[Rhodes22-list] Link 10

Wed Nov 24 11:10:58 EST 2004

Rick,

I see you have already received replies on the where to buy question.  

My batteries are wet cells.  I don't heel much when I sail, so projectile acid is of little concern.  I like the wet cells because they charge much higher without frying.  Which means I don't have to protect them from my solar cells or from the alternator in my motor.

Also, the wet cells cost 1/4 the price of AGM batteries.  (Although, to be fair, AGM batteries monitored by Link10 or a similar system will probably last for 10 years--36 month wet cells will last for 6-7 years if properly maintained.)

The only down-side to the wet cells is that you must add water from time to time.  The Link10 will let you know when that time is--there is no need to constantly check.

My wet cells maintain a charge above 14 volts until they hit their declining years--then they settle in around 13.50.  When they won't stay above 13 I replace them.  If the voltages start to go under these levels, according to the meter, I check the water level.  That has been the problem 100% of the time.

The meter will also let you see if you have dead shorts, or if some appliance is pulling far more than its rated power draw.  Also, you can check the alternator in your motor, and your solar cells to see if they are REALLY adding to your power supply, and if so, how much.

Similarly you can see in an instant how much power is being pulled by the lights at night, and whether your motor is putting back more than your running lights are drawing--in which case you can cruise forever at night without electrical anxiety.

And if a kid plugs a game into your electrical system how long can the game be played before there is an issue?

Remember the Sears Diehard ads featuring a battery inside a block of ice starting a whole row of cars?  If they can do that, why can't we?  The answer is, we can--most of us just don't know it.  Due to a mental lapse coupled with terminal laziness, both of my R-22 batteries wound up frozen inside cakes of ice one winter.  But when I pushed my Link10 meter button, I instantly knew that both batteries were fine.  Not only were they fine, but I felt comfortable using them to play my Stereo system while I cleaned up the mess, and used a small electrical bilge pump plugged into the boat electrical system to pump out excess water as things started to thaw.

If a bunch of us have Link10s and start to use them, I'm sure we will discover more tricks they can do.  Some of the information that can be derived from these devices falls into the category of "I didn't know you could know that."  I think I will re-read the manual this winter and plan to spend more time with the meter this Spring.

BTW--it is not necessary to replace all batteries at the same time; it is not necessary to have all batteries be the same type; it is not necessary to have all batteries be the same size.  These recommendations are given to people who can't see the battery state so they are advised to overcompensate.

Start by hooking up the Link10 to your failed batteries.  See if you can nurse them back to health and reliability.

If you learn new stuff, please let me know.

Bill Effros 

"Conservatives are so afraid of losing their majority
status right now that.they're showing an astonishing
willingness to spend now and dump all the cost in our
children's laps, and an amazing unwillingness to
reconcile the size of government with the amount of
taxes needed to fund it."

Brian M. Riedl
Heritage Foundation
November 24, 2003

Source:
www.QuoteWithoutComment.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Rick Centalonza 
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list 
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Link 10

Bill,
Who carries the"Link10?" was going to be my question until I typed it 
without a space.
Sounds real good. My batteries were fine all summer until about two 
weeks ago. There was a cold spell and the batteries were dead. If there 
was an indicator that they were low there would not have been a 
problem.
Thank you for getting back to me.
Have a nice "Thanksgiving".
Rick
On Nov 23, 2004, at 7:58 AM, Bill Effros wrote:

