Salt
& Battery
No,
the pirate captain ain’t beating the crew, just installing more batteries to
get back into the salt water and begin the Great Loop again.
Just
a little over five months ago was the initial Great Loop shakedown. In the
weekend trial there were a few problems that needed to be addressed.
One
weighty problem was the old 12 volt batteries that needed to be replaced. Although
a set of four batteries were somewhat older than the ten that were newly/additionally installed, the temperature sensor and the equalizing charge
had been set incorrectly. The error in the setting literally burnt out a number
of plates within each of the four batteries, mortally shortening their service
life.
I
have doubled the number of replacements (now 8) and will use these to ballast
the boat correctly. A few pictures show the four (red & blue tagged)
batteries in the center of the boat beneath the galley and the additional four
in the forward saloon under the sole plate.
The
battery type is 12 volts and will be replaced by new batteries from Apollo
Energy Systems. The ones used now have about 1,200 watts each while the AES
battery will have 2,980 watts each with a smaller foot print. With the present
set of 18 batteries a 21,600 watt store of energy is about the theoretical
maximum. The same number of AES units would be over 53,000 watts and take up
less space. So I will have to make do with a common deep cycle battery until
the new AES units arrive in the August 2014 time frame.
Wiring
of the new AES units will be nearly the same with shims added to
the battery box for the smaller foot print. I was planning on placing multiple
AES 2 volt units much sooner but they were too tall for an easy fitment
solution, thus requiring me to wait for the latest and greatest in August.
To
compliment the added battery storage capacity, the addition of 5 more 235 watt solar modules are being placed on the boat roof. These will be temporary,
to be used in long crossings and strong tides and currents. When not in use
they are to be stored flat/vertical against the forward and aft bulkheads. This
use could be compared to a spinnaker on a sail boat for extra power or speed.
The
weather has been dreadful for accomplishing meaningful deadlines.(As
if nobody has noticed the cold, wind, rain and snow conditions.)Shipments
of parts, installation and rebuilding has ground to a halt many times in this
new 2014 year. Meanwhile the solar electric yacht will be re-launched to get
underway in April.
I
have had preached to me by a number of folks who have completed the Great
Loop, that the most dangerous thing one can do in pursuing the Loop is to keep
a tight schedule. Nature has no schedule and is incredibly more powerful.
Simply put, yield to nature or die.
Image 1-The solar module in the center at the rear is one of three to be added across
the stern's roof. Two more will be added to the forward roof.
Image 2-Four batteries added beneath the saloon sole to be electrically tied to another
four under the galley sole.
Image 3-From left, the newest forward four, ten five month older (blue and black tags)
under the head sole and another four newest batteries under the galley sole plates.
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