Recent content by Stu Jackson

To the OP: The primary usually (note: usually) has a water separation feature The secondary usually does not.

A friend got a bilge pump with a connected hose and nozzle, hooked it up with wires and a switch in his anchor locker, ties it off with line and submerges it at the bow before he raises the anchor. Simple and easier than running hoses and putting holes in a deck.

Ballast tank controls, usually used when the klaxon sounds followed by "Dive, Dive, Dive!!!" :)

I do all the work on my boat except over the past 16 years, these things: new standing rigging (done OK), new roller furling (screwed up), new exhaust riser way back in 2003 [which I've done myself since] (screwed up). That's why I do my own work, and I, like many of us, am not getting any...

If you can, simply set the charge parameters (voltage) slightly different for each of the sources.

Rear edge grab handles are a must for safety. In some cases they can make handholds with the fabric going the rest of the way, others I've seen have separate full width handles. Essential safety item. Side grab handles are also a must. Essential safety item. I'm not sure about the issue...

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6604.0.html This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring: The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)...

That's true. Except the only bank one needs be interested in is the house bank, 'cuz the start bank is always almost full. This is a philosophical issue and I believe we Yanks have a different view, i.e., we charge house first, start second, whereas you choose to prioritize the start. But...

Ah, olewill, that lovely Council, in their continuing efforts to support their own constituents...darn them all! I'd love to see a photo of you and your new rig. I can picture it now...does the Council require you to wear a helmet, goggles, leather, gloves and kneepads? :):):) All the best, Stu

All good ideas. Happened to a skipper few weeks ago on our cruise. We aborted the cruise and sailed back home. Later that week his mechanic blew back through the fuel pickup hose from the filter that cleared whatever crud was in there. He's currently checking out his options, including...

Are you sure you have an active USB extension cable?

Do you have temperature compensation on your charger?

The noise is part of the beauty of the site, this one and many others, it's a community. Your basic assumption bears scrutiny. My experience has been that most skippers do exactly the opposite, although I've reads lot of posts that start out: "I've been lurking here a long time...and was...

This is a very philosophical issue. You are asking someone else to essentially do your homework and research. These days there is so much information on the internet that it would be appalling if you couldn't find what you are looking for. And most folks fail to even consider using Google...

What kind of alternator. IIRC, Hitachis have a built in temperature sensor in the regulator that cuts back output. An alternator saving design feature but not so great for charging. The problem with all Yanmar/Hitachi alternators, except some very old models, is that they can lead to chronic...