Platinum 0 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Does anyone have any information on these BEP voltage regulators? I have one installed on the boat and it appears to be working OK but i'd like to check the installation is correct. Connection is via a 8 pin terminal block. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 IT’s your man Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Are we talking about an Alternator voltage regulator? Is there a model number? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Platinum 0 Posted July 17, 2020 Author Share Posted July 17, 2020 Yes, alternator. The boat is a 1984 Farr with a Lees marine BMC Captain and 55A Ingram alternator so the regulator is probably 90's vintage. There are no visible model or serial numbers. I'll remove it over the weekend and see if there is anything on the back. Connections are via a moulded 8 terminal connector (spade type). I can trace the wiring and the obvious connections are there but what is confusing is for example there are 2 connections green and purple running back to the battery negative post.. The connection tracing began when i had no charge on running the engine last weekend, that problem has been solved being a failed instrument panel bulb breaking the excitation cct. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Yep, seen those before, but not many! 30 yr old attempt at a smart reg. Sorry, but never had to deal with one that works! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 10 hours ago, Platinum said: Yes, alternator. The boat is a 1984 Farr with a Lees marine BMC Captain and 55A Ingram alternator so the regulator is probably 90's vintage. There are no visible model or serial numbers. I'll remove it over the weekend and see if there is anything on the back. Connections are via a moulded 8 terminal connector (spade type). I can trace the wiring and the obvious connections are there but what is confusing is for example there are 2 connections green and purple running back to the battery negative post.. The connection tracing began when i had no charge on running the engine last weekend, that problem has been solved being a failed instrument panel bulb breaking the excitation cct. had one of those 2 regulators ago, you are lucky it has lasted this long. For your installation I would look at one of these https://www.smartregulator.co.nz/ alot cheaper than the overseas units Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 The smartregs are ok, and I usually have one in stock. However, there is no alternator or battery temp sensor ability, so this is an entry level regulator. It's not suitable for a non hot rated alternator (like the Ingram above) connected to a large battery bank, where it may be expected to run at high output for long periods. The alt will melt down.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 12 hours ago, Island Time said: The smartregs are ok, and I usually have one in stock. However, there is no alternator or battery temp sensor ability, so this is an entry level regulator. It's not suitable for a non hot rated alternator (like the Ingram above) connected to a large battery bank, where it may be expected to run at high output for long periods. The alt will melt down.... Agree with all that but I would not expect a Farr 38 to have a very large battery bank, maybe 210ahr so the alternator would not be running at full output for long Have you come across one of these yet: http://wakespeed.com/products.html, claimed to operate rather better than the Balmar regs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Yes, seen the blurb and read the info. They look pretty good, but I have not actually set one up yet... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Platinum 0 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 Thanks for the upgrade suggestions but at this stage we'll persevere with the old but working system, keen to understand and get the best out of it though. As with most 80's boats there is a lot of kit in the queue for replacement.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Platinum 0 Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 Email fresh in from BEP, looks like an ER3 (3 stage) regulator and i have some limited paperwork if anyone else needs it.. looks like the Green/purple negative lug contains some form of temperature probe You live and learn, i've only had the boat 18 years! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Cool. Impressive response from BEP to ‘support’ such an old device. I imagine lots of companies would ignore your request or point out the obsolescence etc. My recent experience with marine electrical & electronic equipment is that new isn’t always better. I’ve had plenty of brand new kit fail within 12-24 months. Like you said if it’s still working it’s worth persevering. Just make sure you have a plan B if it does let go in the middle of your summer cruise in a remote location! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RTM 0 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Hi, I have one of these in my boat as well. It seems to be dead...sadly. I've had some alternator issues. Does anyone know if they have a fuse inside them ? If yes...hopefully its blown....... Update: I can confirm that there is no fuse inside the BEP Reg. Platinum...any chance that you can send me the paperwork you have from BEP ? Cheers all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RTM 0 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Many thanks Platinum, appreciated. RTM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanB 2 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 RTM... I have had one of these in the back of the shed for 15 years. Was working when removed (for new engine). No documentation. Let me know if you want it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SV Spartacus 0 Posted June 3, 2022 Share Posted June 3, 2022 On 20/07/2020 at 12:35 PM, Platinum said: Email fresh in from BEP, looks like an ER3 (3 stage) regulator and i have some limited paperwork if anyone else needs it.. looks like the Green/purple negative lug contains some form of temperature probe You live and learn, i've only had the boat 18 years! Hi, wondering if you still have the information and could send on? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alibaba 76 Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 I can't help with the BEP regulator sadly, but now that the question of regulators has come up... hope nobody minds me adding to thread- I have a Yanmar 3gm and its alternator goes through a Transpo IB301a regulator. It has a tricky little potentiometer screw to adjust the voltage. Tricky because the slightest alteration seems to alter the voltage quite a lot! At the moment it is set to 14.5V. I have a starting battery with a 80 amp hour house battery, with a VSR. Question, -1. is 14.5 the appropriate voltage, or do I need to increase it? 2. Can I charge a lead acid battery and an AGM battery off the same alternator, or would I be better to match to type of batteries - ie both lead acid. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 2 hours ago, alibaba said: I can't help with the BEP regulator sadly, but now that the question of regulators has come up... hope nobody minds me adding to thread- I have a Yanmar 3gm and its alternator goes through a Transpo IB301a regulator. It has a tricky little potentiometer screw to adjust the voltage. Tricky because the slightest alteration seems to alter the voltage quite a lot! At the moment it is set to 14.5V. I have a starting battery with a 80 amp hour house battery, with a VSR. Question, -1. is 14.5 the appropriate voltage, or do I need to increase it? 2. Can I charge a lead acid battery and an AGM battery off the same alternator, or would I be better to match to type of batteries - ie both lead acid. Thanks Question one. Read the PDS for the specific make and model of the batts, it will have min and max charge voltages in it, for both Bulk/Absorbtion and Float. Question 2. Depends. Read the PDS for both batteries and see if the required voltages given there match each other. Unasked question - Dont rely one what anyone online says, or even your local marine sparky. Read the manufacturer's PDS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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