Fast and Efficient Battery Charging (at sea and on shore power) for all budgets

Рет қаралды 6,492

Жыл бұрын

Let’s talk about charging systems for your batteries while off grid and on shorepower. In this episode I talk about battery charging systems and how to make them efficient, meet your needs and budget. We all want to sail more and motor less so let me talk you though some of the options, how big should your battery charger be, how to charge different types of boat battery (including Lithium/LiFePo4), what renewable energy sources (solar and wind) you may want to consider. It’s a huge subject and I can’t cover it all but this is a great starting point to improve your boats electrical systems.
Check out my last video on battery options on what may be the best battery type for your use - • What’s the best batter...
I’m thirsty after all that talking, buy me a beer?…. www.paypal.me/RefitAndSail
If you have enjoyed this video and/or learned something you can now buy me a beer using the link above to make a donation to the channel. If I end up with more beer tokens than I need then I will put your donations towards a better camera, better mic’s and lighting so it ultimately benefits you the viewer. I don’t do Patreon, I don’t sell T shirts but you can help support this growing channel. Thank you
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About Me
I run a small business called The Solent Boat Butler Ltd and spend my days repairing, maintaining and refitting sailing boats (often Contessa 32’s due to my long experience with them). I'm mostly in the central Solent area of the UK. Being a cruising and racing sailor with many thousands of inshore and offshore sea miles logged I like to think that I bring a great deal of real-world experience to my work and help many new (and not so new) boat owners to improve and maintain their boats. When I'm not fixing boats I also provide some own-boat sail training, help owners with deliveries, provide pre-purchase inspections and deliver consultancy services to those that are refitting their own boats for cruising or racing.
Facebook - thesolentboatbutler
Instagram - george_the_boat_butler
Website - www.solentboatbutler.co.uk
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Disclaimer
I hope that viewers both enjoy and learn something from my videos but please remember to take the appropriate precautions for any DIY refit works you undertake with appropriate PPE and the correct tools for the job. If you are in any way unsure as to how to go about a project or are unsure if something on your boat is safe please consult a professional.
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Пікірлер: 49

@gking5522 Жыл бұрын

Every cruising boat uses batteries. Every battery needs to be re-charged. Knowing the facts as you have presented in these two videos is priceless. Need I say more? Keep doing both please.

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, I appreciate the comment and feedback

@aledwilliams 8 ай бұрын

Thank you, great content, well explained, please keep going with these technical videos.

@erbster200 4 ай бұрын

"that puff of special white smoke which means .... it's just died" 🤣

@Sp3ktral22 4 ай бұрын

9.98K subscribers.. getting closer!

@RefitandSail 4 ай бұрын

Yep 👍

@Fig330 Жыл бұрын

So, in summary, it's not actually just all wigglyamps? Who knew! Thanks for this. This content is very welcome. Refits and aerofoils are also welcome, but this stuff has a place. Thank you.

@larryb5914 9 ай бұрын

Very very helpful information here...even the parts known add credibility to making proper decisions...1 thing I thought I might add is there is a new device by the engineer Clark of Emily and Clark's Adventure, he makes and sells called the Bank Manager, about 350 US dollars and it can handle lithium and Lead Acid or AGM Batteries while protecting all systems....a device you might appreciate...again thank you for your efforts here as there are even some little bits of info here that are very valuable and much appreciated, especially when you don't know what info we viewers lack and need...most grateful...

@urfuturo6467 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful. Many thanks👍

@richardayres2949 Жыл бұрын

Thanks George, very useful as an update and starting point.

@smallprojectscompleted Жыл бұрын

Wow..clear and concise information!!! That's why I love your channel. Keep up the awesome work

@BVSocialClub 6 ай бұрын

Great video. I do appreciate this type of video and would like to see more. Adding more photos would be additionally helpful. Cheers!

@peterwwalker 6 ай бұрын

Really good info .. I'm looking to use an EcoFlow LFP generator onboatd plumed into boat systems .. think I may need your help !

@danfox1458 Жыл бұрын

I'm really glad i came across your channel, Thinking about getting a liveaboard and I'm learning a lot

@chasingsunsets380 Жыл бұрын

Good stuff,. Well explained

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Thanks, always hard to know what level of detail and complexity to go for.

@terrysmall1421 Жыл бұрын

great content and even i understood it

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@jpmesa Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this vid. You covered everything I need to know over these last few video's. Nice work!!

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Thanks

@mpb9671 Жыл бұрын

Love your content and expertise. I regularly drop your name on the other sailing videos I follow Great stuff

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Great, pleased you enjoy the content. Back to hands-on boat works in the next video.

@richardfife8192 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. Restoring Cobra 850.

