Hair Dryer 12V

[timvg]

Didn't mean to offend, just my warped humor about the shower thing.

Just be considerate to others when using the generator. Not everyone is into camping on a boat. I choose to relax when I have some time away from work and if i wish to take a shower, I will use the generator. I happen to get ignored by powerboats and their wakes, but it is a fact of boating life, so I deal with it. I don't like the sound of rap music on a neighbor's boat, but I can deal with it. There are many compromises and people are all different. No one owns the anchorage. If you don't like where you are, you can always move. I've had to move several times because someone was idling their smoky engine. I survived the relocation. I've had to move because someone anchored too close to me. Just be grateful, that you actually have the time and means to do some boating. A bad day on a boat is better than a good day sitting in the office.

 

[Gail R]

If you wish to smell, that's your business.

Nice personal attack. So you are saying that those of us who choose to not to foul the anchorage with a generator (which puts out its own not-so-sweet aroma) are neglecting our own personal hygiene? There are ways to clean up without firing up your Honda. But I supposed a Sun Shower is beneath you and way too uncivilized.

 

[Tim R.]

Yeah, I let Gail on our boat once....just once

 

[Gail R]

Yeah, I let Gail on our boat once....just once

Still trying to get the smell out, right?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Nice personal attack. So you are saying that those of us who choose to not to foul the anchorage with a generator (which puts out its own not-so-sweet aroma) are neglecting our own personal hygiene? There are ways to clean up without firing up your Honda. But I supposed a Sun Shower is beneath you and way too uncivilized.

This isn't a question about who's values supersede that of others and there is no need to get defensive. We all try to coexist and be considerate and some here to too quick to believe otherwise.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Wow, has this thread drifted. My wife uses her microwave, toaster oven, hair dryer, and enjoys hot water for her shower. We use a french press for coffee making. She isn't high maintenance but we liveaboard and I feel she should have the same conveniences whether at the dock or at anchor. Why don't we look at some real loads these conveniences require:

Hair dryer - 1500 watts @ 120 VAC = 12.5 Amps
Microwave - 1500 watts @ 120 VAC = 12.5 Amps
Hot water heater - 1200 watts @ 120 VAC = 10 Amps
Toaster Oven - 1200 watts @ 120 VAC = 10 Amps

Amp draw converted to DC amps at nominal 12.5 Volts, assumes inverter efficency at 90%:

Hair dryer - 1500 watts @ 12.5 DC = 132 Amps
Microwave - 1500 watts @ 12.5 DC = 132 Amps
Hot water heater - 1200 watts @ 12.5 DC = 106 Amps
Toaster Oven - 1200 watts @ 12.5 DC = 106 Amps

OK, now amp hours for the above:
Hair dryer - 1500 watts @ 12.5 DC = 132 Amps for 10 minutes = 22 ah
Microwave - 1500 watts @ 12.5 DC = 132 Amps for 3 minutes = 6.6 ah
Hot water heater - 1200 watts @ 12.5 DC = 106 Amps for 20 minutes = 35.3 ah (11 gal capacity - showers for 2)
Toaster Oven - 1200 watts @ 12.5 DC = 106 Amps for 5 minutes = 8.8 ah

Total Amp hours for all these devices = 72.7 ah. So it would seem to me a battery bank of 400 ah or so to allow for a 50% draw down and a 2000 watt inverter would allow us to run theses conveniences. These are worst case because the microwave, water heater, etc. aren't used every day. BTW, these amperages are very close to what I experience aboard our boat when anchored out. Yeah, it is scary to look at the Link battery monitor when the water heater is on and see a 130 amp load!!

Real world experience aboard our boat shows we can easily go over a 3 day weekend and accumulate an amp hour deficit of about 200 to 225 amp hours per our Link battery meter. All without any noise.

There are a couple of assumptions unstated in the above, one being that no two items can be run concurrently. The other being the total time at anchor without recharging becoming necessary which ignores all the other little power demands that accululate.

When one adds to this the time required to recharge that 400 amp bank with a typical alternator, you'd be running your engine most of the day - with the noise, smell, etc.

 

[sailingdog]

Amen to that...

A bad day on a boat is better than a good day sitting in the office.

