#WS500

#boatalternator #marinealternator #alternatorregulator #Wakespeed #WS500 #lithiumbattery #lithiumbatteries #battleborn #battlebornfamily #boatlife #sailboatlife #lifepo4 #lifepo4battery #sailboat
Where do you buy the Wakespeed WS 500 featured in this video?
Use code: 'Mothership' to claim any available discounts at checkout here: battlebornbatte...?afmc=4z
Most recent promo: $50 Off Any Battery & 25% Off Merch: tinyurl.com/53...
I do NOT do paid promotion but I may earn a small commission on some links. You will NOT be charged extra and may even be entitled to DISCOUNTS using these Mothership links.
The WS500 Wakespeed alternator regulator utilizes current, voltage and temperature when charging 12V, 24V or 48V LiFePO4 lithium-ion battery systems. In this maintenance blog I retro fit this sophisticated regulator to our battery bank in the last of this lithium battery instal video series.
Buy the WS500 here: battlebornbatt...
Check out the previous blogs in this series leading up to the instal - showing the modifications and upgrades needed to make a battery system 'Lithium Ready':
Lithium Upgrade 01: I swap out the Mastervolt Chargemaster and instal a Victron Multiplus with MK3 VE Bus • Installing Victron 24v...
Lithium Upgrade 02: I swap out the automatic shore power / generator relay switch and instal a Rotary Cam Relay Switch and run the cables to the Multiplus and 220v fuse panel. • Rotary Relay Cam Switc...
Lithium Upgrade 03: I swap out the old 25mm / 4awg battery cables and instal new 1/0 awg 50mm cables and remove the old Victron AGM 12v 110v batteries in readiness for new Battleborn LifePo4 24v 50Ah Batteries. • Removing Old #AGM Batt...
Lithium Upgrade 04: I install the busbars, fuses, shunts and 2/0 awg 35mm2 cables and finally get those LifePo4 24v 50Ah Battleborn Batteries in place! • #lifepo4 #Battleborn B...
Lithium Upgrade 05: I Configuration the Victron Energy MPPT Solar Controller Using Victron Connect App: • Victron BMV-712 Batter...
Lithium Upgrade 06: I Configuration the Victron Energy MPPT Solar Controller Using Victron Connect App: • #MPPT Solar Controller...
Lithium Upgrade 07: I Configure the Victron Energy Multiplus Using the Mk-3 USB Bus Interface Dongle: • Victron Multiplus Conf...
Lithium Upgrade 08: I Install the Sterling Alternator Protection Device: • Sterling Alternator Pr...
Lithium Upgrade 09: I Install the Battleborn / Wakespeed WS500 alternator regulator: • #WS500 #Wakespeed Alte...
If you're a professional, expert or even an old salty sea dog with some good advice on how to install alternator regulators on sailboats, or lithium battery instals in general then please leave any constructive criticism, insight and advice in the comments below the videos.
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[@SVImpavidus]

Thanks for the shout out Woody. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@Moj_Nick_YT]

Great job with Frankenator! 🙂

[@jamestim319]

yup.. the WS500 is a balls.. turns out also that the temp sensor for the alternator was somehow connecting the 24 and 12 negatives.. check for continuity between your negatives.. I'm not sure how, but it can happen.. if you have continuity, start with the temp sensor on the alt

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Thanks for the heads up.. so far we've had pretty good use out of it, although the back of the alternator looks like spaghetti junction. If I'd had the money I would have replace the alternator at the time.. but the crew decided the budget was better spent on a waffle maker instead!

[@JayPerrypersonal]

Nice one Woody, this was useful as we will be doing Lithium later this year

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Thanks Jay.. It was one of those jobs that just mushroomed as our electric system was a little.. dated. I think it was the original system and in no fit state to take Lithium. I wish I knew that before I started though!

[@henrikweckstrom7156]

Thanks Woody for the great install video! I managed quite easily figure out how to rewire my Hitach LR180-03C alternator on my Yanmar 4JH4AE engine with your and ChatGPT help. ChatGPT was great in explaining all the connections and inner workings of the alternator, just uploaded wiring diagrams and pictures of the alternator and asked stupid questions. Cannot wait to start charging my lithium bank, and putting the DC/DC charger the other way and charing the led acid batteries (start and bow thruster/anchor). Now I just misplaced the harness somewhere 😲6 months until splash..

