Solar Panel

[valdez53]

To run your laptop on 12 volts: go to www.powerstream.com for one of their car adaptors. I bought one last Spring and it runs my laptop perfectly! Takes 12volts and boosts it to match your laptop charging requirements...just like home. Uses MUCH LESS power than trying to run an invertor and the 110volt charger! Now we run the compter all day without issue.

My '83 Mac 25 Little Rascal has an Evinrude 9.9 on the back with a Delco 55 amp alternator mounted on top...This charges 2 Optima yellow top deep cycle batteries whenever the engine is running. It has worked well for years, but after doing some calculations I believe I need to increase the wire size between the alternator and battery bank...which should shorten my charging time. Does anyone know how to modify a standard one-wire alternator regulator? I was told that if I could raise the "cut-out" voltage number the batteries would receive a higher charge than now. Optima's can take a full automotive rate of charge and the first set of batteries in the boat lasted just over 7 years without any maint. at all. Our electrical useage is an Engle 35 fridge, water pump, stereo, gps, fish finder, cabin/nav lights and autopilot which one battery can run for about a full day or so. Usually we don't have to run the engine for battery charging until the 3rd day on the water.

[bubba]

Our newest laptop has a 12V adapter to plug in to a car plug or 12V lighter plug on the boat, but still uses 90 watts instead of the 300 Watt's the laptop I am currently on uses.

[Sumner]

..... Does anyone know how to modify a standard one-wire alternator regulator? I was told that if I could raise the "cut-out" voltage number the batteries would receive a higher charge than now. Optima's can take a full automotive rate of charge and the first set of batteries in the boat lasted just over 7 years without any maint. at all. ..

First I'd love to see pictures of how you mounted the alternator on the outboard. I've heard of that done, but haven't seen it.

Is the current alternator a true one wire like what is used in some marine applications and in hot rods and such?

I run one of those on my street rod and once had it go out and found out the hard way that most auto parts stores don't carry them. What I did find out and did was to buy a new delco that they did stock and take out the regulator and replace it with the self-energizing voltage regulator from my damaged alternator and converted it to a one wire. This link on my site tell how to make a one wire from a regular alternator.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ewire.html

Now I'll bet you could replace the self-energizing voltage regulator in a one wire alternator and go the other way. Then check out this link.....

http://homepower.com/files/webextras/mark8.pdf

....and see how they do what I think you are trying to do (about 3 pages down in the article). I thought about doing this, but my re-charge times are pretty short now, so I don't think I would gain that much. On a larger battery bank (more batteries) I would for sure.

Hope that helps,

Sum

Our Trips to...

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

[DaveB]

We use a 75 watt Cig.plug inverter for our 15.6 screen Laptop and used in for over 10 hrs on our past weekend 3 day cruise hooked up to our twin 27 group house batteries along with 66 quart Edge Star Refig. and all other elect. needs on board without recharge (we don't have the Dual house batteries hooked up to motor). Started with 12.8 volts came back with 12.4 volts.

Dave

To run your laptop on 12 volts: go to http://www.powerstream.com for one of their car adaptors. I bought one last Spring and it runs my laptop perfectly! Takes 12volts and boosts it to match your laptop charging requirements...just like home. Uses MUCH LESS power than trying to run an invertor and the 110volt charger! Now we run the compter all day without issue.

My '83 Mac 25 Little Rascal has an Evinrude 9.9 on the back with a Delco 55 amp alternator mounted on top...This charges 2 Optima yellow top deep cycle batteries whenever the engine is running. It has worked well for years, but after doing some calculations I believe I need to increase the wire size between the alternator and battery bank...which should shorten my charging time. Does anyone know how to modify a standard one-wire alternator regulator? I was told that if I could raise the "cut-out" voltage number the batteries would receive a higher charge than now. Optima's can take a full automotive rate of charge and the first set of batteries in the boat lasted just over 7 years without any maint. at all. Our electrical useage is an Engle 35 fridge, water pump, stereo, gps, fish finder, cabin/nav lights and autopilot which one battery can run for about a full day or so. Usually we don't have to run the engine for battery charging until the 3rd day on the water.

