[Rhodes22-list] Question about batteries

[Gary Novotny]

To Frank and others looking to upgrade their battery systems to solar 
charging, Practical Sailor reviewed solar panels in a very recent issue 
this year. This article provides a good review of various types and 
their pros and cons. I can speak first hand regarding Renogy panels 
which is one of their budget recommendations and are available from 
Amazon. I use these panels in my hurricane power backup solar array and 
they work very well. I bought one to install on my boat but havent put 
it in yet. Of course with larger panels come the requirement that a 
charge controller be used to insure you don't cook your batteries.

The latest thing is to ditch SLA or Flooded cell batteries altogether 
and use Lithium Iron Phospahate cell. Adventuresome boaters are starting 
to go this route. These type of battieries require special charge 
controllers that are programmed to handle their charge cyle 
requirements. My pocketbook says I'll wait for the prices to come down 
and see if this route proves out.

Gary

S/V Moon Shadow 1978 Rhodes 22


On 4/22/2018 9:28 AM, Frank Goldsmith wrote:
> Thanks, Stephen.  What year is your Rhodes?  My battery is forward of the head, under the starboard v-berth, so possibly an older model?  But I’ll bet I could make your system work somehow.
>
> Frank
>
>> On Apr 22, 2018, at 8:57 AM, Stephen Staum <snstaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I have a 14 watt I gat from Defender.  I believe the cost was about $120.
>> The install was quite simple. I mounted on the starboard side  forward
>> cabin top w 4 screws all sealed with 3M 4200. I took the cover plate off
>> the light in the head & drilled a hole from below so the wire would come
>> down inside the fixture & out of site.  The wire exits the fixture & is
>> secured along the wall in the corner behind the head - almost invisible
>> then goes into the galley cabinet to the far cabinet wall. I installed a
>> simple spade cut off switch on the cabinet side wall to allow disconnect
>> for winter then direct to the battery which is aft of the cooler.
>>
>> The unit keeps the battery hot all season on the mooring. I have a 12V
>> chiller which I run for a couple of hours daily on the weekend so the solar
>> panel is excellent.
>>
>> Call direct w any questions.
>>
>> Stephen Staum
>> s/v Carol Lee 2
>> snstaum@ gmail.com
>> 781-704-1037 - cell
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 21, 2018 at 8:06 PM Frank Goldsmith <goldsmith.cf at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Susan, what kind of solar panels do you have, and were they hard to
>>> install?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Frank
>>> __________________
>>> Frank Goldsmith
>>> s/v Mary Bess
>>> Lake Keowee, SC
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Apr 21, 2018, at 12:35 PM, Susan Crane <scranevmd at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I do have two solar panels on the boat so that should help.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
>>> Behalf Of
>>>> Rick Lange
>>>> Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2018 10:07 AM
>>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Question about batteries
>>>>
>>>> Susan,
>>>>
>>>> Unlike your mobile devices, your boat battery will gradually fade.  A
>>>> voltmeter will let you see how the battery is doing.  When the battery
>>> can
>>>> no longer hold 12v after charging from your motor, an auto tiller won't
>>>> work.
>>>>
>>>> The best way to long battery life is to trickle charge it when you aren't
>>>> using the boat.  A solar charger is very convenient for this purpose.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Rick
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>>>
>> -- 
>> Stephen Staum
>> Pariser Industries, Inc.
>> __________________________________________________
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-- 
Gary Novotny
7309 S Indian River Drive
Fort Pierce Florida 34982
772-4660956 home
772-9715753 cell
gjnovotny at comcast.net