> Rick,
>
> What would you like to know?
>
> I use the Link10 every time I get on and get off my boat.  I write 
> down the voltage, and compare the exit voltage with the new reading 
> every time I get on board.
>
> My electrical system is the only thing I can't monitor and control by 
> hand and eye.  Most people constantly add capacity and restrict usage 
> "to be on the safe side."  The Link10 makes the electrical system 
> transparent.  I know its exact condition all the time.  I find that 
> very comforting.  I never have electrical problems on board.  I use 
> all the electricity I want to use.  I never have electrical anxiety.
>
> I don't have a depth gauge on board (but I do have a lead line).  I 
> don't have a speed gauge on board (but I do carry a KnotStick).  I 
> don't miss either instrument, but I would hate to be without my 
> Link10, and would soon replace it if anything ever happened to it.
>
> It's not easy to explain, and it's a lot of money for something that 
> almost always tells you that everything is OK--just what you expected. 
>  But if you use it all the time it will let you know about any 
> potential electrical problems long before they become critical 
> problems.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
> "Conservatives are so afraid of losing their majority
> status right now that.they're showing an astonishing
> willingness to spend now and dump all the cost in our
> children's laps, and an amazing unwillingness to
> reconcile the size of government with the amount of
> taxes needed to fund it."
>
> Brian M. Riedl
> Heritage Foundation
> November 24, 2003
>
> Source:
> www.QuoteWithoutComment.com
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Rick Centalonza
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 9:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Link 10
>
>
> Bill,
> That meter has caught my interest. Anyone have more information?
>
> Rick
>
>
> On Nov 22, 2004, at 8:57 AM, Bill Effros wrote:
>
>> Stephen,
>>
>> Did anyone ever answer this?  I still have it flagged, and I'm doing
>> some house cleaning.  Following is an answer posted in 2000:
>>
>> Rummy,
>>
>> I've got the Heart 10/Link 10 also and I love it.  It gives the exact
>> information you really want.  For example, your meter tells you you
>> have 100
>> amp hours in your battery.  Your meter tells you your lights are
>> drawing 10
>> amps.  How long can you run the lights before your battery is dead.
>> (Hint--the answer is not 10 hours.)  The meter will tell you how long
>> you
>> can run the lights.  The manual explains why the answer is not 10
>> hours.
>>
>> I read about Rhodes owners creating floating electric sub-stations 
>> with
>> another battery in every available space.  If they knew how many amps
>> they
>> actually used and how fast they replaced them they would know they
>> simply
>> don't need all the extra batteries.
>>
>> My boat is on a mooring.  I have 2 solar panels.  My electric starting
>> Tohatsu puts more power back than it uses.  I use as much electricity
>> as I
>> want.  I have never had to recharge the batteries outside the system.
>> The
>> Link 10 instantly and continuously tells me the voltage, amperage,
>> amount of
>> power currently being used, and a pretty good estimate of how much
>> longer I
>> can continue to use the amount of power currently being used.
>>
>> I never have electrical anxiety.
>>
>> It's a good system.  My meter is located above the breaker panel--a
>> logical
>> location--the sensor must be located near the battery.
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>>
>>
>> "Conservatives are so afraid of losing their majority
>> status right now that.they're showing an astonishing
>> willingness to spend now and dump all the cost in our
>> children's laps, and an amazing unwillingness to
>> reconcile the size of government with the amount of
>> taxes needed to fund it."
>>
>> Brian M. Riedl
>> Heritage Foundation
>> November 24, 2003
>>
>> Source:
>> www.QuoteWithoutComment.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Stephen Staum
>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 12:43 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] What does everyone want to give their
>> RhodesforChristmas (or Hanukah)? Looking for ideas/advice.
>>
>>
>> What is a link 10? SS
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Wally Buck" <tnrhodey at hotmail.com>
>> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 11:44 AM
>> Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] What does everyone want to give their
>> Rhodes
>> forChristmas (or Hanukah)? Looking for ideas/advice.
>>
>>
>>> Hey Bill - I got the portable speakers from Cambridge Soundworks. I
>>> think
>>> they are the same Bill has. They sound great. We love to listen to
>>> music
>>> when sailing and at anchor. One of these days I will hard wire and
>>> install
>>> but right now if works out just fine.
>>>
>>> Whisker Pole - If I had a 170 I would put this high on the list
>>>
>>> Link 10 - I have shore power and  dual 10 amp shore charger. My cheap
>>> Walmart batteries have almost 4 years on them. I see no need for Link
>>> 10
>>> with my setup but if I had to rely on solar it might be useful. This
>> doesn't
>>> add much to comfort or speed so it would not be on my list.
>>>
>>> Cruising Spinnaker - I have symetrical spinnaker so I don't have a
>>> strong
>>> desire to spend the bucks but I am sure they would be really nice for
>> those
>>> light wind summer days. I was not a good boy this year and this is
>>> way out
>>> of the budget!
>>>
>>> I have been wanting a new genny real bad but have been putting off
>> purchase.
>>> I think my next boat purchase will be a 155 genny.
>>>
>>> See ya!
>>>
>>> Wally
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>>>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] What does everyone want to give their
>>>> Rhodes for
>>>> Christmas (or Hanukah)? Looking for ideas/advice.
>>>> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 11:20:30 -0500
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So, what does everyone want for Christmas/Hanukah?  I'll start:
>>>>
>>>> +  Speakers/stereo.  I read in the FAQ that Bill Effros went with
>>>> SoundDesigns portable speakers several years ago.  Bill, do you 
>>>> still
>> have?
>>>> How have they worked out?  Any other favorite systems out there?
>>>>
>>>> +  Whisker pole.  Would be nice to keep my 175 genoa from collapsing
>>>> in
>>>> light air, but is it worth the $$$$?
>>>>
>>>> +  Battery charger/monitor.  Link10 looks cool, but is it really
>>>> just a
>>>> luxury?
>>>>
>>>> + Of course, a Doyle UPS cruising spinnaker would be nice, but the
>>>> $1k
>>>> would mean the kids would not get any presents :)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> P.S.  Still waiting for the epiphany that will give me a name for my
>>>> Rhodes, although Fina Lee is still a front runner (since my wife
>>>> came up
>>>> with it).  I figure I have till spring, and then I plan to have a
>>>> grand
>>>> renaming ceremony.
>>>>
>>>> Bill W.
>>>> s/v Fina Lee??
>>>>
>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
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