HI, I have a 48 volt electric motor in my boat. I use 4 x 12 volt batteries in series to make up the 48 volt output. I currently use shore power to charge them.
I am considering getting solar panels to charge my batteries and wonder how this should be hooked up.
Rgds Peter
From: electricboats@yahoogroups.com <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2019 4:13 PM
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Converting V40 to serial Hybrid help :)
My setup is technically a series hybrid, though unless I plan on traveling more then 40 mile in a day, I rarely run the generator.
Unless you have a very small boat, (small enough to use an electric outboard) then sourcing parts that are not 48 volts or higher, will be difficult.
48 volts is the sweat spot where codes are less stringent and parts are plentiful, 48 volt chargers, inverters motor, and controls are easy to find. It is the typical voltage used for off grid solar instillations. So going lower voltage moves you into buying feature poor niche products.
You can run your 12 volt loads with a DC/DC converter.
The most common issue to be expected with a serial hybrids is you either pay a very high price for a DC generator (very niche product.) or you need a very beefy continuous high voltage charger. I use a Victron Quattro 70 amp charger that allows me to charge the battery pack at 3360 Watts. I have a 7000 watt generator, so I can only use about half my generators capacity for DC charging. Which is adequate for no wake travel speeds. With the addition of a second charger I could double that. But honestly the difference between 3000 watt and 6000 Watts for my boat is only around 2 knots speed difference, which is why a second charger is not high on the upgrades list.
I also have 3000 watts of solar panels so as I said I generally don't use the generator, for trip less then 40 miles. The solar and battery give me a usable 40 miles of range that leaves me at my destination with a half full battery.
James Sizemore
On May 12, 2019, at 2:38 AM, Abdullah Dimion abdullahdimion@gmail.com [electricboats] <electricboats@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Aye, I am definitely not an environmentalist, sorry lol.
Initial outlay is more yes, I am interested in the cost saving after that :) the range issue is significant, hence my interest in running series or a parallel system. Series, seems to be the most cost effective. I'm coming from a more objective point of view. I'll be cruising with my family, so I have no interest at all to push boundaries which implies more risk.
48v drive system eh? So upgrade the battery bank to 48v... so my initial 1,200 ah bank would become a 300 ah bank i guess? That is food for thought, figured 24v would be ok.
I do not personally think the technology is their to go straight electric, this is my opinion only. Maybe down the road though, which is nice about electric drive systems we can swap/upgrade components as needed.
I am just hoping a serial system will work for my needs, I am fairly ignorant to these things personally albeit I have good friends who can help. I just try to research as much as i can.. costs, range, etc.
On Sat.., May 11, 2019, 22:13 mstafford@natca.net [electricboats], <electricboats@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Abdullah,
If babycakes is willing to go all electric, that's by far the cheapest and least maintenance moving forward. Range anxiety is real though. If you are going to motor near hull speed for more than 30 minutes, you are going to need diesel. Motoring with only electric is like leaving port with 1 liter of diesel.
Some of the great advantages of electric, in no particular order:
1. post petroleum economy (future proof)
2. no more stinky boat and clothes
3. wildlife gets closer
4.. when well sized and installed, near zero maintenance
5. best maneuvering boat control ever! with infinite fwd and rev speed control
6. instant on, for emergencies
7.. with the right prop, near zero vibrations, near zero sound
8. encourages sailing skills
9. refuel on the go (solar, wind, regen (barely measurable at 7kts, helpful above 9kts))
10. nurtures planet-positive planning, (identify forces, work with them to accomplish your navigation goals; never fight mama)
Some of the current dis-advantages of electric:
1. demands planet-positive planning
2. range
3. range....
So it takes some cultural buy-in to go all-electric; specifically living with constraints. We humans are such great boundary pushers, that time management has become culturally ingrained, and measured in seconds. The microwave cooking era. Electric auxiliary sailing is stepping back into nature-time, making plans with the time granularity of days or weeks, not seconds/minutes/hours. The weather becomes our clock, not the ground state of cesium-133 atoms.
More germane, you need at least a 48v, not 12v traction (drive) battery pack. Higher voltages are much much more efficient, and if you're leaving port with only 1 liter of diesel, you need to get great mileage (0.5L/100km). Your current diesel mileage is likely closer to 5L/100km, so your boat needs to be an order of magnitude more efficient (big prop, 1/3 hull speed cruise).
Many boaters choose 48v, since higher-than-48v potentials jump through your skin easier (electrocution). Marine wiring above 48v has to be magic wire, installed my wizards, and insured by sorcerers (it may seem). There are many 48v brushless DC marine systems, and a few 72v AC systems. The 72v AC motors are more in line with your 5 minute emergency thrust demands of your 30,000# boat (loaded). Higher voltage AC systems would be a bit more efficient and a whole bunch more expensive.
Finally, if your personal time is worth more than $1 Canadian per day to you, hire a pro who has good recommends on this forum..
And there is so much more. But the big pieces are:
1. big initial outlays (dollars or time learning)
2. near zero future costs
3. range (live with Gaia constraints)
Good on ya' mate.
Mark Stafford
e-cars, e-bikes, e-kayaks, e-sailboats, e-houses....
Posted by: "Peter Beckett" <pcbeckett@gmail.com>
| Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (14) |
No comments:
Post a Comment