That last increment is what turns on the electric air heater. To speed up cab heating there is a electric air heater that runs until the engine water temperature is high enough to supply heat. 1000 watt?
3. Air distribution to dash and floor.

I tried to set the air recirculation to the on position hoping it would be in recirculation mode after a remote start. It does not remember that the recirculation button was on.

Engine stops as soon as a door is opened.

Have not tried reusing the remote button to restart immediately after it has timed out and shut off engine.

I will try a high idle stick to increase idle rpm if the normal idle rpm does not supply enough amperage to run both the Ford electric cab heater and my vehicle powered 1000 watt inverter set to run the conversion's 750 watt electric baseboard heater.

 

[jonsobi]

Tks Orton, I was not aware of the electric heater... very interesting... is that a standard item or part of a package?
I recall reading somewhere about battery run down SW that could be user set at differing post-shutdown short periods. Will probably set mine higher than 10, but not more than 20. The recirc makes sense as i think it will always revert to intake at startup.

 

[orton]

Tks Orton, I was not aware of the electric heater... very interesting... is that a standard item or part of a package?
I recall reading somewhere about battery run down SW that could be user set at differing post-shutdown short periods. Will probably set mine higher than 10, but not more than 20. The recirc makes sense as i think it will always revert to intake at startup.

Believe heater is standard.

SW? Need further explanation. Do not understand what you are describing.

 

[jonsobi]

I'm going from memory (not good) and can't remember if from the BEMM or a post, but my sense was that the "battery run down" software in the transit would shut down any load in a predetermined number of minutes after key off. The number of minutes, i seem to recollect, was user adjustable between narrow limits.

 

[jonsobi]

Believe heater is standard.

That is really good news as I do not have a heating plan for my camper beyond maybe a 12v heating pad. A factory electric is a serious bonus I was unaware of! For the few times I might need it in AZ winter, it might be all I need. Spouse may differ in opinion.

 

[jonsobi]

Found this on the F150 forum, relating to Fords battery rundown protection. Can't find any detail on the Transit equivalent. The below post is not authoritative.


Postby stormsearch » Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:59 pm

It is based off the battery SOC. There can be a high current load for up to 45 minutes as long as the overall SOC of the battery can handle it. That is partly why there is a hall effect sensor off your battery negative wiring. The BCM monitors current coming and going into the battery and also voltage at rest to determine the SOC. There is a much more complicated algorithm and other parameters, but that is the jist