Got to use it all
I went through the workings of power and how to get it and keep it without stress.. The wind charger stayed(four winds) and I added 300 watts of solar atop the bimini and I store it all in 8 ea-4d gell cells. But I do like the comforts of home while cruising.. The wife and I are Photographers so We have a complete Meda Center for processing photos and video.. I also like long hot showers so a spectra watermaker was installed in the forward water closet.. We also have a three stage charging system on motor. This is all packaged in a neet little First 42 of mid 80s vintage. We've found that one system lacks enough to keep the boat operating smooth but with all three systems, things work well.. when the clouds hang overhead or winter months come about, the solar lacks the output to keep all charging up.. and sometimes the winds dont blow so the wind charger lacks..And we have to fire the motor up. We've found that even in following winds we still have a fair charge rate on the wind charger and one 24 hour day at anchor, we measured over 300 amps recieved from the four winds.. you wont find that in a solar panel. and as for noise......THATS THE SOUND OF MONEY...... Normally, we shut down everything at night while at anchor and let the batteries balance themselves. In the morning we'll fire the motor up for a half hour to top off the system and warm the waterheater, at the same time well kick on the watermaker to top off the tanks, and cook breakfast using the inverter if needed.. The rest of the day, the power is kept up by the wind and solar.. and uasally in the evenings we'll watch a movie or two, using the 110 off the inverter for power.... I manage the whole system between 13 and 14 volts.. another note and it might interest you.. placement of the battries.. I've mounted them in places where there needed the most, 4 of them are under the nave station, 1 is under the windless, one next to the watermaker, and 2 in the rear quarter next the the smart pilot for the autohelm drive system.. All are conected with very large cable.. The idea is that I have maximum voltage at the place wher I need it... A couple years or so ago I burnt out a windlass because the power needed was being pulled 30 feet from the batteries.. when the voltage was checked, we only had 9 volts while the system was pulling hard... by mounting one of the battries under the windless.. we've got a full 14 volts at all times.. Randy on R3
