[C320-list] Wind of solar power

Mon Jun 1 19:19:15 PDT 2009

I agree, although I installed a 3000W inverter on cl 3, the best part was the 120a 3-stage charger that came with it.. :)

I use the inverter portion to run a PC and some other misc electric products but that's about all...I even deleted the microwave when I bought the boat and had them install cabinet doors in its place for storage.

BTW--Karl,

Yes, LED lights are expensive ($24 ea), but they last forever, are cool to the touch and use milliamps...I just swapped out all of my internal lights (including the ones in the cabins) and also my tri-color and anchor light at the mast...next are my Aqua Signal deck navigation lights

----------------------------------
Regards,
OD

Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

----- Original Message -----
From: "warren updike" [wupdike at hotmail.com]
Sent: 06/01/2009 09:56 PM AST
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Wind of solar power

Inverters are not practical for large AC loads.  

See the current issue of Sail Mag as Nigel Calder has a great article on
"The Price of Power," wherein he reviews the various methods and costs of
creating and storing power on a boat including the use of costly lithium-ion
batteries.  He concludes that the most practical and cost-effective way to
generate power away from the dock is, "...an investment in solar panels and
wind generators..." with, "a small portable (gas) generator on-deck powering
a powerful battery charger..."  

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Seastream [mailto:robert.seastream at comcast.net] 
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 5:27 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Wind of solar power

I'm on a mooring and would go with solar over wind if I were still  
considering.  Solar is quieter, with little or no maintenance.   
Doesn't have to be totally sunny to work well, either.

The only caveat is if you have (or plan to) any AC devices that  
require lots of current (air conditioning, electric heater, water  
heater) to start/operate.  Then you'd need inverters (to change DC   
into AC); these would place a huge demand on your batteries.  A very  
basic comparison is that there's a 10:1 difference in current draw  
between a device running on 12 volts and one running on 120 volts.  A  
1200 watt device which requires 10 amps at 120 volts will require 100  
amps (via the inverters) at 12 volts from your batteries.  At that  
point, solar vs wind is moot; a generator might be better.  The  
differences in AC vs DC current is a bit more involved than I  
describe, but perhaps enough to give you an idea.

Bob Seastream
Intuition, # 906

On May 31, 2009, at 12:36 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:

> Hi Tom
>
> A good option is to mount a solar panel on davits. Wind gen is good  
> also but has a maint cost to keeping it in working order.
>
> We really like the Garhauer davits and sail the boston area also.   
> If we were on a mooring that install would be our first choice.
>
> -Jeff
> ------Original Message------
> From: Thomas Page
> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> ReplyTo: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Wind of solar power
> Sent: May 31, 2009 7:45 AM
>
> I have my boat on a mooring in Boston and would like to supplement the
> battery power with either wind or solar.  If I go solar I am  
> thinking of
> installing on top of the bimini.  Or a wind system on the stern of the
> boat.  Does anyone have experience with either?
>
> Any input would be appreciated
> Tom Page
> Jeannette III   Hull #1138
>
>

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