Re: Batteries
jjwiggin02 <no_reply@...>
--- In amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com, "Ian & Judy Jenkins"
<ianjudyjenkins@h...> wrote: On our SM, 302, June 2000 launch, now lived aboard for 18 months,wefind that at sea we run the genset about every six hours for an hour toan hour and a half on each occasion. Less when at anchor without autohelm,nav lights radar etc.Our first batteries ( we have 420 amps) lasted twoyears, since when I tend to recharge when we are down to 90% ( We foundthat the fridge cut out somewhere below 87% notwithstanding the fact that westill had 24v).that the 220v fan is working ( put your hand over the outlet in the cockpitcoaming. ) Ours failed in the Caribean and the extra heat in the engine roomwas appparently the reason why our 50 amp charger failed after 3 years,to be followed by the 30 amp one ten weeks later.This, despite the factthat both chargers have heat cut outs.The first failed in Guadeloupe and wasbeyond the knowledge of Pochon for a speedy repair.but both were repairedby Manuel in Ecuador ( thank God for the third world--they still know how tofix things there).He said he had never seen anything so hi tech andpowerful in such a small box--the last time he saw such a powerful gadget it wasthe size and weight of his mother in law!unwelcome, and I don`t understand the need for the 220v fan. The two 24v fansare much more powerful,give you an element of redundancy, much cheaper andcan be sourced anywhere.Is there a good reason why they could not be wiredup to come on with the genset just as they come on with the Volvo/Yanmar?Ian. Pen AzenAzen, If you are trying to charge to 100% you will be running your genset far more than necessary. Conventional wisdom is that it is bad for the batteries to go below 50% and that above 80% further recharging becomes increasingly less cost-effective. Therefor an optimal program would be to dischage to 50% and re charge to only 80%. Crossing the Atlantic 19 days with 6 people, radar on most of the time, transmitting daily on SSB, two refrigerators and a freezer, we ran it for 1 to 1 1/2 hours twice a day. Hope this helps, Jim Wiggin, ANTARES, Amel SM _________________________________________________________________
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