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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Wed Jan 01 2003 - 23:33:56 EST
In a message dated 30-Dec-02 00:03:32 Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
> In my use shore power is only avail when boat is stored, otherwise I tend to
> motor 5-15 hours, then anchor 20-48 hours. Now I need to run the genset 1
> hour 2X a day. I have enough running time to charge with existing
> alternator, but not enough storage and charging from genset is too slow.
> Next project is to raise voltage from alternator, increase total battery
> cap
> to around 600 amp hours (currently 350), add a second charger that feeds
> separate battery bank (Doubling charge rate from genset) and install a
> solar
> panel. This should mostly eliminate need to run genset for charging, if
> not, I will look into mounting an alternator on the genset, it has none
> now.
> I also have a Trace battery monitor system to install.
I live at anchor when not underway.
Our main loads seem to be the freezer, about 50 AH, the reefer, from 20 to 30
AH per day. Our two laptops take 4.5 Amps max each when operating, and the
13" TV takes 2 Amps. Almost all our lamps are fluorescent. While I have
never kept accurate records, I think we use about 300 amphours a day but it
varies considerably.
Last spring I installed seven 120 watt solar panels. At noon in the summer I
get 42 amps or about 200 amphours per day. We use more than that so when the
amphour meter gets up to around 300 we fire up the genset. This happens
maybe every four days but can vary considerably depending on how much we use
our computers and how much sunshine we get. We try to do other things while
running the genset, like laundry and watermaking.
Before I installed solar panels I ran the genset three to four hours every
other day and charged my two pair of L-16 Trojans (385 AH per pair) with a
Trace SW2512 inverter which starts charging at around 125 amps or so before
tapering down.
I really wouldn't want to have to charge the batteries with a 60 amp
alternator. Chronic undercharging is the primary cause of premature battery
failure.
Norm
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