Hi Mads, Kelly has stuck a little bit of stuff and some close ups of our arch on our next episode that is out tomorrow, as you know our solar arch was a complete copy of your design. We love it. 1200w in the centre then up to 2100w when the slide panels pulled out. This looks okay as we are 50ft. So probably a similar boat to solar arch appearance to your warrior. That extra little bit is the difference. We have been on solar solely since April in the UK. The issue as you say is that second consecutive overcast day! Our set up is so similar 400Ah 24v LiFePo. 2x 3kw inverter chargers. Running 12v/24v/240v. We’ve got a chunky alternator as well. But no genset, no water maker (yet) and no dive compressor. But yes to electric cooking, outboard, fridge freezer etc… I’ve learnt so much about this stuff over the last year it was such a pleasure watching you just now. I can proudly say I understood it all! Love your content as always. Thanks for sharing. Hugh

Two years already. My life is flying past faster than I thought.

Great video Mads, kinda miss the old DIY stuff but you're doing great at keeping a good balance between sailing and DIY !

I think even for normal households we can learn a lot from you guys living remotely and using the sun as much as possible. It could save a lot of money for regular households using the battery smart. Love your content all the way. thanks.

I love videos like these where you explain how things work together and what it all means. I love the travelogues and the sailing too, but the simple explanations and the logic behind them make me feel like I could review and incorporate your examples into another boat when I get the itch again.

Great video as always, "Cadoha sailing" use solar panels that fold up, they have on deck and pull up the mast when at anchor. That maybe be an option if you want extra solar.

I first started watching you when you exquisitely wired your DC and AC runs, about 6 years back. Been with you since. You are the only channel that explains boat electrics well, at least the only one I understand. My mileage does in fact vary, but because of you, I understand why. Thank you

Thanks Mads! I wait for these episodes. I learn a lot.

That is a lot of very good information. It makes you live "within" your means which is a healthy thing to do! Great video as usual!

Excellent overview - thanks. Vids going over your BMS and electrical system are always great resources for me.

I love your DIY and this geeky explanations about your electrical installation. I believe you have become a really useful reference and entertainment for many of us. Many thanks.

great video thanks for going over your system. take care and have a wonderful week ahead see you on the next video next Sunday

Love the information. Thanks Mads. Very helpful.

Mads, you're a nerd after my own heart! Loved the nerdy description of your pixey ()angry or otherwise) containment system!

Firstly....great video this week, I loved it. 👏 Some time ago I was learning how to create training packages for teachers to deliver training. It is a real art and a very clever person to take a somewhat complex subject and write it down then deliver that message clearly so everyone can follow and understand. Your explanation and delivery on this topic makes you a true genius. Well done.🤗

If only Oblix* could see you now! Proud of you guys!

For sure Mads is a smart man !!

Excellent tech yammering! Enjoyed it!

Great detail Mads. Thank you

EXCELLENT info for Everyone, including off-grid landlubbers. In Grenada off Calivigny Island our wind generator started over-revving at 04:00 before dawn and the controller started lightly smoking. Our many smoke detectors helped wake us up. How many smoke detectors do you have? Hopefully at LEAST three. Cheap insurance. We admire you both sooo much.

Nice presentation, easy to understand. John

Outstanding video. Truly!

Still so glad I found your channel. Inherited two kids in the fall of 2019 has put a damper on our life aboard a boat but they’re still great and I still enjoy your channel. I hope you get to visit like Garry soon. Check out Sandusky in Port Clinton that’s great I think you enjoy it.

Mads, you are definitely a nerd. but I absoolutely love tmhe energy, vibe and can do attitude always on display.

