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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question
Danny and Yvonne SIMMS
Hi, The SM owners manual instructs in the use of both chargers when using the gen set and only the smaller when connected to shore power. If I remember correctly you are to turn the larger on first and after a pause, the smaller. Not on the boat so can't check the manual for the order but certain of the two charger instruction. Regards Danny SM 299 Ocean Pearl
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question
The SM manual says :
- when running the generator, start the big charger, wait until it settles then turn on the smaller charger. - when on shore power only use the smaller charger. don;t use both chargers or you will trip the breaker on the slip. I would think that would be the same for the 54. Cheers Alan Elyse SM437
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter/Charger wiring advise
Hi Bill Good point, I have never tried running two at the same time. We have just taken our solar from 540w to 850w so bringing the genset runnning times down a fair bit. Yesterday, a nice sunny one here in Phuket we ran 3 loads of washing (full 1.5+ hrs cycle each) pretty much all afternoon just on solar via inverter, no generator or shore power. Unfortunately our worst enemy is our own bad habits of preferring to use the electric kettle, electric toaster etc etc on board (just like at home) instead of gas so still doing one hour in morning and one hour late at night of genset. We have often left the boat for a week or more (even when cloudy) with one freezer and fridge running with the previous 540w. Going into the Indian Ocean now for 9 months, and needing to carry so much extra food, I am hoping to be able to do this with two freezers running, hence the increase to 840w. (Tried to fit 1kw but not enough space on our boat!). I should add we have 2 x latest generation Rutland 1200 wind generators and have seen 10amps x 26.4v on each of them sometimes in high winds, so they are absolutely a fantastic addition. Never ending goal of trying to run the boat completely on nature! Unfortunately here in Asia there has been a high need to use the motor. Normally we sail everywhere so looking forward to getting into the Indian Ocean in the next 4 weeks. Best regards Colin SV Island Pearl II, aMEL53 #332
On Tue, Jan 9, 2018 at 3:23 AM, greatketch@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
--
Colin Streeter 0411 016 445
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question
greatketch@...
A reason not to run both chargers at the dock on shore power is that together they can draw a good deal more than the 16 amp rating of the shore power supply.
This only happens if the batteries are drained enough to be able to accept that much current. But even the 100 amp charger by itself can draw over 13 amps if it is really pushing out a full rated 100 amps at 28 volts. That doesn't give you a lot of room to run anything else. If the water heater comes on, you'll trip the breaker, for example. Hence, the reason for the smaller charger for use on shore power. Most of our generators have the "oomph" to run both chargers, and more. But remember, as the batteries start to get over about 80% charged, the rate at which they can accept amps starts to decline pretty quickly. If your 100 amp charger is not putting out 100 amps, adding a second charger really won't help. A lot of these problems have gone by the wayside with newer, smarter inverter/chargers which are clever enough to reduce the charging current if other things need the power. Bill Kinney SM160, Harmonie North Bimini, Bahamas
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Re: Mainsail Drop
greatketch@...
When this happened to us, I had to climb the mast to manually unroll the sail above the tear.
Bill Kinney SM160, Harmonie North Bimini, Bahamas
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] bow thruster shaft removal tool
James
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
You have that tool stowed forward under starboard bunk. It’s actually a kit with several pieces. Ben Driver 6S
On Jan 8, 2018, at 6:47 PM, jamescromie@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question
Stephen Morrison <steve_morrison@...>
Thank you Mohammad. I am hoping to hear something much as you recall, an explanation as to why this should be avoided, or why, under certain circumstances perhaps, it might be fine. It would obviously reduce charging time, and therefor generator run time.
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All the best, Steve Morrison
On Jan 8, 2018, at 9:39 PM, 'Mohammad Shirloo' mshirloo@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question
Mohammad Shirloo
Hello
Steve;
On our
54 during the survey, we were told by Olivier not to turn both chargers on at
the same time. He may have have shared the reason but I do not recall. May be
Olivier can jump in and clarify. Not sure of the 54 and the SM are wired the
same, but I would think that the same logic would apply.
Respectfully;
Mohammad and Aty
B&B Kokomo
Amel 54 #099 From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...] Sent: Monday, January 08, 2018 5:39 PM To: amelyachtowners@... Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Generator charging question If I am running the generator just to charge the batteries, meaning I have no
other load on the generator, is there a downside to engaging both the 100 amp
and the 30 amp dolphin chargers? As an example, tonight I was at 88% (-71 amps)
and when I engaged the “battery Gen” charger, I was putting in 45 amps, but when
I added “battery shore”, I was putting in 70 amps.
