Power source

Balmar 6-Series 150A wiring diagram

150A marine alternator with Smart Ready internal regulation and support for an external P-type regulator. Requires dual V-belts or a multi-groove belt; match the mounting, pulley and grounding variant to the engine. Only one regulator may control the alternator at a time.

Rated output
150 A
Units

Wiring diagram

How the 6-Series 150A is wired.

Open this example in Crimp to use your own parts and cable lengths. Review the assumptions and installation notes as you adapt the circuit.

Balmar 6-Series 150A wiring example with 4 components: 6-Series 150A, Starter bank, 30 A DC/DC charger, House bank. 6 cable connections. Crossings are not junctions.6-Series 150A B+ to Starter bank +: 50 mm² · 200 A fuse, 3 m one way. 6-Series 150A GND to Starter bank −: 50 mm², 3 m one way. Starter bank + to 30 A DC/DC charger IN +: 10 mm² · 50 A fuse, 3 m one way. Starter bank − to 30 A DC/DC charger IN −: 10 mm², 3 m one way. 30 A DC/DC charger OUT + to House bank +: 10 mm² · 40 A fuse, 3 m one way. 30 A DC/DC charger OUT − to House bank −: 10 mm², 3 m one way6-Series 150A B+ to Starter bank +: 50 mm² · 200 A fuse, 3 m one way6-Series 150A GND to Starter bank −: 50 mm², 3 m one wayStarter bank + to 30 A DC/DC charger IN +: 10 mm² · 50 A fuse, 3 m one wayStarter bank − to 30 A DC/DC charger IN −: 10 mm², 3 m one way30 A DC/DC charger OUT + to House bank +: 10 mm² · 40 A fuse, 3 m one way30 A DC/DC charger OUT − to House bank −: 10 mm², 3 m one wayBalmar 6-Series 150A. The alternator charges a starter bank; a current-limited DC/DC charger supplies the house bank. This is the main DC power arrangement only. Install and configure the alternator's required regulator, field, sensing and temperature controls using its manual. Verify battery charging compatibility and available alternator capacity.6-Series 150AB+B+GNDGND12 V 200 Ah placeholder starter bank. 200 Ah placeholder bank. The 200 A discharge and 150 A charging envelopes are example assumptions, not specifications inferred from capacity. Replace them with actual battery, cranking and alternator-regulation evidence. Protect each battery-fed positive branch as required by its circuit.Starter bank++−−12 V 30 A DC/DC charging allowance. 30 A output, 34 A input and 90% efficiency are explicit planning assumptions for a 12/12 V charger. Choose the actual charger, set its input limit to the alternator's available continuous reserve, and follow its ignition/enable, fuse and cable requirements.30 A DC/DC chargerIN +IN +IN −IN −OUT +OUT +OUT −OUT −12 V 200 Ah placeholder house bank. 200 Ah placeholder bank accepting 30 A in this example. Verify the actual battery/BMS limits and configure the charger's battery profile before use.House bank++−−50 mm²10 mm²10 mm² · 40 A fuse10 mm²
Balmar 6-Series 150A wiring example with 4 components: 6-Series 150A, Starter bank, 30 A DC/DC charger, House bank. 6 cable connections. Crossings are not junctions.Red = positive · dark = return · dashed = signal. Wire sizes and fuse ratings are example values; use the equipment instructions and actual installation lengths.
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Cable sizing for this example

Use the diagram as a starting point for your installation. Replace the example equipment and cable lengths with your own, and check the connections against your exact model's instructions.

3 m one way

12 V system

Wire
50 mm² · 1 AWG
Example fuse
200 A
Design current
150 A
Voltage drop
2.7%

Sized against ABYC E-11. The design current is the unit's rated output. The length is one way; voltage drop includes an equal-length return.

Run-length and manufacturer assumptions

The editable example uses 3.048 m (10 ft) runs unless a shorter run is stated. Metric overviews round these to 3 m. Adapt the parts and lengths to your installation before choosing cable and protection.

