[Rhodes22-list] Generator

Fri Apr 1 09:43:30 EST 2005

Wally, Brad,

There are a lot of different starter packs on the market, some are 
terrific, some are junk--it's hard to tell the difference from the package.

The original, and best, ones work great.  I've had one for 10 years that 
can still start my truck.  I've used it to drive electric boat motors, 
to recharge cell phones, to power air pumps, to test electric circuits 
on the boat.  It's light weight (compared to a standard 12V battery,) 
self contained, doesn't have to be kept upright, will recharge using 110 
or a cigarette lighter plug...and it really can jump start a truck any 
day of the week (If you've got a big dead battery, best to take it out 
of the loop before starting the truck.)

All the battery packs consist of small 12v batteries enclosed in plastic 
cases with jumper cables attached and 12v cigarette plugs.  Some have 
more bells and whistles.  Mine also has 5 leds to show charge status, 
and came with a 110 to 12v inverter.

10 years ago mine cost $100, it is now available for $40-$70 and I 
recently bought a second because I figure the first one can't last 
forever.  Mine was so expensive because it was one of the first uses of 
AGM batteries for the consumer market.  It packed a lot of power in a 
small space; had a long shelf life;  no maintenance--it was not a wet 
cell; recharged quickly; could also discharge slowly for extended use 
for lighting or small appliances; would take a lot of recharge 
cycles--in short it was an excellent application for this type of 
battery--the only down side was cost.

When this product succeeded, cheaper imitations began to flood the 
market.  To lower the cost, they used cheaper batteries, including some 
that are nothing more than wet cell motorcycle batteries inside a 
plastic case.  Needless to say, these did not work as well, and have 
hurt the reputation of the product category.

The second one I bought seems to work as well as the first.  Both of the 
battery packs I bought look like this one:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=7962&R=7962

although I can't vouch for the quality of the battery inside the case.  
Since this particular one is sold by Northern Tools, which is good both 
on price and on backing its products, my guess is that you would be 
satisfied with it.

Bill Effros

Wally Buck wrote:

