Fred/Don my novacool uses 4.2a when running. So, the duty cycle is key - hence insulation and lid-seals.
Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 14, 2018, at 2:09 AM, Fred Hazzard <fshazz...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Don, it seems to me you need more battery power. You have adequate charging, > but with only 2 batteries with about 200 ah capacity, you have 100 ah of > usable power. Your fridge probably uses about 5 amps per hour or 120 amp > hours per day. That alone exceeds what you should use. Not to mention leaving > something to start you engine. > On our boat we have 4 batteries with over 400 ah. Even with this we need to > charge every 3 days. > > The other thing you should look at is the insulation of your fridge. It can > make a big difference. > > Fred Hazzard > S/V Fury > C&C 44 > Portland Or > >> On Sat, Oct 13, 2018 at 4:27 PM Dave via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> >> wrote: >> Interesting - have been contemplating exactly this for Windstar - 33-2, and >> my needs and equipment are similar for contemplated summer cruising in >> Georgian bay. >> >> I have a Bimini and can barely fit 200w (iirc) of solar panel on the Bimini, >> which is the bare minimum required to keep my house battery whole. (I >> could be misremembering the wattage) Mounting the flexible panels will take >> some thought. I don’t want to bother with set up and take down panels.... >> >> I have converted to LED lighting - a big difference in power consumption and >> have used a variety of light sources, including some inexpensive halogen >> replacement bulbs from amazon and some dome lights from princess auto. Am >> very happy with both despite the low cost. >> >> IMHO Biggest remaining issue is the fridge - it needs to be better sealed >> and better insulated is to reduce the amp-hour draw. This will take some >> thought and is a project for the winter. >> >> Am a bit behind on blog updates but will catch up over the next week or so. >> http://cncwindstar.blogspot.com/2015/12/hello-all-this-blog-is-intended-to.html >> >> Am interested in the evolution of your plans! >> >> Dave >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >>> On Oct 13, 2018, at 1:42 PM, DON JONSSON <dbjons...@shaw.ca> wrote: >>> >>> Hi All >>> >>> Last year after putting in a new Beta engine with a larger alternator (110 >>> amp) we added an additional battery, a battery monitor, and to use all that >>> power, a fridge. (Of interest, and not the point of this email, is we went >>> through two alternators on the boat last summer both on warranty. Doesn't >>> bode well. We did not put in a smart regulator as it would void the >>> warranty. Guess that was a good thing. Two mechanics have gone through >>> the boat and all wiring is good. They claim manufacturing default in both >>> alternators. Hmmm.) >>> >>> The fridge is a fantastic addition especially when you are up north with no >>> stores to buy ice, or much food for that matter. BUT, as you all know it >>> takes a lot of power. Which gets me to the questions. Easy one first. >>> >>> 1. We have added some new LED reading light fixtures but still have a few >>> more old incandescent lights where we would like to keep the fixtures. You >>> can get replacement LED bulbs that range in price from a couple of dollars >>> to $15. I read that cheaper ones don't deal with variations in voltage >>> very well and you should spend more money. Does anyone have experience and >>> recommendations. >>> >>> 2. The real solution, we think, is solar panels. But how much do they >>> really help and where to put them on a 34 foot sailboat. It seems all >>> locations come with a compromise. We are considering: >>> >>> A: On top of the dodger, but the boom will always be an issue. Especially >>> since we don't have a bimini we use the boom for supporting our awning that >>> we put up on hot sunny days. Yes we occasionally get them up on the BC >>> coast and blocking the sun is mandatory. >>> >>> B: Get a bimini and mount them on it. But this gets us back to the >>> sunshine issue. Lots of days it isn't that warm and you want the sun on >>> you. A Bimini with solar panels is not that easy to fold out of the way. >>> Also it isn't cheap. >>> >>> C: Hang them off the life lines or rails at the back of the boat with a >>> support that allows you to set them flat when at anchor. But we >>> occasionally carry bikes back there and we couldn't have both at the same >>> time. Also looks a little clunky. >>> >>> D: Leave them as portable and set them out when at anchor. But then it is >>> a pain and you don't do it unless you are sitting for a while and you have >>> all the wire to deal with, etc. And they aren't helping much under sail. >>> >>> So does anyone have a recommendation as to what they have done and how it >>> works. Also how many amp hours did you get on a sunny day? What size of >>> panels did you use. >>> >>> I know, that like everything on a boat it is always a compromise, we are >>> just trying to figure out which one to make. >>> >>> Thanks for any help. >>> >>> Don Jonsson >>> Andante, C&C 34 >>> Victoria, BC >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and >> every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use >> PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray >>
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