Is this a good calculator http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marinesizing.php
On Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 9:19 AM, Curtis <cpt.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > Wow. You guys have gone deep with the power consumption and recharging > principles. You have open my eyes to a big project moving forward. Keep in > mind my wife and I will not need much power. Bet you have heard that before > from people starting out. HAHAh. Well wet me see what it looks like. > > 1) AM/FM Radio *4 hr a week* > > 2) ST4000 AUTO helm *8 hrs a day* > > 3) Garmin echo50s (GPS) *8 hrs a day* > > 4) Bow and stern running lights *8 hrs a week* > > 5) Spreader lights *Almost never* > > 6) Mast head anchor light *(12 hours a day) LED* > > 7) Cabin lights *(8 hours a day) LED* > > 8) VHF Radio “Hand Held” *8 hrs a day* > > 9) VHF fixed mount *8 hrs a day scan mode weather alert* > > 10) Ray marine gauge “ Depth” *8 hrs a day* > > 11) Ray marine gauge “Wind” *8 hrs a day* > > 12 Ray marine gauges > > 13) IPOD for movies *2 hrs a day* > > 14) Cell phones 2 “1 droid” “1 I phone” > > > > We have no refrigerator > > We have no t/v at this time > > Toilet is a manual > > In doing my research hoping to find a Energy Budget work sheet in excel > format. This way I could plug in the cost of each of my power using pieces > and see what it comes up with. > > > On Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 7:37 AM, Rich Knowles <r...@sailpower.ca> wrote: > >> And to increase the presumptuous factor: >> >> The alternators that were supplied as original equipment with most small >> boat engines until recently were from 35 - 55 A with internal, single >> voltage output regulators. A good percentage of the engines were destined >> for use in small motor vessels and these alternators were adequate for that >> application. For our use, which sees greatly increased loads from, as Rick >> notes, radar and refrigeration, and lengthy battery discharge periods >> between charges, those alternators are bordering on inadequate, and >> certainly not as efficient and appropriate as higher power units with multi >> stage regulators. >> >> For sailing vessels, a central component of optimizing the electrical >> system should be upgrading the generating capacity of the charging system. >> This will involve replacing the alternator with the largest unit that can >> be fitted, taking physical restrictions, drive belt capacity and depth of >> pocket book into account. For most 20-35 HP engines, around 100A works >> well. There are a number of external regulators available that should be >> considered for installation as part of the new system. A new alternator >> with a multi-step regulator will considerably reduce the engine run time >> needed to replenish the batteries. Other devices such as wind generators >> and solar panels are important for long range travels as well to further >> reduce the dependency on the engine. >> >> For calculation purposes, I generally consider the usable capacity of >> batteries to be 30% rather than 50% of rated capacity. This stems from the >> fact that a 50% discharged battery will charge to around 80% at a fairly >> linear rate which will drop significantly as the state of charge nears >> 100%. Trying to achieve the last 20% can take a long time compared to the >> first 30%. This will vary depending on battery type and condition, so my >> 30% figure is somewhat arbitrary, but fairly realistic. >> >> A shore power fed battery charger from 20-40A will generally suffice to >> sustain loads from refrigeration, lighting and entertainment devices >> operating while the boat is alongside, and also provide enough power to >> replenish the batteries. Again, a multi-step unit designed for marine use >> should be chosen. There are lots of good marine chargers on the market. >> >> I note that non-marine AC chargers may not completely isolate the input >> from the output, a potentially dangerous situation on the water, and should >> be avoided. >> >> As Rick notes, designing an efficient, reliable electrical system is >> complex. >> >> It's snowing again. Grrrr! >> >> Rich Knowles >> INDIGO - LF38 >> Halifax, NS >> >> >> On Dec 17, 2013, at 20:45, "Rick Brass" <rickbr...@earthlink.net> wrote: >> >> Curtis; >> >> >> >> At the risk of being presumptuous, I think you have the cart before the >> horse. >> >> >> >> If your intent is extended cruising – particularly offshore cruising >> where you will not be using your engine for power (and to recharge the >> batteries) every day – you will first need to think about the systems you >> have on board and how much power they will draw. Refrigeration is a major >> draw. Radar? Autopilot? What instruments? What lights? Power for >> entertainment like radio or TV? Small things like a 12 v electric coffee >> maker or a microwave draw a shocking amount of power out of your batteries. >> >> >> >> Once you know how many amp hours you will use on average, you can figure >> out how many additional batteries you need, what type, and where to put >> them. My average consumption right now is under 100 amp-hours/day. But I >> plan to run refrigeration (45 more AH) and to anchor out for extended >> periods. So my house bank is 4 deep cycle group 27 batteries with 460 AH >> capacity. That gives 230 usable AH (50% discharge) and should let me go for >> 2 days between charges. In addition I have a group 29 marine starting >> battery as a second bank, and