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Mainsail Drop
johnericmorton@...
We noticed a horizontal rip in our Super Maramu 2000 Mainsail about a metre down from the top of the mast. It seems to be at a horizontal sail fabric joint/stitched seam. Perhaps the fabric is thicker at that point and it has been slowly chafing / rubbing over a 5 year period of light use. I thought it would be a "five minute job" to release at the winch and allow the mainsail to slide down the groove in the shaft. I untied near the bottom gearbox but despite furling in and out several times and then pulling hard at the bottom with the sail fully unfurled the mainsail is stuck solid. Any clues? I plan to climb up the mast next week to take a look. Maybe its jammed in the groove near the top or???? Any guidance / tips from the experts would be appreciated. John and Mali Morton Wanderer SM Auckland NZ.
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bow thruster shaft removal tool
James Cromie
Hello everyone - I'm directing this email to Amel owners in Martinique - I need to change out lip seals on my bow thruster and I'd like to remove the lower unit with the boat in the water. To do so, I would need the wooden shaft that attaches to the lower unit to lower it out of the hull. Does anyone have one on hand that I could borrow for a day or two? I will be in Le Marin between 1/9 and 1/16. Good evening to you all. James La Bella Vita (soon to be Soteria) SM347 Le Marin
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Generator charging question
Stephen Morrison <steve_morrison@...>
If I am running the generator just to charge the batteries, meaning I have no other load on the generator, is there a downside to engaging both the 100 amp and the 30 amp dolphin chargers? As an example, tonight I was at 88% (-71 amps) and when I engaged the “battery Gen” charger, I was putting in 45 amps, but when I added “battery shore”, I was putting in 70 amps.
My question is, why is this a bad idea? Is it a bad idea? Are there negative trade-offs to running both? Thoughts? All the best, Steve Morrison SM380 TouRai Hope Town, Abaco
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter/Charger wiring advise
Stephen Morrison <steve_morrison@...>
As a Bimini option I would throw out Bimini Sands on South Bimini. It was simple to get in and out, has nice floating docks, doesn’t have a tide running through it, and has a resident cluster of Bull Sharks that meander about as we discovered while our daughters were on their paddle boards. There is power and water at the dock and customs was a short taxi over to the airport and back. I think we paid 1.50/ft.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Steve Morrison SM380 TouRai Hope Town, Abaco
On Jan 8, 2018, at 7:43 PM, greatketch@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter/Charger wiring advise
greatketch@...
John,
We'll second the vote for Browns. The only downside is that right now they don't have shore power on the docks, so if that is important to you, Bimini Big Game might be the better choice. They are working on it...on island time. Everything else is in very good shape. Bimini Big Game looks nice on a walk through, although this time of year (between fishing seasons) everything here is really quiet. Right now there are three boats in Brown's, maybe a half dozen in Bimini Big Game. Might change for the weekend, there is a big wahoo fishing tournament. If you do come to Brown's and you want the restaurants and bars at Bimini Big Game, they are just a short walk away. We're pulling out of Brown's tomorrow, and anchoring in Nixons Harbor for a day or two, then heading up to Freeport, then to the Berry Islands... then south... Watch for us on AIS! All the marinas here have a very strong tidal current that runs through more or less parallel to the slips, so be ready for it. The entrance channel has plenty of water, and the buoys are in place and correctly mark the channel, although they don't match the chart exactly. Trust the buoys more than the chart. Except...there was one errant red nun that was sitting right on top of the sand bar that wasn't on the chart at all, and looked to have drifted in from somewhere else. Enjoy! Bill Kinney SM160, Harmonie North Bimini, Bahamas ---In amelyachtowners@..., <mcerdos@...> wrote : John, ref: Bimini Big Game Marina – wouldn’t recommend it. It has gone way down-hill since Guy Harvey sold his interest in it, really not worth the money. I would suggest Browns. Easy in and out, not at all fancy but the price is right. You will find most cruisers stop at Browns. From Browns it is a 5 min walk to Immigration at BBGM and then Customs is a litter further up the road in the pink building (police station).
With best regards,
Mark
Skipper Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275 Currently cruising - Martinique www.creampuff.us
From:
amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Hi Bill, we are planning to leave St.. Augustine later this week and head to Bimini, then slow cruise thru Bahamas...continuing south.