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

No problem 👍 good luck with the refit

@carsonharte 5 ай бұрын

great video... you cleared up many mysteries for me. Your target audience suited me with a 33 footer and a volvopenta 2002. I just recently had a loud bang from my sterling mains charger (three outputs), and I am looking to replace. Can I fit a small charger for the crank battery and simultaneously a 20a separate for my 200aH house bank. The two batteries charge from the standard alternator, with. I have an automatic switch that charges the crank battery first. I am a bit concerned that the house and crank charger, running at the same time, might confuse or damage the alternator charge selector switch. Apart from saving a few quid, I also thought it would be nice to have two chargers on board and able to switch around if I had a failure

@trevormaillard7770 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this topic. I recently upgraded to two group 31 AGM house batteries on 200w of solar.👍

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

That is awesome!, thanks for watching

@mathew5315.1 Жыл бұрын

Hooray

@RechargeableLithium 9 ай бұрын

George, good vids! I'm enjoying all of them, whether sailing, refitting, or tech. 👍 I live aboard a 1979 Cape Dory 27, currently fitted with a Group 24 FLA start battery and a Group 31 (105 Ah) house battery, solidly in your 'leisure' category. I'll be moving to a LiFePO4 300 Ah house battery before leaving the marina. My plan is to keep the existing 35 A alternator on the mighty Yanmar YSM8 (grin) and wire the system so the alternator is 'hard wired' to the start battery. The house will be fed from solar, and from a 15 A DC-DC charger between the start and house battery that is only activated when the alternator is running. Enjoy a Newcastle or two from SV Jane Ann, currently in Tampa Bay. Edit... The above was posted before you got to the lithium part of your vid. I do like the way you think, mate! 😀

@RefitandSail 9 ай бұрын

Thanks, sounds like. Good plan. All the best!

@KurreB Жыл бұрын

👍

@From_Refugee_To_Yacht_Owner Жыл бұрын

Both

@kbbarton1 Жыл бұрын

Maybe someone can invent rain-powered panels. 😂 This type of video is very useful so by all means please carry on! If one is going to install solar and wind power generation on a CO32 that has FLA batteries, would the batteries have to be upgraded to AGM? I am also looking forward to finding out how Lottie is progressing.

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

I wish rain powered panels existed! No need to upgrade to AGM to have solar and/or wind as you can set the charge controller to that ever battery type you have but there are some benefits to having AGM over FLA. Not touched Lottie for a while although I have been planning and ordering bits but have been tied up with other projects but should be back on Lottie very soon I hope.

@SorosNews Жыл бұрын

There is One More Charger, The Solar Charg Controllers' !

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Sure, did I not mention them, thought I did, maybe not.

@MylesPlatt-oq4cj Жыл бұрын

Hello George. Looking to fit the Sterling advanced alternator regulator on a 2010 Volvo Penta d55. Sterling are suggesting not fitting them to engines with IMU,s? Have you fitted to this engine? Many thanks

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Not fitted a Sterling pro reg to a d55 but I have fitted a complete replacement balmar alternator and external reg. it was a while ago so I don’t recall the specifics.

@chriscomerie Жыл бұрын

George, thanks for your informative videos, could you offer a little advice on my boat battery set up? I have a trailer sailer with a Yamaha 6 HP outboard engine fitted with the optional factory supplied 12v 6A lighting coil with voltage regulator/rectifier. I have this permanently connected to the vessels 12v AGM leisure battery to put a bit of juice back into the battery whilst I'm motoring, however I have noticed that over a relatively short period from new, my battery has deteriorated despite never allowing it to to discharge more than around 65%. It has recently occurred to me that the charge from the engine may not be compatible with an AGM battery (there's no option to switch the regulator to AGM) Do you think I may have damaged the battery using this set up and if so should I switch to a FLA?

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Hi, you should check the output voltage of the rectifier but it’s unlikely (unless faulty) to be putting out a voltage high enough to damage the battery. In reality those small charging coils are for little more than helping to run nav lights and I doubt the voltage is high enough to charge the battery in any meaningful way. Best to make sure the AGM is regularly recharged with a modern multi stage battery charger that has an AGM setting/profile. Hope this helps

@chriscomerie Жыл бұрын

@@RefitandSail Thanks for taking the trouble to reply George, I'll send you a beer for your trouble.

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

@@chriscomerie no probs and thanks for the 🍺!

@davidmeeson4332 Жыл бұрын

Any chance of something on how you would combine wind and solar without using a hybrid controller as these don't seem to accept very much solar input.

@RefitandSail Жыл бұрын

Maybe, having individual controllers for solar and wind rarely seems to cause a problem, while my wind gen controller can accept solar I have used separate solar controllers for the fixed panels leaving the wind controller’s solar input spare for a future addition as and when it’s needed. As any controller is monitoring the battery independently it should be happy and not have an impart on any other controller. Hope that makes sense.

@davidmeeson4332 Жыл бұрын

Many thanks for responding, have made a contribution to your beer fund.

@mickey1299 Жыл бұрын

LOL , sorry George , but your comment on buckets , and filling it up , did make me giggle . Though i do take your point , most people i know , want to empty the bucket , not fill it up