 

[Phantomsailor]

There are a couple of assumptions unstated in the above, one being that no two items can be run concurrently. The other being the total time at anchor without recharging becoming necessary which ignores all the other little power demands that accululate.

When one adds to this the time required to recharge that 400 amp bank with a typical alternator, you'd be running your engine most of the day - with the noise, smell, etc.

I thought it was obvious you could not run these items concurrently but you're right, I should have stated that. Heck, even on shore power you can only "pick 2, any 2".

The assumption I should have stated was the scenario is for a typical weekend/3 day weekend. It should be possible to anchor, have the conveniences, and not have to recharge. In this scenario, complete recharge would be achieved after arriving home and reconnecting to shore power. The 200 to 225 ah deficit is real world experience running a reefer, lighting, stereo, anchor light and the occasional shower/hair dryer. So the scenario allows for all the other little demands that accumulate.

I believe weekend/long weekend is the way most of us use our boats. Wouldn't work if your home berth is a mooring, etc. unless you had solar and/or wind.

I don't even know what a "typical" alternator is anymore. If you're talking about alternators with automotive style regulators then yes, it would take forever to charge the battery bank. With a small frame alternator with an external 3 step regulator, it should be possible to recharge 200 or so Amp hours in less than 3 hours. Discharge to 50%, recharge to 80%.

 

[Rick Webb]

Will the Microwave Work...

as a hair dryer? I guess the trick would be getting the door closed.

 

[Phantomsailor]

as a hair dryer? I guess the trick would be getting the door closed.

 

[Bad Obsession]

We ordered the really powerful 12 volt hair drier from Amazon and we had to order a powerstrip to go with it. I guess I will have to develop a way to hook the power strip into the system. I may go really technical and use very large aligator clips to put it to the battery when needed.

 

[Scott B]

So.... now we add Hair Dryer to the list of hot topics......

Anchors - Rocna all the way
In mast Furling - absolutely
Coffee making - cone drip
Hair dryers -

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

So.... now we add Hair Dryer to the list of hot topics......

Anchors - Rocna all the way
In mast Furling - absolutely
Coffee making - cone drip
Hair dryers -

dare I add Honda 2000 to your list

 

[Bad Obsession]

Well....Since this got so hot anyone want to bring up Brand Loyality and say which brand of boat is better? LOL

 

[LuzSD]

Wow!! and I thought the guy was just interested in helping his gal get dry hair......
I am sticking with my recommendation of favorite hats, assorted bandanas and imperfect mirrors. And a couple mai tais.......

 

[LuzSD]

Well....Since this got so hot anyone want to bring up Brand Loyality and say which brand of boat is better? LOL

sure, Catalina 30 of course.

 

[Larry Stange]

My wife has a 120-volt hair dryer and we just us the 2000 walt inverter.It takes about 15amps out of the batterys.Not bad ,the small shop vacum works also great and use`s the same.

 

[zeehag]

i have researched the sound of the honda generators--eu2000- -- they areNOT audible at a distance of 80 ft from the boat on which they are being used.
i have long hair--i use no hair dryer--i used to be a hair dryer addict--now i have healthy hair--go figger--in cold weather-sin diego gets 38 degree days in winter--yes, i live aboard--i tie it in a knot on my head and is all good--if i am still cold i will add a towel or a watch cap to the tied up hair. the breezed blowing is dryer enough for me.
no--i donot camp out on my boat--i have a 41 formosa. i want nothing but it to function properly and be out of sin diego!!! i refuse to have a micro wave or a tv on my boat--same with an electyric coffee maker--despite the fact i love my krupps espresso maker!!! (78 AMPS/HR USE !!! WONT HAVE IT ON BOARD LOL...) lol i also grind beans by hand and use a 1 cup cone filter for making my coffee--lol----

 

[Ed Hart]

All good spirit and answers. Some things are just fun to have in life. Make sure it's a really good hair dryer (and maybe also a curling iron). Look hard and careful. 110 volts and some amps/watts give a lot of options. Then maybe she could chose.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Wow.....Ducati....that was quite tactful. Why not insult us more for trying to make this easier on our loved ones and give them a few comforts?

The drier and the power strip still haven't shown up yet. I will give you a guys a report on how it does when we get to use it. It probably won't be until the end of this month.