Forgot to mention I also run a simple Raymarine instrument system on each use - DST sensor, wind vane, GPS, hub, and MFD.
Cheers, Randy > On Sep 14, 2021, at 1:03 PM, Randal Stafford via CnC-List > <[email protected]> wrote: > > "The stock system was so adequate for that that I didn't even notice a dead > alternator for an entire season.” > > Lol, I think that’s what happened to me. I bought Grenadine in January 2016; > this is my sixth season with her. She came with a pair of group 29 Everstart > lead-acid batteries manufactured 5/14 and 6/14. I accidentally drained them > a couple times with cycling bilge pumps a few years ago. Brought them home, > checked their water levels, charged them up on a cheap smart charger, put > them back in the boat, and didn’t give it another thought, but installed > check valves downstream of my bilge pumps. :) Grenadine also has a small 15W > solar panel and charge controller for topping up the batteries (and a shore > power charge controller, which I don’t use because my slip doesn’t have shore > power). > > I use the boat a couple times a week for lake racing and leisure sailing. > Ten minutes of motoring twice per use to leave and return to the marina. > Aside from starting the A4, I typically run a stereo system, and possibly > some nav lights / cabin lights if at night. That’s it. > > A few weeks ago I went down to the boat for a Wednesday night race and the > batteries were dead. Left and returned to the slip by sail power, raced in > between. Got a jump afterward from another guy’s battery and measured my > alternator output at 9.8V (it’s supposed to be 13.7V). I don’t know when the > alternator petered out; it could have been years ago, and the solar panel was > enough to keep the batteries charged until they became too worn out to hold a > charge. I did bring the batts home and put one on my charger, and it took > over 24 hours and couldn’t get from 99% to 100%. So I lost trust and bought > new ones. > > Thanks for confirming that amp-hour capacity is the upside of lithium. Now > that you mention it, some of my camping buddies have outfitted their rigs > with solar and lithium so they can go off-grid for days. In fact one guy’s > system can power low-draw 110V loads like phone chargers. > > If I was using a boat to cruise for days without running the motor to charge > the batts, I could see the benefit of a higher-capacity system. > > Cheers, > Randy Stafford > S/V Grenadine > C&C 30-1 #79 > Ken Caryl, CO > >> On Sep 14, 2021, at 12:22 PM, Dave S via CnC-List <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> Which is more or less what I paid for a group31 LiFePo battery... When I >> really shopped it (industrial sources) I was pleasantly surprised at the >> price. >> >> Whether it's of benefit really depends on your use as Randy stated. When I >> first bought windstar I only daysailed and plugged in every night. The >> stock system was so adequate for that that I didn't even notice a dead >> alternator for an entire season. I did finally replace it even though the >> cost clearly wasn't justified. ;-) >> >> My more recent scope was to have multiple consecutive days off the grid so I >> needed to do something. (all well documented along with the arithmetic on >> the blog) >> >> I too thought that LiFePo was cost prohibitive for less than 5 year time >> horizon, however the lower than expected first cost and utterly carefree >> electrical system have made them a slam dunk. From memory, vs AGM the cost >> difference might have been C$400 max. as I worked my way though the >> project, I had an epiphany as I climbed a ladder with two group 31s in one >> hand, and had further epiphanies when I managed to fit ALL my new batteries >> and battery management hardware in a much smaller footprint than previously, >> while simultaneously doubling my usable house bank capacity. I was also >> surprised at how quickly they charge. After one season with solar/lithium I >> have enough confidence in the system that when I renew my marina contract >> next year, I will decline the need for shore power and will save >> C$400/season as a bonus. >> To be clear, my enthusiasm is as much about a successful solar install as >> the LiFePo batteries themselves. >> >> Dave > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
