I have just purchased a 343. I love the boat, but have reservations about the frig/freezer system. I keep my boat on a mooring and not at a dock with shorepower. Can anyone relate their experiences with the frig. What battery size necessary? How useful is the system when cruising,away from shorepower?
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Need extra batteries
Hi, James, I keep my 343 on shorepower. I have some extra batteris (golf-carts) with a total of 400 Ah. I can can go 3 days at anchor (Pacific Northwest Summer Temperatures) without hitting a 50% discharge. The fridge being the main draw. You may try here. There are others who keep their 343 on moorings. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau343/ Cheers Axel
Hi, James, I keep my 343 on shorepower. I have some extra batteris (golf-carts) with a total of 400 Ah. I can can go 3 days at anchor (Pacific Northwest Summer Temperatures) without hitting a 50% discharge. The fridge being the main draw. You may try here. There are others who keep their 343 on moorings. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau343/ Cheers Axel
Do the math
That fridge/freezer system uses about 5 amps when running. In Miami it might run more than 50% of the time as the insulation in Beneteaus is not the best. In addition if yours is anything like mine was before being fixed, there is a lot of loss from poor seals in the fridge door and freezer lid. If you have a 200 amp house battery that fridge will draw down the battery to 50% in less than two days. I cruise six months a year in the Bahamas and love my fridge/freezer but I have 450 amps house batteries and a wind generator and a Honda EU2000i for when the wind dies. If you want to keep the fridge on and stay on a mooring I think your best bet will be a larger battery bank and 2 or 3 large solar panels. The problem is this is going to be pricey, probably more than $2000 when you factor in mounting hardware and a good regulator. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/ beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group
That fridge/freezer system uses about 5 amps when running. In Miami it might run more than 50% of the time as the insulation in Beneteaus is not the best. In addition if yours is anything like mine was before being fixed, there is a lot of loss from poor seals in the fridge door and freezer lid. If you have a 200 amp house battery that fridge will draw down the battery to 50% in less than two days. I cruise six months a year in the Bahamas and love my fridge/freezer but I have 450 amps house batteries and a wind generator and a Honda EU2000i for when the wind dies. If you want to keep the fridge on and stay on a mooring I think your best bet will be a larger battery bank and 2 or 3 large solar panels. The problem is this is going to be pricey, probably more than $2000 when you factor in mounting hardware and a good regulator. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/ beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group
Rick is right.
You will need at least 4 golf cart batteries and 320 watts of solar and a controller. I had this last season on my 393 in Connecticut and it was marginal. With the more intense sun and longer duration, that wattage should be sufficient This year I increased my solar to 420 watts and the fridge ran from May to October without a hitch. Jim
You will need at least 4 golf cart batteries and 320 watts of solar and a controller. I had this last season on my 393 in Connecticut and it was marginal. With the more intense sun and longer duration, that wattage should be sufficient This year I increased my solar to 420 watts and the fridge ran from May to October without a hitch. Jim
Honda EU2000 generator
Hey Rick, I saw that you are using a Honda Eu2000i generator. I have one that I use with my Beneteau 361. When you are charging your batteries with it, do you use the 12 vold cord or wire it through your charger at 110 volts? Also, where do you place the generator - on the swim platform or under the helm seat? Thanks, Agaliha
Hey Rick, I saw that you are using a Honda Eu2000i generator. I have one that I use with my Beneteau 361. When you are charging your batteries with it, do you use the 12 vold cord or wire it through your charger at 110 volts? Also, where do you place the generator - on the swim platform or under the helm seat? Thanks, Agaliha
Agaliha, just plug it in
I have a short extension cord and a 15/30 amp cheater and plug it into my main AC shorepower receptacle. I charge the batteries through my inverter/charger which puts out 100 amps. The secret of charging with the Honda is to get as big a charger as you can. Run time is greatly reduced. You cannot charge batteries with the 12v coming out of the Honda. Just plug the AC into your boat's AC system. Works like a charm and can't be beat for an economical system. Sometimes I place the Honda on a side deck, sometimes on the swim platform. I put it on a sheet of closed cell foam, helps to absorb vibration. I don't put it in the cockpit because carbon monoxide might get into the boat.
I have a short extension cord and a 15/30 amp cheater and plug it into my main AC shorepower receptacle. I charge the batteries through my inverter/charger which puts out 100 amps. The secret of charging with the Honda is to get as big a charger as you can. Run time is greatly reduced. You cannot charge batteries with the 12v coming out of the Honda. Just plug the AC into your boat's AC system. Works like a charm and can't be beat for an economical system. Sometimes I place the Honda on a side deck, sometimes on the swim platform. I put it on a sheet of closed cell foam, helps to absorb vibration. I don't put it in the cockpit because carbon monoxide might get into the boat.
Hoda tips
Thanks for the Honda tips, Rick. I think I will get a converter cord to do what you are doing. I assume you are storing the generator in your lazarette while sailing? Agaliha
Thanks for the Honda tips, Rick. I think I will get a converter cord to do what you are doing. I assume you are storing the generator in your lazarette while sailing? Agaliha
Another generator question
While I am trying to keep my frig up, has anyone had experience running a 12,000BTU air conditioner useing the Honda 2000i? I there enough power for the start up?
While I am trying to keep my frig up, has anyone had experience running a 12,000BTU air conditioner useing the Honda 2000i? I there enough power for the start up?
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