|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Bryan Genez (no email)
Date: Mon Jun 21 2004 - 08:21:16 EDT
Rosalie B. wrote:
> A lot of stuff it doesn't matter who installed the equipment. What
> difference does maintenance and installation make for something like a
> solar panel?
A solar panel is similar to many other electrical items. It requires
protection from the weather, proper connections, appropriately sized wiring,
and some method of insuring they don't overcharge your batteries.
Solar panels work when they're mounted in direct sunlight that strikes them
at right angles. They lose efficiency quickly when subjected to shade (as
often happens when they're mounted on dodgers) or when they're not properly
angled toward the sun.
Panels must be protected from seawater. Cracked covers, leaking frames, and
exposed wire runs all can lead to early failure.
> Actually because most of these people's lives depends on their boat
> and equipment I'd venture to say that most of it is installed, used
> and maintained very well.
I would agree that most cruisers become adept at maintenance and repair over
time. But every cruiser I've met talks of the shared skills that everyone
depends upon. Boats arriving in an anchorage usually need something fixed,
and the first piece of business is to find someone who has the skills,
tools, and/or parts. Without that shared help, many cruisers wouldn't get
very far.
>>
>> The SSCA survey was better than nothing. But it was very imperfect.
>
> It's a good indication of what is being used out there. There is a
> comment section which is very interesting. It's at least as good as
> the info you'd get here.
It's a piece of information. How good or bad it is probably depends upon
circumstances. One thing you probably won't see in these surveys is
relatively new equipment. Of what value is a review of equipment that's no
longer in production? How do you know how good a fire extinguisher is, if
you've never had to use it? A life raft? Flares? The vast majority of
SSCA cruisers have never used any of these items. Should the experiences of
the few that do carry a lot of weight, or a little, or none?
-- Best, Bryan Genez (KB3HMZ) "Capella" Valiant 40 #158 Annapolis, MD ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|