Connecting a solar panel through shore power

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by sailortjk1

I usually get about 3 -4 years out of the cheap West M wet cells.
When I'm done with em I toss em.

You gotta love your batteries like you love your woman - with attention, affection, and a little something here and there to keep her batteries charged. Ya can't just toss the woman out every 3-4 years and go get another one. Geez, Tim.

HEHE!

- CD

[ebs001]

Voice3, I would recommend you do yourself and your boat a favour and buy "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems" by Nigel Calder

[camaraderie]

If you have a battery switch that says off/1/2/all..AND ALL your batteries are gels...suggest you fully charge the batteries at the dock before getting put on the hard...Then get a small solar panel of 20-40 watts size, and a cheap regulator and then wire directly on to one of your house batteries while leaving the battery switch on all.
It is hard to tell you exactly what to do given your lack of detail on the existing system but what i suggest should preserve them through the winter if they are decent to begin with. God luck and welcome aboard!

[billyruffn]

Originally Posted by voice3

In general, what is the most cost efficient way to keep batteries charged while dry docked in the winter?

Originally Posted by voice3

In response to Sailingdog, that's not the most cost efficient way to keep batteries charged if you live in NYC!

Don't be too hard on the Dog, he was just trying to help. Re the question above, one relatively inexpensive solution if you don't have an AC battery charger you can hook to shore power is to buy a "Battery Tender" (see Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs Battery Tender Plus ) -- roughly $60 which you can leave attached the batteries all winter. You can plug it in to any AC outlet with an extension cord. With the batteries fully charged at the start of the winter season, a battery tender will keep even a big bank charged. I kept a 800 amp hour bank charged all winter in my garage on one small battery tender. It should work on the boat just as well, but it always pays to check them every few weeks with a volt meter. If you have wet cell batteries, you also want to keep an eye on the fluid level as the winter goes on.

[TractorJohn]

This little panel was on sale for $34.95, comes with wirng to direct connect to battery and doesn't need a control. Check the WM catalog or web site.
I've had one for six months and couldn't be happier. Stay away from shore power with solar panels.

[sailaway21]

Cam's suggestion is what I do all summer with my single battery. I have a small flexible solar panel, I forget precisely what small wattage it is at the moment, that I just plug in to my cigarette lighter outlet. Seems to keep them relatively topped off.

Personally, in the original poster's situation, I'd prefer a small trickle charger operating off of shore power to do the job. Solar nuts like CD overestimate the availability of direct sunlight in northern climes.

[voice3]

Originally Posted by ebs001

Voice3, I would recommend you do yourself and your boat a favour and buy "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems" by Nigel Calder

Do you think Calder's book is better than Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual? I've read Calder's Barefoot Cruising Guide, which is pretty good, but I don't know if I can stand hearing any more about "Nada" and "Pacific Seacraft."

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by voice3

Do you think Calder's book is better than Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual? I've read Calder's Barefoot Cruising Guide, which is pretty good, but I don't know if I can stand hearing any more about "Nada" and "Pacific Seacraft."

Yes, it is better and one of the best books on my boat. Very detailed (almost too detailed) and technical. It covers more than elec systems, incidenatlly.

It is worth the $$.

- CD

[sailingdog]

And it doesn't mention either Nada or Pacific Seacraft much at all IIRC.

Originally Posted by voice3

Do you think Calder's book is better than Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual? I've read Calder's Barefoot Cruising Guide, which is pretty good, but I don't know if I can stand hearing any more about "Nada" and "Pacific Seacraft."