Re: [electricboats] Advice for electric conversion

Hi guys,

I have a 42' 12 ton (overweight) 1990 Catana catamaran. I replaced one of the Volvo Penta 30+ year old 2000 series model 2003 motors when it broke an unobtainable crank. I ended up installing a Thunderstruck AC34. I had a new aluminum bracket made and mated the electric motor shaft directly to the input shaft  of the Volvo 120 sail drive.

 We currently have a 48 volt 200 amp hour Li battery bank which is sufficient for an hour or 3 at a time at pretty much full power (5+ knots) before we need to start getting power back into the system. This will get us in and out of marinas, docks, moorings etc with no issues. With our current generator charging ability we can run at about 3 + knot indefinitely or until out of diesel. 

I made several missteps along the way but am now very pleased with to overall project result.

About all I would like yet to do is make a new shaft extension from the VP sail drive vertical shaft, a  new plate for the sail drive front face, a new plate for new top plate for the new vertical shaft,  a new bracket for the electric motor to allow it to be moved vertically and oriented to the new shaft. This would reduce some friction and allow use of the original motor throttle. Currently I have to use the electric motor in only one rotation and shift forward and reverse using the sail drive transmission.

  Huh, just thinking about it while writing this I now have a sail drive question I'll need to research. Could I have a new shaft vertices shaft with a bevel gear made that would be the correct length to meet up with a new or use the existing horizontal input shaft allowing me to get rid of having to shift forward and reverse using the clutches and gears of the VP sail drive? Any thought would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Ric

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Re: [electricboats] Power in and out of battery bank

They are correct you can't! Not because it will damage the battery, it's just physically not possible. Energy is either flowing in or out. 

If the load is greater than the charging source, it will pull from the source(s) simultaneously. If the load is less than the charging source, it will power the load and charge the battery. 

You are fine. Happy motoring. 

Matt Foley

Sunlight Conversions 

1-201-914-0466

sunlightconversions.com

instagram.com/sunlightconversions/

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ABYC Certified Marine 

Electrical Technician

On Sep 27, 2023, at 4:50 PM, rholden@orcon.net.nz wrote:

Hi All
Very fundamental beginner's question here.

I currently have a 160amp hour 48-volt closed cell battery bank running a thunderstruck 10KW motor and all works well. ( Looking forward to lithium in the future).

QUESTION: If I am charging the battery using solar panels - or in some cases a generator - can I run the motor at the same time?

There a several claims on Google search that you cannot charge and discharge a battery bank at the same time. 
If you are running solar panels ( which I am about to install) - I can't imagine that you switch them off each time you want to run the motor.
Can someone please clarify if I can charge and discharge simultaneously, or will this damage the batteries or create other issues?

The expert help from this group is very much appreciated.

Richard

[electricboats] Power in and out of battery bank

Hi All
Very fundamental beginner's question here.

I currently have a 160amp hour 48-volt closed cell battery bank running a thunderstruck 10KW motor and all works well. ( Looking forward to lithium in the future).

QUESTION: If I am charging the battery using solar panels - or in some cases a generator - can I run the motor at the same time?

There a several claims on Google search that you cannot charge and discharge a battery bank at the same time. 
If you are running solar panels ( which I am about to install) - I can't imagine that you switch them off each time you want to run the motor.
Can someone please clarify if I can charge and discharge simultaneously, or will this damage the batteries or create other issues?

The expert help from this group is very much appreciated.

Richard

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Re: [electricboats] Advice for electric conversion

Dave is correct, the transmission will no longer be needed.

I have a couple of small inverter generators I can run in parallel to get over 30 amps available and can then just plug in my 30-amp shore power seemlessly for hybrid power.  Seems to work well, though I have not used it much as I have not yet figured how to mount the generators on-board.

I used https://electricyachtpacific.com/ for my full kit, including advice on sizing the motor.  They were great?

