MacGregorSailors.com

That gibes with my casual observations of the etec motor. It seems to be able to top off my batteries pretty well at my cruising standard rpm of 2000. These motors were made for fishermen so they have to put good power out at trolling speeds to power everyone's electronics and stereos.
interesting to read that modern motors require so much electricity to operate.

Re computer controlled alternator output do all modern motors have this?
I accidentally switched the battery switch to off while the motor was running but it didn't seem to harm anything.
Ix

grady wrote:

kurz wrote:Well I just checked the service Manual Mercury 60HP EFI

Output at 1000 rpm: 12.5A
Output at 5000 rpm: 17.5

BUT to mesure would be even more realistic.
How about the following method: Just put more and more load at a 12V plug. When the watts gets under 13.5Volts you have the limit for the actual rpm.

Correct or not?

My guess is like most everything else advertized numbers would be around 12V.

But with 12V output will not load your batteries at all!!!
So the advertized numbers could vary much? Maybe it depends if you want tu run 300W light at 12V or if you want to load your battery bank at 13.8V!!! ???

I don't know what any of that stuff you guys talked about means.

Remember output capacity and charge ability are two different things. You will not charge the battery at full output unless it is almost completely dead. The alternator is a constant voltage charger not constant current.

True, False, True

Lead acid accept roughly 30% their capacity up to about 80% charge and slightly less till 90%, then it falls off a cliff to 2-3A for the last few percent and hours. So if you have an 200AH bank it will accept over 40A, or more than the typical outboard on a macgregor can produce unless its almost completely full, not empty.

Don't feel alone Boat hahahaha I have a decent enough background education working knowledge and understanding of Electrical Systems , and some of these previous post, leave me scratching my head hahaahaha
The Factory Suggested Maximum RPM for a Mercury 60 HP 4 stk EFI is between 5500 and 6000 yet, as previously posted , the manual says its only producing 17.5 of 68 Amps? So it never did produce 68 amps or it consumes 50 amps just too operate

BOAT wrote:I don't know what any of that stuff you guys talked about means.

That's How I understand it too.... IMHO no way will you " Top Off Your Batteries " in 20 minutes of idling one of our outboards..

Seapup wrote:

Remember output capacity and charge ability are two different things. You will not charge the battery at full output unless it is almost completely dead. The alternator is a constant voltage charger not constant current.

True, False, True

Lead acid accept roughly 30% their capacity up to about 80% charge and slightly less till 90%, then it falls off a cliff to 2-3A for the last few percent and hours. So if you have an 200AH bank it will accept over 40A, or more than the typical outboard on a macgregor can produce unless its almost completely full, not empty.

mastreb said the etec 60 puts out enough to run a microwave. So do I get popcorn from my etec 60 or not? I still don't understand

BOAT wrote:mastreb said the etec 60 puts out enough to run a microwave. So do I get popcorn from my etec 60 or not? I still don't understand

Hey Boat, dont think too much about it - just check it out!!

Put your Popcorn burner to your battery, run your etec... and during your popcorn plesure watch a voltmeter. I guess as long your voltage will stay higher than 12Volts all is ok. If it sinks deeper thank 12v, then you take out more of the battery than your ob is filling in.

and please, tell us about your popcorns!!!

Okay! Will do!

BOAT wrote:mastreb said the etec 60 puts out enough to run a microwave. So do I get popcorn from my etec 60 or not? I still don't understand

???

Most microwaves are in the 1000W range. I guess some small ones could be 800w or so. 800w/12v=67A. Not sure it could run the microwave but it would keep up enought to where you do not have much battery drain.

grady wrote:

BOAT wrote:mastreb said the etec 60 puts out enough to run a microwave. So do I get popcorn from my etec 60 or not? I still don't understand

???

Most microwaves are in the 1000W range. I guess some small ones could be 800w or so. 800w/12v=67A. Not sure it could run the microwave but it would keep up enought to where you do not have much battery drain.

Okay, so now it WON'T work No popcorn

well it depends... I just found a microwave 12volts. Input 230w, output 110w... so takes longer but should work with your ob.

Popcorns

110w output, Me thinks a magnifying glass would work faster!

And yes you can have popcorn no mater what, becaus it does not matter how much you alternator puts out. You will always have a battery in the system!

well, me I am not interested in microwave on board.

BUT: it is a combined microwave 220V/12V, so if you have shore power - normal microwave conditions, if you want it to run unter 12v, you take some more time, so what...

And if you want it to burn hard also under 12v take your inverter... just watch your battery...

I guess I will just use Jiffy Pop and put it on the stove.