[Rhodes22-list] speaking of solar panels

[elle]

Bill, 

You are making two assumptions:
• that the R-22's have LED's rather than the installed
incandescent lights; and 
2) that the engine battery is 2a) the only battery,
and 2b) that it is b=connected to the house lights.

NOT!

Each may be very different from what i described. I
based my comments on my own configuration.

Your mileage may vary.

elle



--- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:

> Hadz,
> 
> Power consumption meters will do all the
> calculations for you.  While 
> they are expensive, they answer a lot of questions,
> and bring peace of 
> mind.  They will ultimately save you a lot of money.
> 
> Solar panels actually do bring a lot to the party. 
> The consumption 
> figures L. and Art are using--which you will see
> widely used 
> elsewhere--are incorrect in real life.
> 
> The starter motors on large boats draw far more
> electricity out of 
> batteries than an equivalent number of LEDs left
> burning for the same 
> calculated number of Amp-Hours.
> 
> On our boats, motors with starters will put more
> electricity back into 
> the battery than they consume.  Solar cells are all
> that are required to 
> put electricity back into the batteries for lights,
> stereos,  and other 
> incidental uses.  When you are cruising you will
> inevitably wind up 
> using your motor a lot.  This will provide plenty of
> electricity for 
> auto-pilots and lights.  Should the battery fail,
> all you need to do is 
> pull the cord on our little motors to start
> them--you can't do that with 
> big boats which is why they factor in so much for
> idiots--the running 
> motor will provide the electricity you need for
> lights/autopilot/and 
> bringing the batteries back up to fully charged
> levels.
> 
> One battery is all you really need on our boats
> almost all of the time.  
> 2 batteries are over-kill.  Top them off with solar
> panels most of the 
> time.  Get an electric starting motor.  Your
> batteries should never run 
> down if they are constantly topped off by solar
> panels.  Properly 
> maintained batteries that are never fully discharged
> will last for more 
> than 6 years.
> 
> Bill Effros
> 
> Joseph Hadzima wrote:
> > Thanks elle & Art!
> >
> > I had assumed the pannel utilitiy was related both
> to
> > consumpson, and latitude; and since you're also
> just above
> > the 37th latitude, I appreciate your calculations.
>  
> >
> >
> >
> > --- "Arthur H. Czerwonky"
> <czerwonky at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> Elle,
> >>
> >> Excellent perspective on the panels.  They don't
> bring
> >> much to the party.  I bought one of the LED
> utility
> >> lights from Boaters World at the Annapolis - not
> bad at
> >> all, and low power consumption.  I bought LED
> Xmas lights
> >> before the holidays, for next year's boat parade
> in
> >> Savannah possibly.  Five strings powered thru a
> 70 watt
> >> inverter (the lights were a/c because the DC were
> sold
> >> out) were no problem at all, plenty for 80' of
> big LED
> >> bulbs.  The mfg will not comment on amp draw, but
> it must
> >> be minescule.
> >>
> >> I really think the stability questions about the
> Rhodes
> >> have been  overdone, therefore of concern to you,
> Hadz,
> >> and others.  Each of us skipper has our own
> comfort
> >> boundaries, and this remarkable craft has the
> ability to
> >> adjust accordingly.  If you find the boat
> sensitive to
> >> particular winds, it is so simple to trim either
> main or
> >> genny.  Bill likes to stay level on the water in
> the LI
> >> area, even with the ability to steer with weight
> >> distribution.  Match that...
> >>
> >> I really don't think there is a boat to compare
> with
> >> our's in any catagory except maybe competitive
> racing
> >> with IMF.  
> >>
> >> I can't wait to read your first postings after
> you
> >> receive yours.  We will hear the Oh's! and Ah's
> in
> >> Atlanta, at Hartwell, and at Edenton without
> fail!  I can
> >> bet you're ready to get underway.  If you are a
> little
> >> short to see the bow, nary a problem because you
> will
> >> just levitate.
> >>
> >> Many cheers,
> >> Art
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >>     
> >>> From: elle <watermusic38 at yahoo.com>
> >>> Sent: Jan 27, 2007 12:41 PM
> >>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] speaking of solar
> panels
> >>>
> >>> Hadz,
> >>>   
> >>>  Whether the solar panels can keep the batteries
> >>>       
> >> charged is a function of the no. of  amp hours
> used by
> >> the goodies below.
> >>     
> >>>   
> >>>  I don't have my estimated numbers with me (I'm
> at the
> >>>       
> >> marina working...!) but, for example, if you have
> 5
> >> interior lights below and if each interior light 
> pulls
> >> 1.5 amps/hr , you are using 7.5 amps per hour
> using all
> >> lights. Or you could use 1 light for 7.5 hours.
> The solar
> >> panels may provide approx. 1-2 amp hrs/day each
> in this
> >> latitude (maybe a bit more when the days are
> longer &
> >> fewer when the days become shorter)...so
> estimating
> >> usage, and the knowing the % you can draw your
> batteries
> >> down, I'd say don't count on the solar panels
> doing more
> >> than to top 'em off.
> >>     
> >>>   
> >>>  When I did some estimates the other day, I
> figured I
> >>>       
> >> could stay out 2-3 days (if sunny), bieng
> conservative in
> >> use, and have to go in to recharge from shore
> power on
> >> the 3rd day...more or less.
> >>     
> >>>   
> >>>  elle
> >>>   
> >>>  
> >>> Joseph Hadzima <josef508 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>  
> >>> I was under the impression that solar panels
> worked best
> >>> when they are set 90 degrees to the Sun. With
> the panels
> >>> statically mounted on the Rhodes, are they
> sufficient at
> >>> keeping the batteries charged during a typical
> weekend
> >>> cruise, or are they more for: charging when you
> leave
> >>>       
> >> your
> >>     
> >>> boat tied at a mooring / slip during the week
> and sail
> >>>       
> >> on
> >>     
> >>> the weekend?
> >>>
> >>> I assume the latitude where you sail may affect
> the
> >>> efficiency.
> >>>
> >>>       
> >
> >
> > HADZ (a.k.a. joe)
> >
> > "That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a
> keel and hull and a deck and sails. That's what a
> ship needs. But what a ship is... is freedom." 
> > -- Captain Jack Sparrow
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >   
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> www.rhodes22.org/list
> 



 
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