300w solar & LiFePo4 does me single handed living on the hook with a kayak & some oars! And a raspberry pi/signalk to track everything. Great thing about cruising is both boats are right! No point judging or comparing, nice setup Mads! Love my inverter for power tools & compressor for hukkah diving on the hull. 😎

A good overview of sailboat electrical in a ‘high consumption scenario’. From the video, I draw the conclusion that you do have to do a bit of planning on how you use the more discretionary consumers and how to use them. A couple of examples - if your washing machine has a rated 9kg load capacity then only run the washer with 9Kg of clothes (better use of power and water). Run the water maker on passage only when the engine is running. If you are going to use the oven - do some batch baking - rather than just one dish. I take it the absence of a mention about the Panda is evidence of absence.😉 Good vid Mads.😀👍⛵️

Great. Really useful facts from genuine experience.

Very interesting video, thanks for Sharing Mads

Very interesting Mads👍!! For my just new sailboat&home I still think about not a complete integrated system people like you clearly like😉 but some independent circuits/systems of users and power(banks or accu's). So when something breaks not the complete system gets involved and I quickly know where the problem is. Of course the independent circuits/systems or parts of it can support the other ones to get the needed backups (1 is none). I want to exit gas cooking and go electric..but this video gave me some thoughts to reconsider. Thanks again..and following seas..Ronald (Den Helder..Netherlands)

We have 4 440w panels and 560ah @12v of LifePO4 for our off-grid cabin. We do very little inverting, as it's a long weekend getaway place in the foothills of CA Sierra Nevada Mtns and only about 45mins from home. We do have a 2Kw inverter and a 6.5Kw gas/propane genset for the rare stretches when we have prolonged cloudy days in the winter. We have contemplated adding a Mini-split for HVAC as our summers are triple digits yet low humidity for months, luckily cooling at night. I'm working on adding a semi-smart dump load into an electric water heater as we grossly over-produce solar in the Spring, Summer, and Fall given our light loads.

Instead of carrying a spare charger, connect half the loads to each. They'll be running cooler, which makes them last longer, and in the event of a failure you can shift the loads. Perhaps with a simple battery combiner switch (1/2/both) so it is all set to go?

Nice run down of your installed systems. Not too geeky for me, I enjoyed it. :-)

Very interesting, thank you.

Good information, thanks.

Hi , a very interesting video . Thanks .👍👍

Love your setup. Shame you didn't come to see us for that project ))) I believe you are local to us. If you ever happen to decide to redesign your arch, come to see us and we will declutter your stern with one of our Solar Arches. Only the best quality workmanship and will do a good price for you. Good Luck and keep that content coming. Love watching it. Watched your Starlink episode a while ago.

Good info!

Wow Mads - you guys use a ton of power. We lived aboard our 38ft cat with 400 watts of solar and never went low on our 400AH (12volt) batteries. In summer the solar controller would be stopping charge into the batteries by 10am. But we didn't have a big freezer (I got rid of it now) and certainly didn"t do watermaker and induction cooking. That being said - I wonder about the efficacy of induction cooking if it requires more fuel/diesel anyway. But for us on a cat, gas is great. It lasts a really long time and we have lots of draining lockers and even an easy route from lockers to stove, so I don't think induction would be a positive in any way. I am a little amazed at how much guff people have nowadays - when we first went cruising in 1992, I was happy we could source a single 40 watt solar panel - it kept our 31ft tri charged for two years liveaboard. So all we tend to do is hunt power and keep putting stuff on. But I am a little proud that we have reduced consumption over our current boats 23 year lifetime. I have only just installed a proper DC monitor with shunt so can't give numbers but I would always urge people to consider getting by with less, because less demand is usually less hassle. I know one saying is "BIgger is better" but I would counter with "Less is more". Cheers Phil

Wearing the "Super Sander" shirt, but no "Oh glorious sanding". You should sell those in your merch store,😜. For that extra power, isn't there a device you could put over the side while at anchor to take advantage of the tidal currents? There's allot of potential energy there that could be used with the right tech. Great video, allot to think about. Keep up the great work. Wouldn't be Sunday without you two.

