Are you able to use the air conditioning and refrigeration when you are not connected to shore power? If so how long can you run it? Do you need to buy a generator? What TV is best to buy for cruising? Should it be battery operated?
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Ron Hughes
Crux of the energy question
Lynn, you have cut to the heart of the cruiser's energy question. Air and refridgeration are the 2 largest draws of energy aboard. Air uses so much power that it is almost impossible to have large enough batteries to run it for any length of time. For air a generator of a capacity at least as large as the draw of the air conditioner is required. It usually runs on diesel as diesel has the most energy packed inside it of any of the sources available to cruisers. The current thinking (largest amount of new set-ups) on refridgeration, however, is to use 12 volts to drive the compressor motor(s). Batteries are commonly rated in amp hours (ah). The more ah you have, the longer you can run a motor or a light bulb, or whatever. Because of the way they are, you can only use about 1/2 of the battery's capacity before you must recharge it. So basically, you have to have a source of energy, (generator, engine alternator, wind generator, solar panel, or dock side battery charger). A large enough place to store it (battery). And not so much stuff to use it up too soon so that you are charging all of the time, (which would bring us back to a generator again, you have a viable system. An inverter attached to your batteries would make it possible to have 110 volt energy at sea too, but converting 12 volt battery power to 110 uses a lot of battery power in a very short time if you are running something like an air conditioner. Many more intelligent folks than I have written books and articles on this subject. I have tried to distill it down to a few paragraphs to give you the gist. Look at Nigel Caulder's books and articles, contact Jack Rabbit Marine, or ask at your local chandlery about batteries, inverters, loads, and generation. Good luck, I hope this effort at over simplification is of some assistance along your way. READ ALOT! Ron
Lynn, you have cut to the heart of the cruiser's energy question. Air and refridgeration are the 2 largest draws of energy aboard. Air uses so much power that it is almost impossible to have large enough batteries to run it for any length of time. For air a generator of a capacity at least as large as the draw of the air conditioner is required. It usually runs on diesel as diesel has the most energy packed inside it of any of the sources available to cruisers. The current thinking (largest amount of new set-ups) on refridgeration, however, is to use 12 volts to drive the compressor motor(s). Batteries are commonly rated in amp hours (ah). The more ah you have, the longer you can run a motor or a light bulb, or whatever. Because of the way they are, you can only use about 1/2 of the battery's capacity before you must recharge it. So basically, you have to have a source of energy, (generator, engine alternator, wind generator, solar panel, or dock side battery charger). A large enough place to store it (battery). And not so much stuff to use it up too soon so that you are charging all of the time, (which would bring us back to a generator again, you have a viable system. An inverter attached to your batteries would make it possible to have 110 volt energy at sea too, but converting 12 volt battery power to 110 uses a lot of battery power in a very short time if you are running something like an air conditioner. Many more intelligent folks than I have written books and articles on this subject. I have tried to distill it down to a few paragraphs to give you the gist. Look at Nigel Caulder's books and articles, contact Jack Rabbit Marine, or ask at your local chandlery about batteries, inverters, loads, and generation. Good luck, I hope this effort at over simplification is of some assistance along your way. READ ALOT! Ron
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Phil Williams
DC Refrigeration
You most certainly can run your refrigeration away from the dock. The response that Ron gave was very well done. There are many ways of replacing the energy your appliances will consume and one of the best people to ask is Jack Rabbit Marine. He has put together more packages for cruisers than anyone I know. Do not try to run an airconditioning system on battery power. You will get your self into trouble and spend huge amounts of money to accomplish it. Invest in some good fans and a refrigeration system to make ice for your drinks.
You most certainly can run your refrigeration away from the dock. The response that Ron gave was very well done. There are many ways of replacing the energy your appliances will consume and one of the best people to ask is Jack Rabbit Marine. He has put together more packages for cruisers than anyone I know. Do not try to run an airconditioning system on battery power. You will get your self into trouble and spend huge amounts of money to accomplish it. Invest in some good fans and a refrigeration system to make ice for your drinks.
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Ralph Johnstone
Television ? ? ? ? ?
Why would you be interested in the best TV for cruising ? One goes cruising to get away from TV ! Cheers, s/v Island Hunter
Why would you be interested in the best TV for cruising ? One goes cruising to get away from TV ! Cheers, s/v Island Hunter
Ralph J...
Now Ralph goes cruising to get away from T.V. I go to get away from phones, yard work, house work................... What does everyone else try to get away from?
Now Ralph goes cruising to get away from T.V. I go to get away from phones, yard work, house work................... What does everyone else try to get away from?
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LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
Cars!
It's definitely a unique sensation to get into a car & go 60 mph after a month of going about 5 mph! Don't miss traffic jams or idiot drivers! ;-) BTW, best TV for cruising? A small one that is capable of running off AC & DC and has a built in VCR. Hit your nearest Circuit City & they'll be happy to sell you one! LaDonna
It's definitely a unique sensation to get into a car & go 60 mph after a month of going about 5 mph! Don't miss traffic jams or idiot drivers! ;-) BTW, best TV for cruising? A small one that is capable of running off AC & DC and has a built in VCR. Hit your nearest Circuit City & they'll be happy to sell you one! LaDonna
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Michael Cohn
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