> Brad I didn't realize the starter packs were not up to starting tasks. 
> I am glad I didn't purchase one.
>
>> From: brad haslett <flybrad at yahoo.com>
>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Generator
>> Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 04:28:04 -0800 (PST)
>>
>> Wally,
>>
>> I've got one of the jump starter packs and found it
>> useless the one time I tried to start my van with it.
>> It does have a 300 watt inverter that comes in handy
>> for charging cell phones and running a laptop.  I
>> haven't tried it on my 13hp diesel but my guess it
>> would be adaquate and more than enough for an
>> outboard.  Your warning about generators on board are
>> well taken.  I haven't used mine on board (but sure as
>> hell wish I'd had it the other day) and would only use
>> it only while topside, upwind, and awake. I started it
>> in the garage one time for a demo and within 30
>> seconds it was time to open the door.  It is amazingly
>> quiet but puts out more exhaust than one would think.
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>> --- Wally Buck <tnrhodey at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Oh heck Bill I never lambasted anyone. ;-)
>> >
>> > I know Ric has a Honda but I am not sure if he ever
>> > used on his Rhodes. They
>> > scare me a little on small boats like ours. A couple
>> > of years ago three
>> > people were airlifted from our marina overhwlemed by
>> > fumes on their big
>> > Carver cruiser. Supposedly the guy had 3 carbon
>> > monoxide detecters. On a
>> > boat like Brads he may have plenty of room. I would
>> > still suggest one of the
>> > jump starter packs. They are prety cheap. If you put
>> > a generator on your
>> > boat be careful.
>> >
>> > Wally
>> >
>> > >From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
>> > >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> > <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > >To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> > <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Generator
>> > >Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:21:56 -0500
>> > >
>> > >Sorry, Wally,
>> > >
>> > >Who was the other guy we were lambasting?
>> > >
>> > >Bill Effros
>> > >
>> > >Wally Buck wrote:
>> > >
>> > >>I haven't had the need for a generator so I really
>> > didn't comment back
>> > >>then. For my use they are overkill but I could see
>> > how they could be
>> > >>handy. What about one of those jump start battery
>> > packs? My buddy just
>> > >>restored a boat from the 70s and his motor has a
>> > hand crank. I thought
>> > >>that was pretty nice. You need to know how to use
>> > crank so you don't get
>> > >>hurt. :-)
>> > >>
>> > >>Wally
>> > >>
>> > >>>From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
>> > >>>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> > <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > >>>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> > <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > >>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Generator
>> > >>>Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:45:00 -0500
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Sorry about the lambasting.  I think I was on the
>> > lambasting side of the
>> > >>>equation, although I think my role would better
>> > be characterized as
>> > >>>ridiculing.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Then I stumbled across one, and was really
>> > surprised about how quiet it
>> > >>>was.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Sadly, I had trashed all the email in this
>> > thread, thinking it would
>> > >>>never apply to me.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Now I'm thinking it might be a really useful
>> > thing to carry aboard.  Your
>> > >>>situation is just one example.  But it also might
>> > be useful as a hybrid
>> > >>>gas/electric propulsion system in a pinch.  We
>> > are already carrying the
>> > >>>gas on board, so that's no big thing.  The small
>> > generators run on a
>> > >>>thimbleful of gas.  The little Honda runs around
>> > $700.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>As I remember, you and Wally (?) had some
>> > interesting storage and
>> > >>>mounting ideas.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Again, sorry about the lambasting.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>Bill Effros
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>>brad haslett wrote:
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>Bill,
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>>Yeah, I started that discussion and pretty well
>> > got
>> > >>>>lambasted for it.  The last issue of Practical
>> > Sailor
>> > >>>>did a review on small generators and chose the
>> > Yamaha
>> > >>>>by a slight edge over my Honda.  It was my
>> > intent to
>> > >>>>take it with me on this trip but was one of a
>> > dozen
>> > >>>>items left behind.  A small generator on board
>> > would
>> > >>>>have definitely solved our problem of low
>> > batteries. I've thought about
>> > >>>>leaving it on the boat but it saved
>> > >>>>our arse at home during hurricane Elvis last
>> > year, and
>> > >>>>kept us from losing all our food after going
>> > without
>> > >>>>power for three days.
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>>Brad
>> > >>>>--- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>>>Brad,
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>Weren't you part of the small portable
>> > generator
>> > >>>>>discussion?  The more I've thought about it,
>> > (and after hearing how
>> > >>>>>quietly they run) the more interested I've
>> > become in that idea.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>Did you decide against it?  Wouldn't that have
>> > >>>>>solved your problem?
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>Bill Effros
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>brad haslett wrote:
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>Anne,
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>Let's not be to harsh on the Bohemians.  I'm
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>beginning
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>to think of myself as a Bohemian sailor.  My
>> > oldest
>> > >>>>>>boy and his friends survived Spring Break on
>> > the
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>boat,
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>the boat didn't fare as well.  They stayed up
>> > all
>> > >>>>>>night partying while I slept in the aft cabin.
>> >  The
>> > >>>>>>second morning we cranked the engine and
>> > motored
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>for
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>about 30 minutes until the wind picked up, and
>> > then
>> > >>>>>>raised the sails and a few toasts.  When the
>> > wind
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>died
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>down we stowed canvas and attempted to start
>> > the
>> > >>>>>>diesel ginny.  Click, Click, Click!  My
>> > battery
>> > >>>>>>charger quit a couple of months ago (it was a
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>salvage
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>unit off the Mayflower), the replacement is on
>> > >>>>>>backorder from Sailnet, and apparently we
>> > didn't
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>motor
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>enough to recover from the gazillion hours of
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>stereo
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>use.  "Not to worry boys!  Its a sailboat!"
>> > The
>> >
>> === message truncated ===
>>
>>
>>
>>
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