Fuel Cell for charging batteries

[westernman]

Any experiences with this kind of technology?

For example http://www.marine-fuel-cell.com/whatis.htm

Sounds better than a normal generator (no noise), but there is the inconvenience of carrying ethanol - which is even more dangerous than petrol.

Are there any which run off something else (e.g. Diesel or Gas)?

 

[2Tizwoz]

Voller produced some and Speedy hired them out.

Calor were involved in the gas side.

But things have not gone according to plan unfortunately

There may be some disused ones lying about somewhere.

The plans on a youtube video

 

[pappaecho]

A bit bemused at your comment "inconvenience of carrying ethanol"
All the boaty people I know carry it in various supermarket friendly forms sold as beer, wine and spirits, but with inevitably huge taxes on them. I still like the idea of carrying Polish vodka as both a pick me up and a source of electrickery

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds better than a normal generator...

[/ QUOTE ]

At £1700 for one that puts out 2 amps an hour, I think I would rather have a (limitless) solar panel.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Why did they need the yacht .. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif .. Where would you put all your bits with something that size in the wet locker .. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jtwebb]

It looks like the EFOY I have in my motorvan. If so, it needs a fairly large diameter exhaust pipe to ventilate it. In the motorvan it goes through a 3" hole in the floor, not an option here! The methanol has to be very pure or it poisons the catalyst. It was in the van when we bought and is very useful, espcially where a solar cell might be shielded or in winter. In a boat I would say less money would buy both solar cells and a wind generator.