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On Sep 27, 2023, at 10:24, "Dave Yamakuchi via groups.io" <yahoo.com@groups.io target=_blank>dyamakuchi=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

I'd also suggest you skip reusing the transmission.  The motor driver/controller should handle forward and reverse, as well as variable speed so the tranny is just more weight you could replace with storage.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 10:48:36 AM CDT, Dan Pfeiffer <dan@pfeiffer.net> wrote:

I replaced a diesel/v-drive  in a similar sized boat (33', 12,500 lbs).  I used a 12kW motor and built a 280AH 48V LiFePo4 battery.  Lots of details here:
http://dan.pfeiffer.net/10m/electric_drive.htm

The 12kW motor replaces a 23hp diesel.  I did not re-use the v-drive, I made my own reduction drive with a 3:1 belt drive.  It fits well in the space that the v-drive occupied. 

The performance of the 12kW motor is at least as good as the diesel (which was a very good match to the boat) and is significantly better at slow speeds.  The only deficit the electric system has compared the diesel is range.  I have 25 to 30 miles range at 5.5 knots Vs 110 miles with the diesel.  For my daysailing use this is not a problem.   A 5kW genset would be able to power the boat t 6 knots continuously. 

Dan Pfeiffer

On 2023-09-24 9:32 pm, Alex from Frolic wrote:

Hello everyone, 

Alex from SV Frolic here, with some technical questions as I'm trying to build a system. My boat is a 1973 Columbia 30 (not the sport sailer with an open transom, but rather the raised deck one). I'm wanting to do a 48v battery system totaling around 400Ah, and convert to electric. Herein lies the issue:
my boat was originally sold with a gas motor, a Palmer P-60, mated to a v-drive transmission. 

I haven't found much information as to the conversion process to electric for v-drives. And I've heard many people say they are touchy, sensitive transmissions as well. I've seen plenty of reduction gear setups for direct drives, even electric outboard builds, but nothing for a v-drive. 

That's issue number one. 

Furthermore, I'm not sure what size motor to go for as I'm replacing a 4.0L 60hp inline 4 gas motor with plenty of torque (well, probably back when it ran). 

the displacement of my boat is factory 6 tons but in practicality I'm finding it's more like 7 tons, or about 14k lbs. 

I'm new to EV's and mechanically handy, but I'm fed up of this rusty old gas guzzling hunk of junk that always needs SOMETHING else. I'm dying to get out of the marina and shipyard routine. I miss my sea time. Thanks for your help. 

Re: [electricboats] Advice for electric conversion

I'd also suggest you skip reusing the transmission.  The motor driver/controller should handle forward and reverse, as well as variable speed so the tranny is just more weight you could replace with storage.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 10:48:36 AM CDT, Dan Pfeiffer <dan@pfeiffer.net> wrote:

I replaced a diesel/v-drive  in a similar sized boat (33', 12,500 lbs).  I used a 12kW motor and built a 280AH 48V LiFePo4 battery.  Lots of details here:
http://dan.pfeiffer.net/10m/electric_drive.htm

The 12kW motor replaces a 23hp diesel.  I did not re-use the v-drive, I made my own reduction drive with a 3:1 belt drive.  It fits well in the space that the v-drive occupied. 

The performance of the 12kW motor is at least as good as the diesel (which was a very good match to the boat) and is significantly better at slow speeds.  The only deficit the electric system has compared the diesel is range.  I have 25 to 30 miles range at 5.5 knots Vs 110 miles with the diesel.  For my daysailing use this is not a problem.   A 5kW genset would be able to power the boat t 6 knots continuously. 

Dan Pfeiffer

On 2023-09-24 9:32 pm, Alex from Frolic wrote:

Hello everyone, 

Alex from SV Frolic here, with some technical questions as I'm trying to build a system. My boat is a 1973 Columbia 30 (not the sport sailer with an open transom, but rather the raised deck one). I'm wanting to do a 48v battery system totaling around 400Ah, and convert to electric. Herein lies the issue:
my boat was originally sold with a gas motor, a Palmer P-60, mated to a v-drive transmission. 

