Energy Audit

[hellosailor]

Don, it will pevent them from overcharging, maybe. But it just cuts off at 14VDC max. So it allows a voltage that is TOO HIGH for float charging, and TOO LOW for proper bulk charging.

Sure, it beats nothing. But failing to charge batteries up to 100% is among the reasons that batteyr makers claim so many folks only get half the life they're supposed to be able to get from properly charged batteries.

If I only wanted to prevent my batteries from overcharging, I could use a 60c 3-pin regulator and two resistors to bump the set point and be done with it. The $1.79 for an Altoids tin to mount it all in would be the most expensive part.

Is that ebay cheapo better than nothing for Squidd? Sure. WTF, his battery is small enough and cheap enough that replacing it every two or three years probably is more economical than buying a proper solar controller to prolonge the battery life.

[Squidd]

To be honest, your probably right...

I was just gonna get a couple of Wal-mart deep cycles for the battery bank for now...

And in two or three years I'll have a lot more "practicle" experiance in what I need for storage and what my charging options are...

Heck, in a year or two I may go to full time slip rental and run dock power to power the AC and ice maker, stereo and electric blankets...and then maybe I can get a real coffee pot...

[mitiempo]

Don

CE is safety related - they don't care how well it treats your batteries.

And lightning protection - that is strange when electrical items not even wired in are often destroyed during a strike.

[sawingknots]

actually i've briefly concitored a single sized elec. blanket too,but i have an old military down filled sleeping bag,and stay confy in the most cold tennessee nights,but i have lived in wisconsin,my bag might not cut it there brrr,-24 degrees uh huh,btw do they even make 12 volt blankets?

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Hey sailor down filling doesn't cut it on a boat ! But you should know that! Sailing in Wisc. at -24 = hard water fast sailing!..Dale

[sawingknots]

i'd say sailing in wisc.right now would be quite fast,if you have one of those ice sailing rigs but i'm doubtful about the icebreaking sailboats,the trick to down sleeping bags is you don't breath inside the bag and air it out anytime the weather permits

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Hanging out laundry in that kind of cold takes a while to dry or freeze-dry! Besides they make some good synthetic bags....Dale

[sawingknots]

yeah i know but i aready have this one lol i'm cheap and i have no plans to be in that kind of cold brrrr