Power for Trailer Sailer

[alisdair4]

I have a Fox terrier 22 with a 60AH battery, an outboard motor, and no internal or external charging system apart from a Car Charger which I connect to the mains when alongside (I realise this is inherently unsafe, and use an RCD at the end of the supply cable.)

But, there has got to be a smarter way. I am too mean to buy a wind generator, and it would look daft on such a small boat anyway. Does Solar power live up to the billing inn the ads - even in a Scottish climate?

I'd apprecaite any advice that you could give. The electric outputs are GPS, Speed/Depth, and anenometer, plus domestic lights x 3 (all are of the non-halogen type).

Alisdair

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[fastjedi]

This is a dilema suffered by most small yacht owners in one form or another. Solar panels are of value for trickle charging a battery over a week or two .... but of little use when on board for a week .... unless you can afford one that covers most of the foredeck!!! My trailer sailer has a Mercury Sailpower Outboard.... This could make a valuable contribution ... but I love sailing too much, and anyway, that's no kind of cheap fix for you. This leaves only one option ..... store up more ampere hours on board ..... 2 x 85ah ???

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[halcyon]

Go the simple route, the 60 AH will supply nav equip for a week without charging, fit a 100 AH to supply lighting for the week. Charge up before leaving home, recharge on your return home, no problem. You can always run tests at home on how long the battery will power the nav before it drops to around 11.8 volt with system running, then do same with lights. This will maintain a 50% reserve, not deeply discharging batteries giving a good battery life, this devided by 7 gives lights hours per night and sailing time.



Brian


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[JMM]

Change the lighting to LEDs

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon M.

 

[extravert]

What outboard do you have, and is it a recent one? Many outboards of about 6hp and above have the capacity for electrical output, even if you have to buy an optional extra to make use of it.

I have outboard charging, a 30W solar panel, and extreme stinginess when it comes to switching on anything electrical. I charge from mains whenever I can. I haven't run out yet. Occasional engine running and the solar panel keeps things going for extended periods in summer. It probably wouldn't in winter, but then I don't go away for long then.

There have been posts recently of very cheap small generators. This is another option than may be the cheapest solution, but carrying one around on a small boat would not be easy.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep trying.

 

[snowleopard]

th process of converting an outboard to provide battery charging is simple though not very cheap.

1. add a lighting coil if it doesn't have one already. this is a coil that fits under the flywheel and produces 12v a.c.

2. connect the ac output to a rectifier/regulator which converts it to dc and controls the voltage to prevent overcharging.

the parts are available from outboard dealers and will cost total around £100. fitting is simple though you will need to borrow a flywheel puller (a useful thing to have anyway). it will probably give about 5A charging which will be enough to run your instruments unless you do everything under sail.

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[lydiamight]

Go to your nearest Costco a buy a small "suitcase" size petrol generator for just over £90. Output is 950watts, (850 watts continuous) It runs on 50:1 two stroke mix so is probably the same as your outboard. It has both a 12volt and 240volt output so you can charge your batteries and have some nice bright mains lights.
Take it home with you each time and pray for a power cut so you can impress your neighbours with your own generator.

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[alisdair4]

Thanks all - food for thought!

My OBM is too ancient to have a lighting coil, so I may go for the second battery option as the cheapest and simplest solution.

Alisdair

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[William_H]

Hello Alisdare... Solar panel is an excellent way to go in the tropics. I have a 2 watt one on my trailerr sailer on mooring and it suits me fine. In Scotland only time will tell. If you have a mooring where the boat is always facing one way you can make up an attachment to face the panel south at about 45degrees. I would suggest at least 10 watt panel . If you are on a swing mooring then perhaps in Scotland its not a good idea. If you can borrow a solar panel get a digital multimeter to check actual charging current at middaythis might help you make a decision. I am intrigued by your assertion that using shore power and a battery charger is dangerous. I wouldn't have thought so however me being an electronics type perhaps I have a bad contempt for electricity. If it were convenient for me to visit a jetty with shore power I would go that way myself So I suggest depending on how convenient it is for you that you continue to use shore power battery charger. Get a bigger charger so it is com[pleted more quickly. regards will

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[graham]

When your battery needs replacing look for a bigger output in the same size case.

I have just changed my old 55 amp/hour battery for a 85 amp hour which is almost identical in size.

I have the same set up as you .I dont want a noisy wind charger and on a swinging mooring wonder if a solar panel would be enough,given that its size would be limited to about 18 inches square.

I am very frugal with power on the boat.VHF doesnt need to be on all day .And we have a camping lantern for evenings.Best idea is stay in the pub until your ready to sleep!

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[alisdair4]

William,

The reason that I think it is dangerous is that I am using a standard (ie, non-maritime) battery charger croc-clipped to the battery, at the end of an outdoor power cable.

Maybe dangerous is the wrong word - inconvenient and prone to error may be better. If you can point me in the direction of smarter way of doing the shore power (such as hard-wiring it with a through-deck fitting) I'd be grateful.

This last doesn't sound too great, because I don't know where or how I would earth the plug for the shore power.

Any ideas?

Alisdair

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