I'd have to take a photo to explain the generator placement. I had a Sunbrella/vinyl cover made that has end straps and a stainless zipper that runs the bottom ledge. I can tie it down just about anywhere there are two anchor points. I'm not sure how to classify LED lights. I myself do not bother to add their miniscule amperage draw into the equation. I based my system on the stuff I cannot control. I too use the Garmin 276. I also have a fan. But what most little craft do not have is 120v. I like that feature allot!
Bill On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 5:45 PM, Joe Murphy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Bill, > Where do you store your generator?? > Phil, > How long will your batter last just running lights? In a nutshell I'm in a > similar quandry. I don't know how much the 3amp charge off my outboard > will > do. > I just bought a new M17, Seafrog, and am starting from scratch as far the > electrical system is concerned. The only power requirements that I am > looking for right now would be LED running lights, a couple of interior > cabin lights, a Garmin 276, one or two Hella fans, compass light, masthead > and spreader lights. Not much else. If I stick to LED for all the > lighting > requirements, that should helpgreatly. Do I need a deep cycle battery > either > in the 24 or 27 size? > I understand what Bill is saying about using amps and putting them back > into > the battery. Is it as simple as going through each electrical component > and > multiplying the amp usage by the number of estimated hours it would be used > between charges?? If my outboard charger is a 3 amp charger does that mean > it will put back 3 amps back into the battery in one hour? Oh, why didn't > I > stay awake in those classes??? > Joe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bill Lamica" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" > <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:27 PM > Subject: Re: M_Boats: power > > > > Hi Phil, > > > > My experience with solar says you need too big of an array to do much > good > > for a cruising boat, with any high power draw electronics. > > Not saying it doesn't work, just saying your at the mercy of the amp hour > > rating, the size of your battery(s) and the available sun. > > > > There is a WWP19, named Chubby who spent a month cruising to Hawaii. The > > skipper carried a Honda 1000 generator and charged batteries for about > > thirty minutes every day of so. I have the same generator, works great! I > > will however replace it with the next size up, the Honda 2000. They > > claim both are "clean" electricity. Meaning you could run a laptop from > > the > > 120v plug. I will go one step up so I can run it to use a microwave. > > Notice > > that when you look at generators, most have a direct plug in to charge > > batteries. I currently use mine to charge a small 12v - 12amp battery, > > which I believe goes to a snowmobile or maybe a jetski. The battery is a > > gel > > cell and sealed, so there is no chance for spillage of electrolyte. Even > > with a wired battery box, the entire set up is only 9 pounds. There are > > lots > > of sizes available, all the way up and over 20amp in this little battery. > > More amps = more dollars in this case. > > > > You may be told by folks like West Marine, you have to buy a high dollar > > charger for the gel cell. Not necessarily so, especially when you are > > watching the battery. You shouldn't leave it overnight on a regular > > charger > > - as you would a float charger (for gel), but it is acceptable to charge > > with the Honda generator and disconnect when the charger turns to > trickle. > > For me that's about 30 minutes. > > > > I run a (truck cab style) electric fan, two xenon cabin lights and > > navigation lights, when needed. I charge the battery about one in 3 to 5 > > days. Even with no useage, it is recommended to charge this type of > > battery > > every month or so. They are not necessarily a deep cycle, however they > > last > > a couple of years, as I've been using them. And, they are way less than > > $50.00 at Wallyworld. A little more at Batteries unlimited. > > > > If you have a 12v deep cycle already installed, find out the amp rating > of > > the battery, that will help you determine the amp hours you can draw, > > before > > you must re-charge. Next, determine the amount of draw in amps for each > > piece of equipment. If you are all LED, you can probably go for weeks, > > without a charge! If only we were all so fortunate. Ayway. make a list of > > the equipment and the rating of each. Compare that to the amp rating of > > the > > battery. An example would be my battery is 10 amp. The fan I use is rated > > at > > 1.5 amp. I can run that fan at full speed for about 6 1/2 hours (10 > > divided > > by 1.5 = 6.6). > > > > I am sure there are more difficult ways of explaining this, but it still > > comes out the same. You use the amps, then you recharge to get them back. > > > > Another real time benefit of the Honda generator is they are 4-stroke and > > use the same gas used in the Honda outboards. The downside, they are > > expensive! > > > > Bill > > > > > > > > > > On 9/2/08, Phil & Frances <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> How do some of you power your battery if you stay out there for a week > >> or two? Right now I have only the runing lights on it, but I would like > >> to add more items but I do not know whether to go for solar or > >> generator. Any experience among you folks? > >> > >> Phil > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
