Wireless Masthead Wind Instrument

[Clemo]

A question for you sailors who have long cold winters.

I have bought a set of Nexus instruments, including a wireless mast head transducer.

The unit has a small, 2 cell, rechargable battery and a little solar panel to keep it charged.

I'm wondering if, before I go sailing, should I charge up the battery by giving it, say 48 hours under a desk lamp.

With the winters that you Northern US and UK sailors have, do you have to manage this type of instrument's battery so that its charged up and ready to go come the warm weather?

The fellow who sold it to me said not to worry about our winters, it was made in Sweeden where they have real winters, if it works there it will work here. But he was probably not thinking of a trailer sailor.

I'm not leaving the mast head unit on the mast while the mast is down. Too much of a temptation for some passing idiot, and a big hastle for me to replace. So I'm storing the unit indoors.

Thanks for any input.

C ya,
Clemo.

[NiceAft]

I am by far not an expert in this area, so what I am about to espouse is purely my logic.

The question you asked was if you should charge the batteries before using the unit. My question is whether the solar charging unit is to only charge the batteries, or does it also run the unit? If it only charges the batteries, then you have to charge them first If the solar unit also runs the device, then you should not have a problem. It may take a few moments to get some power into the system, but it should work.

The batteries on that unit have a life of about 3 - 4 years. I was always told to let rechargeable batteries go completely dead because if you don't, you will shorten the life of the batteries. If that is true, then you should not have a problem with the unit if you let them totally discharge. I think it has come time to contact the manufacturer directly.

Ray

[Bumpcity]

Hey Clemo,

Once you figure it out I would love to see pics and maybe you can attach the web page for this device...do you know if there is a masthead light that could be attached to the solar panel?

Thanks,

Lorenzo

[Wa2paa]

Hello Clemo,

Wow nice stuff @ the "Nexus Instruments" web site , Gee I like the European touch in electronics, as it seen from a different perspective.
I wonder, which system you went with, as they all seem so tempting... Can become rather expensive, if not careful.

Have been using , for the past 5 years "TackTick Wireless analog wind instrument MicroNet series, with great results. Use it for 6 Months during spring & summer on the East Coast of the USA, near New York.

The wind "chicken, and rotary cups" up top on the mast...has its own mini-solar panel built in... and keep the (upper device fully charged), The (lower Analog-receiver Display, also has a mini-solar panel built in. In 5 Years of use, there has never been a time where I had to charge the device , via Lamp or just placing it in the sun thru a Window in the off season.

In fact, this season... after 5 years: just replaced the Wind-Pointer & Bearings, and New rotary cups = about $100.00 usd : just standard maintenance.

So in summary: Yes Good call, not to leave the Mast Wind Sender on for the crooks, and also very Fragile & Expensive to replace.
Don't worry about charging off season... just put on a Window Ledge for a few days...



Best Regards & Happy New Year 2009
Jack

[Clemo]

Thanks 4 the replies, guys.

Ray, the unit runs 24/7 so the solar panel has to do enough through the day to run it at night.

The manufacturer has assured me that the unit will run ok on Australian sunshine, which is no different to their sunshine, just more of it. But the manufactruer was a bit confused when I said that I lower the mast for extended periods of time. He wasn't thinking trailer sailor.

Lorenzo, the solar panel is about 4x1 inches. It is dedicated to the wind instrument so no masthead light there.

I will try to post pics of the final set up. The web site for Nexus Marine is www.nexusmarine.se and they do have some nice stuff.

But on that subject: There is a fashion here in Australia for people to have solar powered lights by the path in the front garden. I expect that some boat place is selling the same with LEDs for masthead, steaming and rear lights, I just havn't seen their advertisment yet.

& Jack, that is exactly what I wanted to hear. If your Tac-Tic picks up where it left off, after your New Jersey winters, I'm sure my Nexus will also. I have the Start Pack 3 giving the Sea Data (depth, paddle wheel log water temp) and the mast head Wind Data. (True, Apparent, Strength, barametric etc.)

My dials are to the left of the companion way, my compass is to the right. The through hull is under the galley of my X.

thanks again 4 the input guys,
you have been a great help.

Tks
C ya
Clemo

[Wa2paa]

Good Description of Your install

Clemo: The TackTick, Micronet series : Display is a Clip-On Device
and the
Mast Top Wind Chicken and Paddles are attached to the mast head, by One Stainess Steel Hose Clamp.

So in summary, when finished day sailing the : Display Head gets removed, and goes Home:
End If Season, Mast Comes Down, and one nutdriver, and Chicken is removed and it with the Display go Home for the Winter.
The Micronet Kit, has never been out for the winter months. when the Boat is Winterized, and Shrink Wrapped

I think next season to wire into Wireless NMEA device, and attach to Chartplotter , and possible Auto Pilot.
In the part collection stages now
More to Follow:
Jack

[J.Teixeira]

Hi

I have a Nexus Start Pack 3 on mi Dehler.

[img]http://www.nexusmarine.se/template ... 1B06D81C9}

I did also buy the Server system for PC connection

http://www.nexusmarine.se/upload/marine ... manual.pdf

and installed it with a ASUS R300 GPS laptop with the Nexus software

http://www.nexusmarine.se/upload/marine ... _8soft.htm

Download and play its very impressive...

http://www.nexusmarine.se/upload/marine ... _R1.05.zip

I did remove the wind system to mi and run some testing

It is a superb toy but I did get very strange readings on tacking i verified that if not very well tunned our will move sideways a lot more than we can imagine.

A wireless system seems to be a good idea for our trailerable boats but the server computer part seems to me like instaling a Ferrari display in a WW...

I is a great system an works fine. On mi Dehler 23 racer...

The starter kit (only) may be a good idea for our due to wiring.

Best Regards

JT

PS: I am a Military Communication Engineer and I can tell you that those systems are complex to install and configure...

[Clemo]

Tks JT for your input.

I agree with you, the computer interface and nifty software is cool, but overkill on a Mac.
Even on a sports boat you would have info saturation.

I run an Asus 900 PC for navigation, but I have no use for all that stuff in the Nexus demo so I won't be trying to interface the computer and the instruments.

Sadly I lack all those years of experiencing the wind on your face and reacting to it with the helm. For me the wind instrument saves the sore neck from looking up at the sail tell-tales.
And helps us improve our sailing.

Happy cruising,
Tks
C ya,
Clemo.