Hi Jean Pierre,

A shaft alternator has some big disadvantage: the Amel udrive constantly has to run with it (a very expensive device to change),the gearbox turns constantly and last not least you can't use a folding prop, which will slow you down by almost a not. It also would wear out the brushing ring on the prop shaft much faster with the risk of seawater entering the udrive...

The Duogen is a nice device, I switch it from wind to water mode in less than a minute, I can't notice a drop in speed. Nevertheless as I mentioned I would not buy it again.

To run a diesel generator for many hours a day is for me as a live aboard person a no go, the maintenance ( impeller, oil change, filters, timing belts, exhaust,etc.) cost and noise is too much for me.

For me, solar panels are the way to go: pretty cheep, silent and absolutely maintenance free. They fill the battery to 100% which I would never do with my generator, 

On my boat the electric system is balanced with the 2x200w solar panels and the Duogen. Neither one of the devices looks good on the boat but form follows function...

Fair winds

Rainer

SM#69 Yin Yang

On 11.04.2014, at 10:55, Germain Jean-Pierre <jgermain@...> wrote:

 

Hello Drew,

I seem to recall that Bill (SV Bebe) did install solar panels...  

I had a single small solar panel on my last yacht and it kept my charging to once every 2 days.

As an opinion, as I do not own an Amel, I would have solar panels and a shaft generator.  Wind vanes are too noisy, perhaps dangerous to have on a sail boat and towing a water generator is not an option if you can get equal or better results with a shaft generator.

Jean-Pierre (No Amel.. but an SM or SM2k in the future)

On 11 Apr 2014, at 10:10, Gaffney, Drew <drew.gaffney@...> wrote:

 

Dear all,
The discussion about power consumption among different Amel Super Maramu's has been very interesting.  There is a wide range of differences in terms of how often and how long owners typically run their generators.  Even though there is substantial consistency in terms of SM2K equipment, electrical power generation is highly variable
Most of the SM2K's have the Onan MDKAV generator or similar.  The Dolphin chargers have been replaced by many owners with different brands and capacities.  Most appear to have followed the original Amel arrangement of both high (100A) and low (30A) chargers.  The former to be used with the generator, the latter whilst being used with shore power.
Battery types also vary-deep cycle lead acid, AGM, etc.
Finally, some Amels have installed solar power and/or wind generators.  Bill on Bebe has done extensive calculations regarding ROI for both solar and wind/water and sees little economic advantage to adding either.
Given the differences in both power management and recharging batteries, it's not surprising that generator use might vary by >100% among Amel owners, ranging from 2.5-6hr daily.
On that background, I would note that on Revelation, our SM#390, we have new Trojan T105 batteries, but our charging time hasn't changed much between the old and the new batteries.  We have a KISS wind generator mounted on a 3m pole on the stern and 2 12V 100w monochrystaline solar panels mounted on our davits, wired in series.  These solar panels give us 24V 100W.  Finally, we have a towable Ampair water generator,  We use it only on passages and not for shorter hops.
We have tried to reduce power consumption by replacing all halogen lights with LED's.  
At anchorage with minimal sun or wind, we usually require 1.5hr of generator time twice daily.  Sailing in fairly rough seas (busy autopilot) with wind <12-15kts, and some clouds during the day,  we'll charge 1.5hr every 12hrs.
With wind >15k, lots of sunshine, and towing the Ampair, we get by with even less time on the generator.
Our consumption is typically, 2 fridges and 1 freezer, a laptop with 220V power via a Xantrex inverter,  AIS Mode B, VHF receiver, GPS, sailing instruments, and misc lights, at night, nav lights, intermittent radar.  We try to charge whenever our batteries are between 75-80%.
Like many owners, we run the generator, not only to charge batteries, but also to wash clothes, to make water, play music, and monitor our instruments, check radar, etc.  As others have noted, paying attention to current flow with charging allows these additional activities during charging if careful.
Sorry for the long reply, but I think it necessary to consider all the variables to answer the question asked.
Drew Gaffney
SM #390

 

Dear all,
The discussion about power consumption among different Amel Super Maramu's has been very interesting.  There is a wide range of differences in terms of how often and how long owners typically run their generators.  Even though there is substantial consistency in terms of SM2K equipment, electrical power generation is highly variable
Most of the SM2K's have the Onan MDKAV generator or similar.  The Dolphin chargers have been replaced by many owners with different brands and capacities.  Most appear to have followed the original Amel arrangement of both high (100A) and low (30A) chargers.  The former to be used with the generator, the latter whilst being used with shore power.
Battery types also vary-deep cycle lead acid, AGM, etc.
Finally, some Amels have installed solar power and/or wind generators.  Bill on Bebe has done extensive calculations regarding ROI for both solar and wind/water and sees little economic advantage to adding either.
Given the differences in both power management and recharging batteries, it's not surprising that generator use might vary by >100% among Amel owners, ranging from 2.5-6hr daily.
On that background, I would note that on Revelation, our SM#390, we have new Trojan T105 batteries, but our charging time hasn't changed much between the old and the new batteries.  We have a KISS wind generator mounted on a 3m pole on the stern and 2 12V 100w monochrystaline solar panels mounted on our davits, wired in series.  These solar panels give us 24V 100W.  Finally, we have a towable Ampair water generator,  We use it only on passages and not for shorter hops.
We have tried to reduce power consumption by replacing all halogen lights with LED's.  
At anchorage with minimal sun or wind, we usually require 1.5hr of generator time twice daily.  Sailing in fairly rough seas (busy autopilot) with wind <12-15kts, and some clouds during the day,  we'll charge 1.5hr every 12hrs.
With wind >15k, lots of sunshine, and towing the Ampair, we get by with even less time on the generator.
Our consumption is typically, 2 fridges and 1 freezer, a laptop with 220V power via a Xantrex inverter,  AIS Mode B, VHF receiver, GPS, sailing instruments, and misc lights, at night, nav lights, intermittent radar.  We try to charge whenever our batteries are between 75-80%.
Like many owners, we run the generator, not only to charge batteries, but also to wash clothes, to make water, play music, and monitor our instruments, check radar, etc.  As others have noted, paying attention to current flow with charging allows these additional activities during charging if careful.
Sorry for the long reply, but I think it necessary to consider all the variables to answer the question asked.
Drew Gaffney
SM #390