[Sumner]

...........with 66 quart Edge Star Refig.............. Started with 12.8 volts came back with 12.4 volts.....
Dave

How about an update on the Edge Star? Has it gotten warmer down there for a better test? How did it do? Did you start with ice in it?

Looks like from the battery voltage it did good. I'm really interested in how it will do when any start-up ice is gone. I'm anxious to get out and try ours and sail, but still over a month away probably,

Sum

[DaveB]

I only heard the Edge Star run a couple of times. Temps in cabin were 82-86 degrees during day but night were around 64-68 degrees after 3 days . We did put in 1 gal. frozzen water and 3 -20oz frozzen water before we left.
Like I said we were running laptop for more than 10 hrs. probably more like 18 hrs (we watched 4 movies ). Teressa was down below always on it while I sailed.
But even with that we came back with 12.4 volts. Think the computer used 3 X what the frig. did.
I ordered a combiner to charge both House and starter battery at same time as we can charge the house batteries even tho the Honda puts out 10 amps at best.
Dave

...........with 66 quart Edge Star Refig.............. Started with 12.8 volts came back with 12.4 volts.....
Dave

How about an update on the Edge Star? Has it gotten warmer down there for a better test? How did it do? Did you start with ice in it?

Looks like from the battery voltage it did good. I'm really interested in how it will do when any start-up ice is gone. I'm anxious to get out and try ours and sail, but still over a month away probably,

Sum

[Sumner]

I only heard the Edge Star run a couple of times. Temps in cabin were 82-86 degrees during day but night were around 64-68 degrees after 3 days . We did put in 1 gal. frozzen water and 3 -20oz frozzen water before we left.....
Dave

Thanks Dave,

Sum

[DaveB]

Sum,
I might add that my boat is next to my house were I have a Elect. AC cord hooked up to my automatic 10 amp charger that charges house and starting battery at same time. I turn on frig. temp. set 38 degrees 24 hrs before leave for a trip. The Frozzen water is for our return trip as it is half water by than and I like very cold drinking water and with the 20oz bottles half frozzen will last 2 or more hours in the cockpit before melting but I usually have to wait to get the last few drops. If you do not precool temps. on the frig. before loading it will put a load on your batteries for at least 2 hrs. for cool down.
If you have AC charger hooked up you may also want to set temps. down to 0-F while on AC charge, than raise it to 38 cruiseing, it will take over 6 hrs in 85 degree temps before it turns on.
Have all Items below 40 degrees before you put them in fridge.
Dave

I only heard the Edge Star run a couple of times. Temps in cabin were 82-86 degrees during day but night were around 64-68 degrees after 3 days . We did put in 1 gal. frozzen water and 3 -20oz frozzen water before we left.....
Dave

Thanks Dave,

Sum

[Inquisitor]

Sum

Sum,

Switching gears again... I'm not use to monitoring batteries (in cars) and my boat being in its third year, I didn't really worry about it much either. I'm understanding the gist from you and others about the volts being a rough "indicator" of battery state and tracking amp history in and out is a far better indicator. For now, all I have is the volt meter. I've fully charged the two batteries I have (motor and house) with a plug in-charger. After finishing charging I have let them set (for 24 hours) as Duane said you can't read them right after charging or using.

My batteries are showing 12.96 and 12.98 which is higher than your chart above. Is this a good thing or have I overcharged my batteries and thus screwed them up?

Thanks.

[Trouts Dream]

I added a combiner to keep both batteries topped up when running the motor> Also chaged out the interior lights and anchor light to LEDs and just never have to wory about power. We have a car stereo with Marine speekers in the cockpit and thats our biggest draw.
I have 2 of those small solar trickle chargers for car batteries that I clip on to the posts with alligator clips when we park the boat. I have the 2 panles duct taped in the back like a hinge and simply lay them open beside the port winch. Takes about 1 minute and seems to keep the charge up until we use the boat again. I subscribe to the "keep it simple stupid" line of thinking. We use an icebox but to keep everything from getting soggy I put the block of ice in a kayaking dry bag and I also have clean cold water if I need it instead of wrecking the food.

