T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Helm Instrumentation Project

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Re: [Electric Boats] Helm Instrumentation Project

Mike,

Considering all I have now is a cheap clamp-on from Sears, it would be a big step up for me. The Outback Flexmax 80 does a good job monitoring the solar and batteries but I've yet to mount the remote Mate-II in the cockpit. I'm going to order your little amp meters in the next few days and have it waiting on me when I get to Tallahassee. I will try and get the cockpit instruments mounted there before we head out into the open Gulf across the Big Bend because it will be nice to monitor everything realtime from the helm instead of sending the first mate to the mechanical room for feedback. I'm starting to get where I can tell pretty close what the solar intensity is by looking at how sharp the shadows are on deck are and how many amps I'm pulling by the sound of the motor but this method still has a big margin of error, lol.

Cruising along slowly at 2.5 mph today in cloudy conditions with a strong headwind and stiff current working against us but I think we'll make the far side of Destin by this afternoon where I have nice bayou scoped on the chart for the night. Hope we don't fall short and get stuck in the open bay though, that can be a drag. But the sun is suppose to come out later today so I should be able to put the hammer down for a while and get there with time to spare.

Carter

www.shipofimagination.com

From: Mike <biankablog@verizon.net>
To: "electricboats@yahoogroups.com" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2013 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Helm Instrumentation Project

Carter

Glad you found it useful too. It does not take the place of my XBM battery monitor but, for providing rel time current information while at the helm it was just what I needed at a reasonable price without resorting to using an additional shunt in the battery wiriing. I've found it's reading to be in sync with the XBM's shunt current reading too. It will come in real handy when I do some more performance test this spring too.

Capt. Mike

http://biankablog.blogspot.com

From: Carter Quillen <twowheelinguy@yahoo.com>
To: "electricboats@yahoogroups.com" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2013 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Helm Instrumentation Project

Mke,

I read your post about the amp meter last week and followed the link to the vendor's site. Good find! I've been looking for that kind of instrument myself for a while because I didnt' want to mess with a shunt either and have the extra terinations. I figure an inexpensive one had to exist but I could never find one that didn't cost an arm and leg and I'll be ordering one just like yours soon.

Carter

http://www.shipofimagination.com/

From: Mike <biankablog@verizon.net>
To: ELECTRIC BOATS <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2013 7:35 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Helm Instrumentation Project

Recently I built a helm instrumentation panel so I could keep an eye on battery voltages and current draw on the propulsion bank without leaving the helm while underway. It worked out pretty good though I still have to mount it permanently. The links to the process I went through are here:

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/02/instrumentation-project-part-one-plan-a.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/02/instrumentation-project-part-two.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/02/instrumentation-project-part-three-plan.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/02/instrumentation-project-part-four.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-project-part-five-panel.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-project-part-six-choose.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-project-part-seven.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-project-part-eight.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-project-part-9.html

http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2013/03/instrumentation-part-10-current-meter.html

Capt. Mike

http://biankablog.blogspot.com