Hippocampus
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2020
- Messages
- 4,182
- Location
- Plymouth
- Vessel Name
- Hippocampus
- Vessel Make
- Nordic Tug 42
For decades I’ve waited until I’ve accumulated enough loads before starting the genset. Several prior boats had sufficient ventilation that AC needs were minimal, being sailboats no power hungry stabilization required, RO units were DC and highly efficient. Between wind and solar genset went on ~once a month and we scrambled to get to a 70-80% load. Even so a run of an hour or so occurred. Maintenance was done by time between not hours on.
Now have SeaKeeper. Ventilation isn’t as good as no dorades supplying the staterooms. But port lights are sufficient. RO unit is high output AC. Have frig and two freezers. Have two house sized solar panels but no wind. So genset goes on with the SeaKeeper but unless AC is needed house loads are sufficiently covered at rest by the panels if it’s sunny. Batteries (lifelines) are at 100% soc before retiring for the night.
Do I need to do anything else? I have no direct way to measure genset load (do for the main engine). I think AC/SeaKeeper/ frig/freezers gets me to 65-75% load. Is that sufficient?
I’ve thought about putting in a sink. In the past my solar and wind generators would heat a resistor coil to get rid of unnecessary energy once batteries fully charged. Does this make sense to do on the current boat ? Once wound up the SeaKeeper doesn’t draw anything near the output of the genset plus alternator. It’s rare you need air conditioning while underway.
What would be “best practice ?”
Now have SeaKeeper. Ventilation isn’t as good as no dorades supplying the staterooms. But port lights are sufficient. RO unit is high output AC. Have frig and two freezers. Have two house sized solar panels but no wind. So genset goes on with the SeaKeeper but unless AC is needed house loads are sufficiently covered at rest by the panels if it’s sunny. Batteries (lifelines) are at 100% soc before retiring for the night.
Do I need to do anything else? I have no direct way to measure genset load (do for the main engine). I think AC/SeaKeeper/ frig/freezers gets me to 65-75% load. Is that sufficient?
I’ve thought about putting in a sink. In the past my solar and wind generators would heat a resistor coil to get rid of unnecessary energy once batteries fully charged. Does this make sense to do on the current boat ? Once wound up the SeaKeeper doesn’t draw anything near the output of the genset plus alternator. It’s rare you need air conditioning while underway.
What would be “best practice ?”
