I am a cruising sailor with high electirc requirements (refrigerator, freezer, stereo, microwave, TV, computer (for navigation, etc), water heater, instruments, auto pilot, and all types of lights. I have three solar cells (big Siemens) and two wind generators (Amp Air marine units) and an outboard (which I can pull start if I must). I settled on six Trojan six volt golf card batteries wired in series and parallel in one bank, with a hydro cap on each cell. I have a Freedom 1500 watt inverter with a Link 2000 controler. The solar cells pass their generated energy through a regulator that senses the % of charge in the bank of batteries and if it senses they are nearly fully charged it shunts the output of the cells to the water heater which has an airplane 12V element. The charger outputs 75 amps when connected to shore power and when cruising I monthly "equalize" my bank of batteries. When selecting a charger for your system make certain you can control its float charge, can perform an "equalization" process, and gives you some type of information you can use to determine rate of discharge as well as percent of amp hours remaining. If it is also an inverter make certain it is a "true sine wave" type of output if you will be operating any solid state equipment from the 12V system such as a TV, computer, microwave, stereo system, etc. David Hoyt Sovereignty Catalina 27 # 65 In a message dated 3/20/2009 12:01:54 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
----- Original Message ----- From: _Bob_ (mailto:[email protected]) To: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 9:24 PM Subject: [IC27A] Re: Battery Size Hi, I'm not exactly sure what "barnyard advice" means but it seems that the chickens know their batteries... No battery should be repeatedly discharged beyond 1/2 its capacity, as damage/premature failure may result. Thus having twice the total capacity that you will use between charges is sound advice. Bob Stockley Sundance #2436 Bob, I forget that this Email List is comprised mostly of ...City Kids... and not ... Country "Hicks". Well, I COULD have meant that my words were .. Of the stuff that covers the ground in Barnyards .Either male Cattle or Horse. (I'm sure there are some here on the list that would attest to my advice likely being mostly THAT) Or.. I could have meant, the oft times dubious Wisdom of the "Gentlemen of the Soil". You know, a kind of "Farmer's Almanac" wisdom... Maybe a wry word or two would convey it more so. ..such as... "Yeeap, 'Tis a better thang to have a 4 gallon milk pail.. whan yer a milkin' a 2 Gallon cow".. More country advice for you City Kids.. "Don't Run barefoot into a Barnyard at night.". With Regards, Ralph Ahseln "Oblio" Gresham OR _._,___ **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219619459x1201345309/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62)