Great video

Very informative and explained very nice

Long time viewer, first comment. Thanks for many great episodes. This was particularly good info on energy use at anchor 🙂 My BEng thisis was on vertical axis windturbines for yachts. Some colleauges looked at decarbonisation of yachts more generally, vibration was a huge issue. However, i had always thought you could just tie up the rotor when you dont need to generate power, its fairly noisy when its windy anyway. I will agree that its hard to fit a particularly large turbine on a yacht, hence lower power output. However, i cant see any other means of staying at anchor at northen lattitudes without burning deisel or having extremely large batteries. Turbine variants with less noisy/vibration could be made but the market is small... Hydrogens a long way off.... Superwind had a particularly well made looking HAWT with an automatic pitch control mechanism that looked well 'spiffy' 🤷🏽‍♂️ Ps patrion when i get a graduate job 👌🏽

@12:45 One of many important takeaways in this episode - that an electric outboard should be considered a supplement. Technology still appears to be new as a viable option for blue water cruising - in terms of expense , untested reliability , sourcing parts . Even a year ago, #GoneWiththeWynns tested several electric dinghies in their episode "Testing The 5 Best Electric Boat Motors" where the jury is still out .

Thank you

Mads great video, lots of good info. have you ever thought about adding 2 more solar panels to the solar arch that slid aft out of the arch. Just like the panels you have now that go out to the sides it would give you a little more solar input. not sure on much bang for the buck it would be for the work to add. just a thought. As always thanks for the hard work on these videos

Interesting your comments on the electric outboard. As much as I wish they were practical, it seems they're just not there yet. I hate my noisy 2-stroke outboard, but it starts first pull, is perfectly reliable, has a long run time on 20 litres of fuel, and has enough power to plane my 3.4 meter dinghy with 4 people in it. On Catamaran Sayonara, we lived the last several years with 1300w of solar, and a similar amount of battery (at 12 volt). I summer, in places like Grenada it was tons of daily power. In the winter, at the top of the Caribbean it was a bit touch and go. Re: wind turbine, in reality, they don't produce enough to bother with. We have a very high quality D400, and would have deleted it years ago if it weren't for the fact that its mounting pole makes such an excellent grab point for dismounting the dinghy.

A little more of a technical video, but it just goes to show how smart Mad’s is.

Mind officially blown by all this electric talk - thanks😂

You have done a masterful job planning and installing you electrical systems. Now that you are entering the thunderstorm alley, have you considered a lightning strike? The word catastrophic comes to mind!

Hi Mats, Nice informative video, one remark anout your setup, I see that you are still using a 12volt battery for nav and other stuf, if you replace this with a LFP battery you would have a hugh efficiency improvement, a leadacid expect to be trickle charged constantly. An other way to improve efficiency is to put some extra insaulation on the freezer, I have used thin Vaccuum Insulation Panels from panasonic, about 1 cm thickness but a very high insulation value. I have used these vip panels in double layers an the effect was considerably. Also put an desent airtight sealant on the freeze lid. The panasonic panels can be bought from digikey in US.

BTW, great decision to haul out in Trinidad instead of the ABCs. The team at Peakes is fantastic and I believe Powerboat Marina is good as well.

We also have an e-propulsion but we got on optional extra 12v charger. It takes longer to charge it but doesn’t require the inverter. We thought it was expensive at €120 for what it is but the convenience is worth it. SV Aragorn - Dublin

Having solar on a boat is always going to have issues with shading and panel angles. The panel angles would be difficult to address but the shading issue could be reduced by using micro inverters or because you are feeding into batteries rather than the grid you would need multiple small solar charge controllers. One for each panel or pair of panels. This would reduce the impact of a charge controller failing. But most of all it greatly reduces the impact of shading. When multiple panels are connected in a string any shading of one panel reduces the output of all panels in the string, even the panels that are still in full sun. With each panel having it's own charge controller if one panel is shaded then only that panel has a reduced output, all other panels will output according to how much sun they are each receiving. This would allow you to add panels in various locations that may be more often affected by shading without negatively affecting the overall output. For example, if you had panels on the cabin top and the sail shaded one side of the cabin top, if a charge controller per panel were used, then the panels on the unshaded side of the cabin top would be outputting full power. Having many charge controllers would likely be more expensive but as each charge controller would be a much smaller device, it only needs to be big enough to handle the output of a single solar panel. So I wouldn't expect it to be ridiculously more expensive that a couple of massive charge controllers.

