Device to regualte alternator output to 10amp?

[jflorey2]

The question is: What device to use to maximize an alternator output to 10amps?

A big low value resistor. Simple and cheap. It will get warm during heavy charging (i.e. 10 amps) so size and mount it accordingly.

[PNjunction]

Get a battery designed for high-current charging:

Odyssey PC-625. Already has terminals unlike the other models. About 18ah capacity.

Hammer it with your alternator. Got anywhere from 5A to 50A charge source - no problem. Throw more solar at it than what you have now. It won't complain. It will thrive on it actually.

The other ups-style agm's typically have about a 0.3C max charge limit. You CAN go faster, but it is not designed for long service life this way.

Another possibility is an Optima D51 Yellow-Top. About 38ah capacity - the smallest they make.

Tip: charge to FULL with a proper charger before putting either into solar use!

Warning - once you go with a pure-lead agm like the Odyssey or Optima, you may get hooked for applications like these with their ability to gobble current as fast as you can throw at them (within reason - but they are not so limited like the ups-style conventional agm's are).

[Sunking]

A big low value resistor. Simple and cheap. It will get warm during heavy charging (i.e. 10 amps) so size and mount it accordingly.

That is what long wire is.