a deep cycle group 24 under the v-berth to >> power the head and the anchor windlass. >> >> >> >> The 400+ AH house bank dictates at least a 40amp, multi bank charger. I >> have an older Xantrex 40+ wired to the house and starting bank. There is a >> solar charger for the group 24 battery that is OK for now, but I plan to >> install an ACR that will top up the charge on that battery when I’m hooked >> to shore power or running the engine. >> >> >> >> To put 100 AH into my house bank by running the engine (with a 45 amp >> alternator installed) will take at least 3 hours of run time – which is OK >> when I’m traveling on the ICW but not acceptable when at anchor. SO I plan >> to install a bank of solar panels over the Bimini, and maybe a wind >> generator as well, to maintain the batteries at anchor. >> >> >> >> As you can see, the process starts with determining how much power you >> will be using each day, and that will depend on what systems you have >> installed for cruising. >> >> >> >> You said you had an “OEM” battery charger installed. Probably not really >> OEM, but the question is: is it still working? If it is, spend your money >> on the other systems you will be installing, and the additional batteries, >> and worry about a new (probably more efficient) charger in 2017 or so. >> >> >> >> >> >> Rick Brass >> >> Washington, NC >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* CnC-List >> [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com<cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com>] >> *On Behalf Of *Curtis >> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:16 PM >> *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Battery charger recommendations? >> >> >> >> I picked up the one noted above to maintain the battery's. In my first >> post I was trying to explain I needed something to keep the batt's charged >> while sailing ever couple of weeks. "For Now" In 2018 We hope to shove off >> for some extended cruising. >> >> I will need to install a Good expensive on board fixed mount bank >> charger. This is what I was hoping to get advice on. the Good one that will >> give me a charge on all my batt's when I come in from off shore. >> >> Sorry for the confusion. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 12:52 PM, Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Evidently, we all misunderstood the question. The battery minder is >> advertised to provide a "de-sufating" pulse charge to prevent loss of >> capacity. This is fine and may or may not add value for your purpose. Had >> any of us realized that you simply wanted to keep the batteries from self >> discharging during winter storage you would have received drastically >> different answers. >> >> For ultra cheap $20 you can find 2amp smart chargers that cycle to >> prevent over charging. If conditioning or de-sufating was the goal then I >> would have possibly recommended a higher power portable unit with a >> conditioning feature. 10-40amps, 3 stage, and conditioning mode, $50-100. >> Stanley, Schumacher, Vector all have similar units available at the big >> box, auto, and boat stores. I'm not convinced that the battery minder has >> a more effective de-sulfating feature than any of the others. >> >> Many people prefer to occasionally visit the boat to top up the >> batteries. This eliminates the risks of overcharge, electical fire, and >> galvanic corrosion. >> >> What type of charger did you already have? What was wrong with using it? >> >> Josh Muckley >> >> On Dec 17, 2013 10:29 AM, "Curtis" <cpt.b...@gmail.com> wrote: >> *Battery Tender Plus 12v 1.25 Amp 3 Stage Smart Charger BT-021-0128* >> >> >> >> Sorry I posted the wrong model. >> >> >> >> >> >> Wal-mart >> >> $66.48 >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 9:59 AM, Bill Bina <billb...@sbcglobal.net> >> wrote: >> >> Hopefully you can return it. You need a 12 volt charger, not an 8 volt >> charger. You also need substantially more than 1.25 amps. This thing will >> barely charge an 8 volt motorcycle battery. >> >> Bill Bina >> >> >> >> On 12/17/2013 9:47 AM, Curtis wrote: >> >> After much study and review I purchased a portable charger last night >> >> Battery Tender Plus 8v 1.25 Amp 3 Stage Smart Charger BT8v021-0152 >> This is a very popular 8 volt unit for battery storage. The Battery >> Tender Plus is a 1.25 amp battery charger designed to fully charge a >> battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging >> effects caused by trickle chargers. The E-Z quick disconnect harness >> (1 of each ring ends and alligator clips included) allows you to leave >> the charger wiring attached to the battery while operating the >> vehicle. Battery Tender Plus will not overcharge or boil battery when >> connected long term. >> >> I hope it will keep them topped off when I'm not there. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> “Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, >> should really be running the world.” - Nicholas Monsarrat >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> “Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, >> should really be running the world.” - Nicholas Monsarrat >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> > > > -- > “Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, > should really be running the world.” - Nicholas Monsarrat > > -- “Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.” - Nicholas Monsarrat
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