I have been thinking about what to do to generate 12 volt while cruising , other than the alternator on the diesel. I would love to hear your opinions and experiences with solar and wind generators. I really don't want to do both. If you could choose only one, which would it be? Did you do your own installation? How did that go? Thanks.
Generating 12 volt.
- Thread starter Liam
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Solar
Simpler, less moving parts. Installation: mount panel, connect two wires to house bank. Finished.
Simpler, less moving parts. Installation: mount panel, connect two wires to house bank. Finished.
The method that you choose will depend
upon several factors. Sailing time versus stopped time. Average wind speed in your region. If I were planning really long voyages I would consider trailing a spinner that would turn a generator. On the NE coast of North America wind may be more abundant than sunshine. Here on the Chesapeake we have to motor so much that it is a non-starter.
upon several factors. Sailing time versus stopped time. Average wind speed in your region. If I were planning really long voyages I would consider trailing a spinner that would turn a generator. On the NE coast of North America wind may be more abundant than sunshine. Here on the Chesapeake we have to motor so much that it is a non-starter.
Solar Panel installation
Liam See my solar panel installation project in the "NEW KNOWLEDGEBASE" section on this web's home page. Go to Hunter 386, then modifications. There I've posted what I did to install a 130 watt Kyocera panel over the bimini. Beware, any panel over a few watts need a charge controller on it. Otherwise you risk cooking your batteries. It's a nice installation and takes away any worries about "are my batteries full?"
Liam See my solar panel installation project in the "NEW KNOWLEDGEBASE" section on this web's home page. Go to Hunter 386, then modifications. There I've posted what I did to install a 130 watt Kyocera panel over the bimini. Beware, any panel over a few watts need a charge controller on it. Otherwise you risk cooking your batteries. It's a nice installation and takes away any worries about "are my batteries full?"
wind and sun
From a $$$ standpoint a bigger alternator is the way to go. It is cheaper by far. Next comes wind generators. These work while under way but once you get to that snug little cove out of the wind, well you are out of the wind. Last from a dollars standpoint is solar. It works under sail and anchor if you choose the right spot for it and as long as the sun shines.....wait a minuet the sun only shines 1/2 the day. There is no simple solution. The cheapest way to develop a system that works for you is to eliminate as many loads as possible so you don't have to have massive generating capability. Once you have your loads you can balance the battery storage and the production so as to get a system that works. I (being a geek at work) worked up an excel spreadsheet that does just this. It takes the number crunching out of the analysis and lets you play around with the variables. drop me a line at roosaw@verizon.net if you want a copy
From a $$$ standpoint a bigger alternator is the way to go. It is cheaper by far. Next comes wind generators. These work while under way but once you get to that snug little cove out of the wind, well you are out of the wind. Last from a dollars standpoint is solar. It works under sail and anchor if you choose the right spot for it and as long as the sun shines.....wait a minuet the sun only shines 1/2 the day. There is no simple solution. The cheapest way to develop a system that works for you is to eliminate as many loads as possible so you don't have to have massive generating capability. Once you have your loads you can balance the battery storage and the production so as to get a system that works. I (being a geek at work) worked up an excel spreadsheet that does just this. It takes the number crunching out of the analysis and lets you play around with the variables. drop me a line at roosaw@verizon.net if you want a copy
Agree with Ross
In designing an electrical load-storage-production system, the loads drive all the rest. If you want to have a washer and dryer you are going to be forced into decisions that someone who only has an anchor light will never even consider. The act of reducing your load by adding insulation to the reefer, going to LED cabin, nav, and anchor lights, building a rain catchment system instead of running a reverse osmotic water maker...... This is the path to electrical self sufficiency. A dollar spent reducing the loads is well spent.
In designing an electrical load-storage-production system, the loads drive all the rest. If you want to have a washer and dryer you are going to be forced into decisions that someone who only has an anchor light will never even consider. The act of reducing your load by adding insulation to the reefer, going to LED cabin, nav, and anchor lights, building a rain catchment system instead of running a reverse osmotic water maker...... This is the path to electrical self sufficiency. A dollar spent reducing the loads is well spent.
Kyocera Panel; Price?
Ron, How much did that 130 watt panel cost, and could you reveal your source? How many watts does it put out on an average day? Just like the household power equation, less draw (conservation) is the best, cheapest, and easiest approach to generation. It's easy to make enough power for lights, especially if you invest in LED bulbs. Nav equipment doesn't draw a lot if you keep it simple. Computer, stereo... getting up there for easy solar. Autopilot can be a killer if you use it more than a couple of hours a day.
