Electricity Generation

[Chris_Robb]

Jimi - question is - why did the engine battery go flat. - The only reason in my book would be:

You used it for domestics - by mistake
The battery is dud - get a new one - problem goes away
You left the boat for a long time and didn't bother with your batteries.

In my book, there should be no situation where an engine battery is flat. Solve the problem, don't treat the symptoms!

OK so there may be good reasons to have (occaisional) alternative charging in an emergency, and I think the best thing for that is a small cheap generator, which will also double as something to run mains tools. I do suggest that you pay a little more and get one that is quiet, otherwise all those around you will be complaining about the wee noisy joc in the anchorage last w/e!

 

[jimi]

It has'nt, just a bit of contingency planning!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Or he flattened it trying to start a problematic engine (which he didnt). If so, it woudl not be good to try starting it from the domestics, especially if they are not dual purpose, as they would soon fail too.

Would need to sort out the engine itself or use the white flappy things hanging off the mast to get closer to land and seek help, eg call out Seastart who offer an excellent service IMO.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Otherwise known as a troll!

 

[Mudplugger]

much better to make yourself a pedal powered generator with an ex junk yard alternator....then you don't need to row ashore, but can pedal away in the cockpit while helming your bene! and peel away the pounds whilst doing it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif 'cos you will need a diode in the supply wire, otherwise you might end up pedalling backwards /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif do hope this helps you in your search for green alternatives.

 

[jimi]

Not really, I'd been considering a wind generator or solar panel to keep fings topped up and avoid having to run the engine every day. I have an automatic engine/domestic cutover which has gone wrong in the past!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Jimi - I live out on a mooring, so the whole essense of charging is quite important. ie under normal circumstances I would only ever be able to charge my batteries to 80% unless I was goingto motor 3 -4 hours. I also have a generator, but again it is only feasable to run this to charge to 80%.

So it on my winter list to put a solar panel in so that during the week the batteires with get some where near 90 - 100%. I understand that if you always leave them at 80% max and never bringto 100% there is a severe shortening of their life.

Whilst SWMBO likes motoring, we still don't do that much, so as we have no access to shore power, we never had a full charge for the whole of last year. Anyone without clever alternator managers (stirling etc) has no chance if the batteries don't reach 14.8V.