[richandlori]

As a full time live-a-board cruiser for two years now, let me offer up my thoughts on Solar Panels and the "dream" of actually running your boat off of them. At this point in the Solar Cost/Amp equation, solar simply doesn't compute as a solution for power. Sure if you are looking for a "keep my battery charged up when I'm away from the boat" solution, then you may find value in a small solar panel. But trying to get the energy needed to keep THIRD DAY or even a Mac up on power for lets say a week long trip would mean at least 260W or more of solar plus a solar controller and you would fork out about $1300 for that, and still not have a really good place to put the solar. For a LOT less you can buy a Honda 1000 or even Honda 2000 and have all the power you could ever dream about to run everything form DVDs, Battery chargers, Microwave, or even a Disco ball for the Bow! I often look around at boats in Marina and at anchor here in Mexico, and the truth of the mater is almost NO ONE has enough solar to run their boat, but deisel engine cruising boats have a large capacity alternators, unlike the Mac's 50Hps.

So if someone out there is outfitting their Mac with making week-long trips in mind while at the same time not wanting to worry about power...ditch the Solar and by the honda generator. You just can't get enough form Solar (with the Mac platform for mounting) to justify the expense. My Honda 2000 will put out 75AMPS into my battery bank all day long, so I only need to run it for maybe an hour to 2 per day....how much sun/time would it take to get 75AMPs form Solar? Heck, but then my beer would be HOT!

Rich
SV THIRD DAY
Currently Floating in San Blas, Nayarit Mexico

[c130king]

I added a combiner to keep both batteries topped up when running the motor> Also chaged out the interior lights and anchor light to LEDs and just never have to wory about power. We have a car stereo with Marine speekers in the cockpit and thats our biggest draw.
I have 2 of those small solar trickle chargers for car batteries that I clip on to the posts with alligator clips when we park the boat. I have the 2 panles duct taped in the back like a hinge and simply lay them open beside the port winch. Takes about 1 minute and seems to keep the charge up until we use the boat again. I subscribe to the "keep it simple stupid" line of thinking. We use an icebox but to keep everything from getting soggy I put the block of ice in a kayaking dry bag and I also have clean cold water if I need it instead of wrecking the food.

Trout,

I agree with your philosophy and want small solar panel just to keep my wet cell batteries trickle charged while I am away from the boat.

You mentioned your two batteries are joined by a combiner. And you mentioned you use two panels that you clip to the posts with alligator clips. Do you disconnect the combiner when you clip on the alligator clips? Does the combiner try to do its thing while you have a solar panel connected to each battery?

What panels do you use?

Thanks,
Jim

[Trouts Dream]

Because I clip directly to each battery the combiner is essentially taken out of the system when trickle charging.

This is the unit I use
http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/011 ... eviews.htm

and it seems to work well for the past 3 years. In the winter (8 efun months here)I bring the batteries home and top up the charge every 2-3 months.

[Nautek]

I agree with you Rich

I have just come back from a couple of weeks away on the X and had a lot of trouble keeping the power up
Running a 50 ltr Waeco 24/7 and a fan at night pulled the battery down
I had my Yamaha 1000i to keep things trucking and I found just running the Suzuki for a couple of hours a day did the job.
The Suzuki was a lot quiter in a crowded anchorage

Rich where are you getting your 75 amps from??
Have you got a charger running off the generator??

Allan

[Sumner]

Sum

My batteries are showing 12.96 and 12.98 which is higher than your chart above. Is this a good thing or have I overcharged my batteries and thus screwed them up?

Thanks.

I think they are just fine. Notice what mine are reading in the picture. Very common right after they have been charged. As has been mentioned take the reading with a small load, like turn on one light and see what the voltage is then. I don't become obsessed with this. About once a day I'll take a look and decide if I'm going to run the generator or not that day to top things off,

Sum