Electric power suggestions wanted for trip to Azores

[dulcibella]

Best towed generator

If the pocket will run to it and you want to be equipped for all future ocean sailing, fit a Duogen which converts rapidly and easily from a towed generator to a wind gen. I bought one of the very earliest ones - it has revolutionised my ocean sailing, keeping the batteries fully topped up on passage while allowing use of as much electricity as I wish. The firm are immensely helful over all post-sales support matters. I can see the virtues of solar panels, but many of the slimmer ocean cruisers (such as my Rustler 36) don't have space for sufficient panels without butchering the boat to instal a god-awful stainless steel scaffold at the stern.

 

[captaina]

Electrics etc.

First, decrease power consumption...go for LEDs everywhere, improve the insulation for the fridge and TURN DOWN chartplotter brightness to 'your' minimum...this will save you at least 30% of chartplotter power consumption. Switch off all instruments which are 'nice-to-have'.

Second - solar power. Solid delivers X watts at £Y. Semi-flexible delivers X watts at £2Y. Fully flexible delivers .5X watts at £3Y. Moral...try to go for solid. But it must be unshaded...so on a gantry or something...we have Solara 130W between our two backstays, capable of swivelling fore & aft to catch the sun. Although usage obviousl varies hugely, my calculations say that you should try to have 200AH. We have two Solara panels - 130W between the backstays and 68W semi-flexible for'ard of the sprayhood. The latter failed after 3 years - we contacted Solara in Germany and they dispatched a new one with no arguments the next day for free, so, naturally, I am a fan of Solara.

Third - wind/water power. A wing charger is as much use as a cat flap in a submarine if you are sailing downwind. We have a DuoGen which allows you to stick the beast in the water and use a propeller-sized impeller...we get 8-10A at 8 knots. Great piece of kit.

Fourth - care about the regulators and switches. We can switch both solar panels off. You can fry the batteries if you overcharge, so we have dump resistors. But, getting solar energy then dumping it offends me.

 

[RogerG]

You can fry the batteries if you overcharge, so we have dump resistors. But, getting solar energy then dumping it offends me.

Don't dump the excess or switch it off, either get extra battery storage, or use the load output from the solar regulator to drive 12v equipment directly once the batteries are fully charged.

Roger

 

[noelex]

Fourth - care about the regulators and switches. We can switch both solar panels off. You can fry the batteries if you overcharge, so we have dump resistors. But, getting solar energy then dumping it offends me.

Dump resisters are a very inefficient way of regulating solar power. The battery voltage will be too high, or low for maximum input into the batteries.
You need a PWM system to keep the battery voltage at the maximum level without overcharging. Modern solar controllers will do this automatically if you get a good one and set it up right.