I'm with you on Wind Generators. My first boat, put on 3, 80 watt solar panels and Wind 403 generator. Money spent on the wind generator would have produced way more power as a 4th Solar panel. Did see the 403, put our 48 amps just before it jettisoned all it's blades in a 85mph gust. The electric break , Historis? had failed early in the storm.

Hi Mads: nerdy yes, but very interesting too. Great explanation with visual aid . Lol

Good video

Great electric run down!

Have you considered adding CIGS panels on deck? They can be folded into creases and tolerate shading reasonably well with internal bypass diodes for the parts covered by shade.

This video is EXACTLY the topic I submitted to your DIY viewers help project for my boat! Have you guys chosen the DIY projects to do? Hoping you here back.

Yes, using watts is far easier than using using amps on the long run. So much easier. Yeah running AC can cost a ton. I only need it to sleep at times. You are doing amazingly well with your usage and your solar input. Cutting back AC to only the sleeping cabin vs the entire boat can save a ton. But when parties aboard happen then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

great video -good insight/balancing act every day u do have great energy comforts and if u really need power fire the gen set. whats ur idea to make it more better? -more batteries?$$ what does a/c pull in (P) watts?

I loved todays video. Could you go into each system in more detail? Why not have a 48 V inverter charger with a 48 V alternator to charge the lithium batteries?

Sounds like the most viable option within the scope of practical might be to increase reserve capacity by something like 5-10kw. Also maybe longer panels that are more efficient and/or extend a little more aft. Maybe adding something like 2 flexible panels on top of the Bimini would also help even if occasional shading might occur.

Someone posted a recent vid about copying your slide out solar panels. Those are a good innovation. How about one more layer of them to slide out either over the cockpit or to the stern? Or, foldout portable ones as shown by Uma? Another 400 watts or so shouldn't be too difficult to design. Thanks for this info.

Wow, after forking over that much for the Panda Generator, I would be upset with their customer support as well!! Great video, missed Eva's smiling face though.

Another great episode very informative, although a bit depressing for me today as I should have been on a yacht today about to start my day skipper course, but unfortunately the dinosaur squeezings converter broke and the course got cancelled :( You look to have a great system that nearly meets your needs in a modern world of electronics. Could you add another layer on your solar arch that pushed out the back or would that be to heavy or is there other stuff in the way? Just an idea probably wouldn't work?

Hi Mads, Thanks for the explanation! What I missed is a breakdown of your usage: that would help in determining whether you can save power instead of having to add solar.. My house is off-grid, and i power my home plus three studios with about 2000 Wp of solar. My total usage is on average 4.5 kWh per day for 8 persons, which includes 4 fridges, one freezer, washing machine, tv, pump for waterpressure etc. I do cook on gas though... but still it would be interesting to know why you need 5+ kWh per day for just 2 persons? Greetings from Crete!

The water maker we have is 12V and uses 100-120W/h. Is a Schenker Zen30. Our outboard is the same as yours, we use it as a primary. I do not see any reason for not to be so. I know there are many people that like speed, noise, and greasy hands. To choose products is not easy, and very personal.

A bit nerdy but .. I found a few arduino projects that emulate a hid-ups, which is the usb standard for them so it works across most platforms. It seems to me that something that reads the charge off your batteries and presents it to the computer as a UPS, would let your OS handle the low-battery panic shutdown natively. (This works really well on macs, because their UPS shutdown borrows heavily from their laptop battery management)

Stay safe.

Very interesting and nice details. Your system is very well thought out. I question what you estimate the life span of those batteries with them cycling down every day.

28K.... ouuuuch. Thanks for sharing.

Started with your channel at the end days of Oblix. Enjoyed every video since the resurrection of Athena. