Night navigation battery recharging

[smokey73]

I turn up the fridge temperature at night since it won't be opened, and I leave the door open under the sink where the fridge compressor moves heat to the fridge.

Like Ron says, make sure you have good air flow across the refrigerator compressor coils and the coils are cleaned regularly and the fan works to move air across the heat exchanger.

There is a "plug in" smart controller that will fit most of the standard refrigerators and freezers that does some neat stuff with energy conservation. When you are on the engine or external power (higher voltage) the smart controller runs the compressor at full speed and lowers the temperature in the refrigerator, thereby "storing cold" in the items in the refrigerator. Then when it senses the external power is no longer available it goes into a "conserve energy" mode and raises the temp to a higher (but still safe) temp.

 

[Valerio]

sad but true, wife get seasick with reading, kids get boring without electronics. wife alway ask me were is the fun in sailing, time on board for me pass flying, i just want to make life easer for them, so i can be with family sailing.

 

[SG]

Simply raising the temperature over night in the fridge, will delay the amp hour use -- but it won't solve the problem. Up and back down will end-up the using pretty much the same amp hours.

Valerio,

You don't have to apologize for enjoying yourself and keeping your family happy while doing so. ;^)))

 

[Kings Gambit]

There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.

A stupid question might be one that has already been correctly answered.

 

[Kings Gambit]

sad but true, wife get seasick with reading, kids get boring without electronics. wife alway ask me were is the fun in sailing, time on board for me pass flying, i just want to make life easer for them, so i can be with family sailing.

Introduce them, the kids, to watch-standing rotations. They won't need so much other stuff. Also, work on them at home; don't let them be consumed by "electronic" entertainment to begin with, etc. If reading does not work for wife, ask her to try books on tape, etc. A boat, sailing, routine is not the same as the one at home. Don't permit the family to attempt to take that home routine to sea "for comfort." Introduce them to a sea routine. You're the captain out there, etc.

 

[justsomeguy]

A stupid question might be one that has already been correctly answered.

Uh, welcome to the internet?

 

[jeepbluetj]

$2200 for a new bank? Guessin gold plated AGMs. I'd go to Costco in Mérida and pick up 4 GC2s for around $400 total and have a 440 AH bank that could easily run the fridge, nav lights, etc, all night. (Assuming costcos in mx sell batteries)

Running an engine or genset every three hours because the batteries have been killed is kinda silly to me.

 

[Valerio]

$2200 for a new bank? Guessin gold plated AGMs. I'd go to Costco in Mérida and pick up 4 GC2s for around $400 total and have a 440 AH bank that could easily run the fridge, nav lights, etc, all night. (Assuming costcos in mx sell batteries)

Running an engine or genset every three hours because the batteries have been killed is kinda silly to me.

6 battery Trojan 6 volts l16h -ac will fit under the nav seat and i can use 600 amp at 50% discharge will set you back 2200.
No good AMG battery in cosco merida.

 

[justsomeguy]

will set you back 2200.

Pesos or dollars?

 

[Maine Sail]

6 battery Trojan 6 volts l16h -ac will fit under the nav seat and i can use 600 amp at 50% discharge will set you back 2200.
No good AMG battery in cosco merida.

$2200.00 for six L16's is not too bad south of the boarder. I had to ship six L16's to a customer in Panama a couple of years ago and shipping alone was $812.00, not to mention all the other ways they sting you..

 

[smokey73]

sad but true, wife get seasick with reading, kids get boring without electronics. wife alway ask me were is the fun in sailing, time on board for me pass flying, i just want to make life easer for them, so i can be with family sailing.

Nothing wrong with wanting to be with the family and having them want to be along with you. I have made changes to the boat for that very reason. I'm even installing a Raritan Electric Flush toilet as we speak so my wife will "enjoy" the experience, so to speak. With the exception of the TV/DVD players and the like, it seems most of the "entertainment" loads could be managed with extra batteries for those units that can be charged at home and brought with them. Have you tried watching TV/DVDs on a computer instead of powering it through the house batteries and an inverter. Hopefully you can get back down to the basic navigation loads. Not sure what to do with the refrigerator and freezer though other than try and make sure insulation/seals are tight and using ice where you can. Seems like a battery upgrade may be in order but until you get a handle on the power demand it is probably a real uphill battle for you

Good luck and "sail on"