advice needed

[gilby]

Hi all. Not one hundred percent sure where to post this but as a newbie I guess this will suffice.

 

Me and the mrs are taking the livaboard plunge and have found a boat we think will make a good home. It's seems to have been looked after and until this year has had a lot of usuage as a summer home/cruising boat. She's almost sixteen years old ( the boat, not the wife ) and outwardly needs a little TLC with some converter and a paint brush.

 

My main concern is running out of electrical paower. (our moorings are very basic, we have fresh water and that's it, but will only be an hour or so chug from the civilisation of a wharf with all the facilities needed for fuel and pump out).

 

The boat is fitted with four 90 amp sealed domestic batteries that were replaced last year. We have only the one 50amp alternator. We initially wanted to set up a wind generator and maybe some panels later on, but after ploughing through some existing threads I feel improvements could be made on what we already have on board. Now I'm not the most technically minded guy but would I be initially better off getting a bigger alternator and installing one of these battery management/alternator controller units ? (Am I right in saying that I would have to loose the seal batteries for this ?)

 

I'm hoping that our electrical usuage isn't going to be too silly. We have no inverter on board presently but may need one purely to power a printer/laptop. Sounds are provided car stereos and hoping television via the laptop. Apart from that just the usualon board needs.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Sorry in advance if this has been covered a million times before.

[smileypete]

The boat is fitted with four 90 amp sealed domestic batteries that were replaced last year. We have only the one 50amp alternator. We initially wanted to set up a wind generator and maybe some panels later on, but after ploughing through some existing threads I feel improvements could be made on what we already have on board. Now I'm not the most technically minded guy but would I be initially better off getting a bigger alternator and installing one of these battery management/alternator controller units ? (Am I right in saying that I would have to loose the seal batteries for this ?)

 

I'm hoping that our electrical usuage isn't going to be too silly. We have no inverter on board presently but may need one purely to power a printer/laptop. Sounds are provided car stereos and hoping television via the laptop. Apart from that just the usualon board needs.

 

Hi,

 

There's different types of sealed batteries, that need different charging voltages.

 

So before thinking of getting an alternator controller, I'd try to find out exactly what make and model they are, then find out their charging needs from the manufacturer.

 

Also worth knowing is the charging voltage at the batteries while the engine has been running for a while. Use a cheap multimeter or better still a search on the forum for 'voltmeter' should give some good leads for a decent one.

 

Post all the info here and it should be enough to recommend what to do next.

 

If this is all a bit much, try to find a good local marine electrical specialist who can help you out.

 

You could just carry on with what you have as is, but you may get poor charging performance or battery life.

 

cheers,

Pete.

[charles123]

I dont know about this type of battery but think it likely that running out of power will be a constant problem, assuming an alternator controller is ok with this sort of battery I would get one, also add 2 more batteries and a bigger alternator, at least 95 amp, other than that there has been much written about solar panels, they could be worth it if you can afford big ones to give you a worthwhile output and be happy they are secured to deter theft

 

Charles

[ChrisPy]

if you are seriously talking about living aboard, not necessarily cruising, and presumably not connected to a landline (or you would not be asking the question), then a separate generator seems essential if you want to avoid knackering your engine by running it on la ight load several times a day just to charge your batteries.

[gilby]

if you are seriously talking about living aboard, not necessarily cruising, and presumably not connected to a landline (or you would not be asking the question), then a separate generator seems essential if you want to avoid knackering your engine by running it on la ight load several times a day just to charge your batteries.

 

There is a small (650 watt ?) genny onboard, fine for power tools etc but I'm not too happy about keeping petrol on board as a third fuel source. I'll need to investigate quite deisel gennys.

 

Many thanks for the imput so far folks

[KenK]

There is a small (650 watt ?) genny onboard, fine for power tools etc but I'm not too happy about keeping petrol on board as a third fuel source. I'll need to investigate quite deisel gennys.

 

Many thanks for the imput so far folks

 

Hi Gilby,

An alternator controller will only make a difference if the alternator you have or purchase is machine sensing, i.e. it measures the voltage it's putting to the battery at the alternator. If it's battery sensing, measures the voltage at the battery it won't make any difference. If you want the low down on this stuff have a good look at Gibbo's website

http://www.smartgauge.co.uk

 

It has loads of correct information and it's written very well, you don't need to be a techie to understand it.

 

Ken

[DHutch]

I would be very much tempted to, as you seem to be eluding to, solving or atleast reduceing your problem by simply using little electricty!

 

However, i would personly aim to fit a second alternaotor (90amp, or somthing) wired to the domesitic bank, and keep the current 50amp unit just for the starter batterys.

- Possably consider an external regulator/controler.

- But as chris says, if your serously planning to live without a shoreline, the generator route is far better than running your mai engine anyway.

 

360Amphour (Ah) battery capacity isnt too little, and as there fairly new, should be fine if your not abusing them too much.

- We have 4*110Ah and that runs the fridge (our main power draw) and lights etc for about fou days without geting two low, then the petrol honda comes out, or we move on.

 

In terms of gennys, for the 650/1000watt size petrol is deffonatly the most common and for good reasons (noise, size, cost, wieght, etc). However is doesnt have to be dangerous if treated with care. Or else another route is to have it converted to run on gas.

- If i was living on long term, i would consider having a vented 'gas locker' for the genny to live in.

- It would be quite easy to have added to most boats, with or without the provision to be able to actaully run the genny inside the locker as well.

 

Wind gennys are also quite good, and if was living without a shoreline, i would deffonatly consider trying to get hold of a (second hand?) rutland 913 windcharger thingy. Deffonatly better return than solar panels, assuming your not in a totalty shelderd spot

 

Daniel