Wxx3
Dauntless Award
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2013
- Messages
- 2,820
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Dauntless
- Vessel Make
- Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
18 October 2014
Just showered, after retying lines for half an hour. I now have 4 springs, 2 bow and 3 stern lines. It’s been windy last two days, as that big low in the North Atlantic finally moved NE. Winds are not that steady, in any minute they go from 5 to 35 knots. I’m guessing it’s a local thing and where I’m docked.
Got back to Dauntless Thursday afternoon having been gone for 18 days, all was fine, meaning she was safe and secure, so that’s one less worry for this winter.
I thought I had sorted out my 220 volt charging issues, but alas it seems not to be.
The smart charger I had was clearly too smart and decided to do nothing. Only yesterday did I go on line and discover that almost everyone who bought the same charger for about had the same issue. I should have just found a stupid charger that would put a steady 6 amps until unplugged. The Victron said only -480 amp-hours, but I don’t believe it. Voltage was down to 11.7 v and in the past 12v was an indication of about -450 amp-hours.
Clearly the fact that the only thing on were the fridge and freezer, I should have turned off fridge before I left and then no matter what all would have been ok. As it was the telltale on the temps for them told me that the freezer had gotten to 44°F, was currently 24, with a low when I left it at 02°F.
Luckily, I could tell that the freezer did not spend a lot of time above freezing since the frost that accumulates had fallen, but not melted. Good sign. I pretty much threw everything away anyway, figuring if we hadn’t eaten it in the last three months, it would probably never be eaten.
I told you, I had enough provisions to feed an family in Africa for a year; an extended family. Oh, I didn’t tell you, I told the Krogenites.
I am writing that talk so it will appear sooner or later.
For those who care about numbers, I calculate that the fridge and freezer use at most 4 amps/hour on average for 24 hours, that’s 96 amp hours, but now I think it’s 3.0 amps. That would be 72 amp hours per day x 18 days = 1296 amp hours minus the solar panels. Now with full overhead sun they would produce 440 watts or 100 amps. Now, as we all know the sun is never overhead north of the tropic of Cancer and up here I expect for this time of year at best 40 amp hours per day. That would have put 720 amps hours back into the batteries leaving me a net of minus 570 amp hours and at 11.7 v with a total capacity of 980 amp hours, I think those numbers are reasonable, at least the final number are.
Yes, I know how bad it is to go below 50%. I’ll add it to the list.
I was really stressed about it for a few days when I left, but at a certain point, one just should accept what will be will be. So while I understand that I may have to replace the batteries sooner because of it, I am also very fatalistic in believing that everything happens for a reason and if the batteries do need to get replaced sooner, it is probably for the best as I would avoid some other future battery related disaster and if no harm was done, then fine. In any case, once done, move on.
OK that’s it for now. And just so you all know. I spent that time redoing the lines because I figured that many of you would have really good advice for me and what I should do, so I tried to emulate what I thought you guys would tell me. The boat is bouncing around a lot less. I knew you guys would ask how many spring lines I had (only two before).
So, thanks for the advice, even when you don’t give it. I’ve learned so much from this forum.
Oh, speaking of forums, on Cruiser Forum there is a really good explanation of all the instruments a surveyor should be using on your boat to determine hull moisture. He really lays out how it’s impossible to rely on only one or two types of instruments.
Just showered, after retying lines for half an hour. I now have 4 springs, 2 bow and 3 stern lines. It’s been windy last two days, as that big low in the North Atlantic finally moved NE. Winds are not that steady, in any minute they go from 5 to 35 knots. I’m guessing it’s a local thing and where I’m docked.
Got back to Dauntless Thursday afternoon having been gone for 18 days, all was fine, meaning she was safe and secure, so that’s one less worry for this winter.
I thought I had sorted out my 220 volt charging issues, but alas it seems not to be.
The smart charger I had was clearly too smart and decided to do nothing. Only yesterday did I go on line and discover that almost everyone who bought the same charger for about had the same issue. I should have just found a stupid charger that would put a steady 6 amps until unplugged. The Victron said only -480 amp-hours, but I don’t believe it. Voltage was down to 11.7 v and in the past 12v was an indication of about -450 amp-hours.Clearly the fact that the only thing on were the fridge and freezer, I should have turned off fridge before I left and then no matter what all would have been ok. As it was the telltale on the temps for them told me that the freezer had gotten to 44°F, was currently 24, with a low when I left it at 02°F.
Luckily, I could tell that the freezer did not spend a lot of time above freezing since the frost that accumulates had fallen, but not melted. Good sign. I pretty much threw everything away anyway, figuring if we hadn’t eaten it in the last three months, it would probably never be eaten.
I told you, I had enough provisions to feed an family in Africa for a year; an extended family. Oh, I didn’t tell you, I told the Krogenites.
I am writing that talk so it will appear sooner or later.
For those who care about numbers, I calculate that the fridge and freezer use at most 4 amps/hour on average for 24 hours, that’s 96 amp hours, but now I think it’s 3.0 amps. That would be 72 amp hours per day x 18 days = 1296 amp hours minus the solar panels. Now with full overhead sun they would produce 440 watts or 100 amps. Now, as we all know the sun is never overhead north of the tropic of Cancer and up here I expect for this time of year at best 40 amp hours per day. That would have put 720 amps hours back into the batteries leaving me a net of minus 570 amp hours and at 11.7 v with a total capacity of 980 amp hours, I think those numbers are reasonable, at least the final number are.
Yes, I know how bad it is to go below 50%.
I’ll add it to the list.I was really stressed about it for a few days when I left, but at a certain point, one just should accept what will be will be. So while I understand that I may have to replace the batteries sooner because of it, I am also very fatalistic in believing that everything happens for a reason and if the batteries do need to get replaced sooner, it is probably for the best as I would avoid some other future battery related disaster and if no harm was done, then fine. In any case, once done, move on.
OK that’s it for now. And just so you all know. I spent that time redoing the lines because I figured that many of you would have really good advice for me and what I should do, so I tried to emulate what I thought you guys would tell me. The boat is bouncing around a lot less. I knew you guys would ask how many spring lines I had (only two before).
So, thanks for the advice, even when you don’t give it. I’ve learned so much from this forum.
Oh, speaking of forums, on Cruiser Forum there is a really good explanation of all the instruments a surveyor should be using on your boat to determine hull moisture. He really lays out how it’s impossible to rely on only one or two types of instruments.