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Yes, I've started using chatgpt more and more too.. although it can sometimes be very, very wrong so it's always advisable to cross check the info. it gives.

[@MrBugsier5]

You could have connected the shunt wires under the battery lugs, Jou did not really have to use the circuitbourd screws..

[@MothershipMaintenance]

I sent photo to Rick at Wakespeed and he recommended I changed the wires TO the circuitboard screws.. so I was just following his advice.

[@rossirossi2]

Hi Woody, great job and helpful to me, I'm right in the process of adding a W500 and Battle Borns to KAIMI (SM 429) After considering everything I placed the WakeSpeed on the front bulkhead. This gave me access to battery bank, diesel control panel and was able to use the existing pathways of starting and charging cables to the alternator. I'll post this to the Amel group later. Anyway, thanks for the help (also your decision to bend the lugs for the 24V batteries). I'm in Deltaville, VA (5 minute run to West Marine), 3 days for Amazon and trying to get everything done while I've "got it good". Like you, I previously had a battery meltdown in Martinique. Could have been worse, but in looking at the costs of batteries most people don't factor in that it can happen where replacement is a hassel or expensive (Martinique was convienient but expensive) Cheers, Bob photos.app.goo.gl/pjejH7YPv8i8oeJE6 With your 45 method I think I can get them cabled.... photos.app.goo.gl/zyNPLVNGNcKfD5XT8

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Yeh I think Colombia was about the worse place to have a battery meltdown.. so hot and humid without air con or even fans and it took forever to source even temporary replacements!

[@ezequieldiaz1950]

EXCELETE TRABAJO CAPY !!!! UN GRAN SALUDO DESDE ARGENTINA !!1

[@brucebayne3435]

Actually, the micro USB version is the older motherboard. Too many people were accidentally breaking the small micro USB port off the motherboard. The newer motherboards have the older USB B (printer USB connector). It's a more robust port that is more difficult to break off the motherboard.

[@MothershipMaintenance]

That’s really interesting.. yes they are far more robust so makes a lot of sense. I had to throw a lot of stuff out because those micro USBs are impossible to solder. It would be great if they shipped the cable too because they aren’t easy to come by when you’re off grid. I was just lucky I had one onboard.

[@jnjentinc]

I hooked up the red positive wire today and forgot the fuse also 😂 had to remove it and wait till tomorrow to see if my hard work produces 150A@24v 💪

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Yes it's all a bit.. two steps forward, one step back!

[@haydenwatson7987]

I am curious about how well your external regulator conversion worked. (about 24-minute). The solder and seal butt connectors use a low temperature solder and the working temperature of parts of an alternator can get much hotter than the melting temperature of the solder.

[@MothershipMaintenance]

Hi Hayden. So far it’s been working fine. I had a minor issue with the ignition switch not turning on the regulator (I replaced the switch) but nothing to do with the alternator. I wasn’t aware that that the alternator temp exceeded the capacity of the butt connector solder but nearly 2 years down the line and no problems. Ideally I’d replace it with a bigger and more modern alternator but it’s just not in the budget at the moment.

[@jhe4982]

impressive 👍

[@RMay-l9k]

Woody, arent there big cable exiting the engine room at the floor and mid way up by the filter? But, then they are all in the cabin step... how do they come together? I am trying to route the WS500 cables and am afraid of hitting one of those big cables.

[@MothershipMaintenance]

They just all squeeze together behind the insulation. It’s not pretty and tricky to get in there.. you just have to fish around with your hand in the engine bay while someone wiggles them from the other end!

[@karlmoderna]

It seems to me a sign of the sickness of our times that you buy a mint new something and as soon as you open the box you have to “update” it

[@MothershipMaintenance]

true.. firmware, malware, tupperware!

[@jameshaliday1929]

alternator looks wee bit tiny. wind turby ?

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

Is your diagram available?

[@MothershipMaintenance]

I hope to turn all of these maintenance blogs into written blogs eventually, with diagrams and supplier lists. I did this for my previous furniture design business and it was very popular with DIY furniture makers. But atm I'm struggling just to keep up with the video blogs while travelling so unfortunately it won't happen any time soon. In the meantime, if you need the diagram just freeze frame the video and do a screen shot. Hope this helps!

[@ryanmcgee6158]

What software do you use for your diagrams?