We are planning on checking in at Bimini Big Game Marina and staying for a day or two.
John
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Side Windows loose screws
James Alton
JPG,
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You mentioned removing the balsa. So the cabin sides of the SM are cored with balsa as opposed to being just one solid laminate? It would be nice to know the construction since window replacement is on my short list as well. Actually if there is core in there I am going to move it to the top of the list! I used to use cut down allen wrenches shaped and sharpened to form cutting edges (in place of the bent nail) to cut out a core but found a better solution. You can get small saw blades for your dremel and these make core removal fast and you can also use the blades to abrade the inside edges of the glass to give your epoxy a good bond. It’s a bit of a pain but you can extract essentially all of the water that entered the holes by using vacuum. You can use the same basic supplies and set up that is normally used for vacuum bagging, just add a good water separator to protect your pump. It is always better to get the water out before sealing things up if at all possible. Kept completely dry, balsa lasts pretty much forever, good stuff. I hope that you are having a great time in the Bahamas! Best, James SV Sueño, Maramu #220
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter/Charger wiring advise
John, ref: Bimini Big Game Marina – wouldn’t recommend it. It has gone way down-hill since Guy Harvey sold his interest in it, really not worth the money. I would suggest Browns. Easy in and out, not at all fancy but the price is right. You will find most cruisers stop at Browns. From Browns it is a 5 min walk to Immigration at BBGM and then Customs is a litter further up the road in the pink building (police station).
With best regards,
Mark
Skipper Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275 Currently cruising - Martinique www.creampuff.us
From:
amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Hi Bill, we are planning to leave St.. Augustine later this week and head to Bimini, then slow cruise thru Bahamas...continuing south.
We are planning on checking in at Bimini Big Game Marina and staying for a day or two.
John
On Jan 8, 2018 12:24 PM, "greatketch@...
[amelyachtowners]" <amelyachtowners@...>
wrote:
Colin,
We actually use the second battery charger much of the time when we are charging with the genset. Our new batteries can easily take over 100 amps of charging current for much of the charge cycle. Adding another 50 amps to the 70 the Victron makes, just makes things faster.
Anything we can do to reduce the genset duty cycle make our lives more enjoyable and the boat more self-sufficient.
So far our solar installation, charger upgrade, and switching battery types has dropped us from about three hours a day, down to an average of a bit less than one hour a day, with many days of none at all. Which should drop even further as the sun returns to the northern hemisphere :)
Bill Kinney SM160, Harmonie North Bimini, Bahamas
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter Replacement
James Studdart
Just to join in with the chorus. We also have a Victron Multiplus 24/3000/70 and it’s awesome. We’ve had it for a couple of years and so far not a single issue. I’ve networked it with a Color Control GX which also shows the solar (Victron mppt with two 330w Panasonic panels) and battery state.
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Cheers, James. SeaBean, SM344 Moorea, French Polynesia.
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Inverter/Charger wiring advise
John Clark
Hi Bill, we are planning to leave St. Augustine later this week and head to Bimini, then slow cruise thru Bahamas...continuing south. We are planning on checking in at Bimini Big Game Marina and staying for a day or two. John
On Jan 8, 2018 12:24 PM, "greatketch@... [amelyachtowners]" <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Side Windows loose screws
Herbert Lackner
Thx JP, will visit you on your boat to check that :-)
Herbert, Dock D
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Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Side Windows loose screws
Jean-Pierre's MacBook Air <jgermain@...>
Hello Herbert,
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I encountered the same problem on my SM when I recaulked the side windows. First option: The screws are not long enough to traverse into the wood trim on the inside of the cabin. Procure various length M6 screws and drill through to the inside. Pack with lots of Sikaflex and finish the work with a nice looking ball nut on the wood trim. Other option: this is what I did. Make the hole bigger, but no larger in diameter than the width of the SS strip (about 14 MM if memory serves me right), clean out the wet balsa with a nail bent to 90 degrees on the end of your drill, fill with epoxy then drill a pilot hole where needed and reuse the original hardware. Good luck, Jean-Pierre Germain SY Eleuthera, SM007 Shelter Bay Marina
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Side Windows loose screws
Herbert Lackner
Many of the screws that hold the stainless frame of the side windows are loose on our Santorin and some are not holding good enough to allow tightening. It looks as they are just screwed through to wooden panel that is used as a packing plate at the inside. Did anyone replace these screws already? What is the best solution to fix that?
thx, Herbert SN120 KALI MERA, Shelter Bay, Panama
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