I haven't found much information as to the conversion process to electric for v-drives. And I've heard many people say they are touchy, sensitive transmissions as well. I've seen plenty of reduction gear setups for direct drives, even electric outboard builds, but nothing for a v-drive. 

That's issue number one. 

Furthermore, I'm not sure what size motor to go for as I'm replacing a 4.0L 60hp inline 4 gas motor with plenty of torque (well, probably back when it ran). 

the displacement of my boat is factory 6 tons but in practicality I'm finding it's more like 7 tons, or about 14k lbs. 

I'm new to EV's and mechanically handy, but I'm fed up of this rusty old gas guzzling hunk of junk that always needs SOMETHING else. I'm dying to get out of the marina and shipyard routine. I miss my sea time. Thanks for your help. 

Re: [electricboats] Advice for electric conversion

I replaced a diesel/v-drive  in a similar sized boat (33', 12,500 lbs).  I used a 12kW motor and built a 280AH 48V LiFePo4 battery.  Lots of details here:
http://dan.pfeiffer.net/10m/electric_drive.htm

The 12kW motor replaces a 23hp diesel.  I did not re-use the v-drive, I made my own reduction drive with a 3:1 belt drive.  It fits well in the space that the v-drive occupied. 

The performance of the 12kW motor is at least as good as the diesel (which was a very good match to the boat) and is significantly better at slow speeds.  The only deficit the electric system has compared the diesel is range.  I have 25 to 30 miles range at 5.5 knots Vs 110 miles with the diesel.  For my daysailing use this is not a problem.   A 5kW genset would be able to power the boat t 6 knots continuously. 

Dan Pfeiffer

On 2023-09-24 9:32 pm, Alex from Frolic wrote:

Hello everyone, 

Alex from SV Frolic here, with some technical questions as I’m trying to build a system. My boat is a 1973 Columbia 30 (not the sport sailer with an open transom, but rather the raised deck one). I’m wanting to do a 48v battery system totaling around 400Ah, and convert to electric. Herein lies the issue:
my boat was originally sold with a gas motor, a Palmer P-60, mated to a v-drive transmission. 

I haven’t found much information as to the conversion process to electric for v-drives. And I’ve heard many people say they are touchy, sensitive transmissions as well. I’ve seen plenty of reduction gear setups for direct drives, even electric outboard builds, but nothing for a v-drive. 

That’s issue number one. 

Furthermore, I’m not sure what size motor to go for as I’m replacing a 4.0L 60hp inline 4 gas motor with plenty of torque (well, probably back when it ran). 

the displacement of my boat is factory 6 tons but in practicality I’m finding it’s more like 7 tons, or about 14k lbs. 

I’m new to EV’s and mechanically handy, but I’m fed up of this rusty old gas guzzling hunk of junk that always needs SOMETHING else. I’m dying to get out of the marina and shipyard routine. I miss my sea time. Thanks for your help. 

[electricboats] Advice for electric conversion

Hello everyone, 

Alex from SV Frolic here, with some technical questions as I’m trying to build a system. My boat is a 1973 Columbia 30 (not the sport sailer with an open transom, but rather the raised deck one). I’m wanting to do a 48v battery system totaling around 400Ah, and convert to electric. Herein lies the issue:
my boat was originally sold with a gas motor, a Palmer P-60, mated to a v-drive transmission. 

I haven’t found much information as to the conversion process to electric for v-drives. And I’ve heard many people say they are touchy, sensitive transmissions as well. I’ve seen plenty of reduction gear setups for direct drives, even electric outboard builds, but nothing for a v-drive. 

That’s issue number one. 

Furthermore, I’m not sure what size motor to go for as I’m replacing a 4.0L 60hp inline 4 gas motor with plenty of torque (well, probably back when it ran). 

the displacement of my boat is factory 6 tons but in practicality I’m finding it’s more like 7 tons, or about 14k lbs. 

I’m new to EV’s and mechanically handy, but I’m fed up of this rusty old gas guzzling hunk of junk that always needs SOMETHING else. I’m dying to get out of the marina and shipyard routine. I miss my sea time. Thanks for your help. 

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