Ron, How much did that 130 watt panel cost, and could you reveal your source? How many watts does it put out on an average day? Just like the household power equation, less draw (conservation) is the best, cheapest, and easiest approach to generation. It's easy to make enough power for lights, especially if you invest in LED bulbs. Nav equipment doesn't draw a lot if you keep it simple. Computer, stereo... getting up there for easy solar. Autopilot can be a killer if you use it more than a couple of hours a day.
Wind...
...for us was a far better generator of amps than solar in several years of caribe cruising. We had 160watts of panels and are 4winds large blade wind vane. On average we got about 100a/h daily from this set up with the solar only generating 1/3 of this. I think with the newer mppt solar controllers we might have gotten 10a/h or so more a day. I think that only LARGE blade wind gens are capable of appreciable output in the 8-15 knots that is typical in many anchorages. Everything works great in 20 knots but you may only see that once in a great while. Obviously...the choice of wind or solar depends on your location and how much solar you can fit on your boat and pay for...but I would divide rated watts by 3 to guestimate amp/hours delivered by panels on average. Plan your electtical needs and then plan your charging system accordingly. You only mentioned wind and solar...but a lot of folks are now using the little Honda type portable generators to charge batteries. Pretty cheap and efficient if a bit noisy.
...for us was a far better generator of amps than solar in several years of caribe cruising. We had 160watts of panels and are 4winds large blade wind vane. On average we got about 100a/h daily from this set up with the solar only generating 1/3 of this. I think with the newer mppt solar controllers we might have gotten 10a/h or so more a day. I think that only LARGE blade wind gens are capable of appreciable output in the 8-15 knots that is typical in many anchorages. Everything works great in 20 knots but you may only see that once in a great while. Obviously...the choice of wind or solar depends on your location and how much solar you can fit on your boat and pay for...but I would divide rated watts by 3 to guestimate amp/hours delivered by panels on average. Plan your electtical needs and then plan your charging system accordingly. You only mentioned wind and solar...but a lot of folks are now using the little Honda type portable generators to charge batteries. Pretty cheap and efficient if a bit noisy.
Our boat came with two 8D wet cell...
house bank batteries rated at 240 amps each, a group 24 starter battery and a 8kw Onan Genset. Although we have increased the onboard electronics (GPS chart plotter, DVD player, diesel furnace, etc.) since taking ownership five years ago we still manage our amp hour consumption to around 48 hours before recharging. We prefer spending our mooring time on the hook or buoy and after a couple of days the house bank will draw down to around 12 volts. At that point I run the genset for two hours to heat water for washing and cleaning, and filling up the house bank with amp hours. So far this routine has worked for our PNW cruising needs. Terry
house bank batteries rated at 240 amps each, a group 24 starter battery and a 8kw Onan Genset. Although we have increased the onboard electronics (GPS chart plotter, DVD player, diesel furnace, etc.) since taking ownership five years ago we still manage our amp hour consumption to around 48 hours before recharging. We prefer spending our mooring time on the hook or buoy and after a couple of days the house bank will draw down to around 12 volts. At that point I run the genset for two hours to heat water for washing and cleaning, and filling up the house bank with amp hours. So far this routine has worked for our PNW cruising needs. Terry
For a small amount of light you get more light
for less money with a kerosine lamp than by burning diesel fuel to charge a battery to power a light bulb. If you don't need to be able to read then you don't need bright lights. Define your "needs" carefully and keep them separate from your "wants".
for less money with a kerosine lamp than by burning diesel fuel to charge a battery to power a light bulb. If you don't need to be able to read then you don't need bright lights. Define your "needs" carefully and keep them separate from your "wants".
cheap generators
are noisy generators. If you have any consideration for your neighbors in the anchorage, get a proper sound-attenuated system. They are expensive. It sucks to be in a secluded anchorage with a generator running on one boat so that they can watch tv...been there had that done to us plenty.
are noisy generators. If you have any consideration for your neighbors in the anchorage, get a proper sound-attenuated system. They are expensive. It sucks to be in a secluded anchorage with a generator running on one boat so that they can watch tv...been there had that done to us plenty.
Solar Panel Costs
Fred, Check Alternate Energy Store on line or Northern Arizonia Sun and Wind. The Kyocera 130 watt panel was around $609.00. It puts out the advertised 7.39 amps, assuming your batteries can take that much at once. I'm very pleased with the whole system.
Fred, Check Alternate Energy Store on line or Northern Arizonia Sun and Wind. The Kyocera 130 watt panel was around $609.00. It puts out the advertised 7.39 amps, assuming your batteries can take that much at once. I'm very pleased with the whole system.
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