[Rhodes22-list] Solar Cells, Batteries, and GPS

[daniel snyder]

Mark, I have exactly the same question on the GPS antenna.  I'm purchasing 
the Lowrance 337 which is out just this month with an internal 
antenna....same price for the external antenna model.  I don't know which 
one to get for the same reasons you mentioned.  I was leaning towards the 
external antenna so that I might have a bit more flexibility in where to 
mount the unit itself.  Hope someone on the list can help.

Dan Snyder
New London, NH
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mputnam1 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 4:07 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Solar Cells, Batteries, and GPS


> As I've mentioned before, I'll be receiving my recycled R22 from Stan in 
> the next month or so ... and I have a question about battery power and 
> solar cells.
>
> As some background: The 1990 R22 that I'm purchasing has one solar cell 
> and one battery (although Stan is checking to be sure there's not another 
> battery hidden somewhere on board).
>
> After much agonizing over cost, I went ahead and purchased a GPS system 
> and a separate depth sounder.  I mainly want the GPS in the event of an 
> emergency, if I'm sailing in unfamiliar waters in the Chesapeake, and in 
> the event I anchor overnight.  I understand the GPS alarm can (hopefully) 
> wake me up if my boat drifts from its anchorage overnight.
>
> I mainly got the depth sounder for anchoring.  I'm not thrilled with 
> cutting another hole in the side of the cockpit, but I didn't want to have 
> the GPS screen be split between the GPS display and the depth sounder 
> display.
>
> Anyway, here are my two questions:
>
> 1) Will one solar cell be enough if its to power the GPS overnight, in 
> addition to other power drains on the battery?  Should I spend the money 
> to have Stan put on another solar cell (and another battery, assuming 
> there's only one on board) in order to have a dedicated battery for the 
> GPS (with the other battery dedicated to the radio, depth sounder, and any 
> other electrical needs)?  I have no idea if a GPS can drain a battery 
> overnight.
>
> 2) I purchased a GPS with an internal antenna.  My plan was to mount it on 
> a bracket that could swing into the opening of the cabin and, thus, have a 
> clear view of the sky.  I didn't want to mount yet another instrument on 
> the cockpit wall (there's already a compass mounted there).  But now that 
> I think about it, if I want to rely on the GPS while anchoring overnight, 
> should I have gotten a GPS with a separate antenna so that it could be 
> mounted somewhere on the roof of the cabin?  That way, I can close the 
> cabin door at night and not worry about obstructing the GPS's view of the 
> sky.  If so, where would you mount the GPS antenna?
>
> This is all new to me, so I appreciate any and all advice on these two 
> points.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Mark
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