Supporting parts

  1. 6.1 m total of 50 mm² (1 AWG) marine cable
  2. Terminations for 50 mm² cable, matched to the equipment's screw terminals, leads or studs
  3. 200 A fuse and holder on the positive run
  4. Heat-shrink, strain relief and terminal boots sized to the cable

Check stud sizes, fuse type, run length and how warm the space gets against the gear you actually have before you order.

Installation notes

Before you install.

Open a question for model-specific guidance and sources.

Verified against the manufacturer's documentation (rev. SUP-0207 REV F — 11/17/2021), checked 2026-09-30. Manufacturer documentation →

Which 6-Series alternator does this represent?

This is a 12 V, 150 A planning model. Balmar made several mounting and pulley variants: for example, the 604-150-K6 uses a 4-inch saddle mount and a six-groove pulley. Check the complete part number before ordering brackets, belts or cables. The catalog's 90 A typical charging allowance is an estimate; actual output depends on alternator speed, temperature, regulation and battery demand.

How are the output and control wires connected?

The drawn B+ and GND connections represent the main charging circuit. The installation manual, page 8, shows a dedicated negative stud on the illustrated 6-Series units. Its cable must be sized for charging current, like the positive cable. Support both heavy cables so their weight and vibration do not load the studs.

The drawing omits the regulator harness. On the illustrated alternators, blue is external field, brown enables the internal regulator, red senses voltage for the internal regulator, and white is the stator/tachometer output. Some 60-Series units also have a separate blue dash-lamp lead: identify the connector and diagram, rather than choosing by colour alone.

Can internal and external regulation operate together?

Only one regulator may be active. The Smart Ready internal regulator can serve as a backup, but page 9 prohibits energising internal and external regulator excitation together. Stop the engine before changing between them. An external regulator must use the supported positive-field control and a charging profile appropriate to the battery; connecting the two main output cables does not configure charging.

What affects belt, cable and fuse selection?

  • Belt drive: page 3 requires dual belts or a flat multi-groove belt above 100 A at 12 V. The 150 A model therefore needs a suitable drive system, alignment and tension.
  • Cable length: the manual's sizing table uses the complete positive-plus-negative circuit length and a 3% voltage-drop basis. Its examples are approximate; also account for installed cable ampacity, routing and temperature.
  • Protection and switching: page 4 coordinates the output fuse with cable capacity and alternator output. It does not establish one fuse for every installation. Page 5 warns against disconnecting the battery while the alternator is charging.

The catalog's terminal allowances do not replace the manufacturer's cable sizing or the regulator, battery and disconnect instructions. Check the manual's installation sections for the exact alternator before fitting it.

Fit check

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The model only picks parts and draws the connections. Every wire size and fuse rating still comes from Crimp's own sizing, never from the model.

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Technical reference

Specifications and terminal map.

Check the model, ratings and connection points against your own unit before choosing installation hardware.

Catalog specification

150A marine alternator with Smart Ready internal regulation and support for an external P-type regulator. Requires dual V-belts or a multi-groove belt; match the mounting, pulley and grounding variant to the engine. Only one regulator may control the alternator at a time.

Rated output
150 A
Planning charge current
90 A

Terminal map

Catalog connection points, current direction and planning limits. Check the manufacturer's pinout and connector ratings before installation.

B+

positive · output

200 A

GND

ground · bidi

200 A
Sources and sizing method

Equipment specifications. Model details, ratings and terminal roles come from the catalog. Check your unit’s label and current manufacturer documentation for its exact revision.

Example sizing. Sized against ABYC E-11. Boats built to UK or EU rules answer to ISO 13297 — check these figures against it before you build. Results use the example current and run length shown above. Set your actual equipment, lengths and installation conditions in Crimp before choosing hardware.

Read how the sizing works

Next step

Plan your installation with 6-Series 150A.

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