[This file gives info from a post dated Jan 2022 about protecting the

alternator and belt using the "long cable" method after fitting a LiFePO4
battery.]

The user fitted one 150 Ah LiFePO4 battery to create a hybrid system with
lead carbon agms.

There is one alternator rated at 90A.

Belt replaced and tightened.

Results with a 0.5 metre, fat (at least 35mm2) charging cable. Now
getting 50A at tickover, 70A at 1300rpm and 80A at 1500rpm.

Adding a bit of resistance to the cable will prolong alternator and belt
life. Phil Brooke-Little suggested alternator output of 50-60A would be
ok (about two thirds of alternator rating). It's assumed that the
alternator is an automotive alternator. (Modern marine alternators can
probably be run at their full rating.)

It's possible to estimate required cable resistance for a given drop in

alternator output. An alternative approach is to "suck it and see" (take
an educated guess and do some tests with a longer cable).

It's recommended that the cable rating matches or exceeds the alternator
rating, which is not the case in this example.

The user decided to try a longer (3 metres) and thinner (10mm2) cable to
see if that reduces the alternator output. 10mm2 cable is rated at about
70A so that will be ok as long as alternator output always stays below
70A.

The results are now available. After fitting a 3 metre 10mm2 cable the
user now gets 48A at anything up to 1500rpm.

The user also needs to check alternator output for any heavy loads that
he/she plans to put on the system (eg the user may want to have the
option of running a hairdryer or kettle etc while the engine is running,
so needs to check alternator output in those circumstances).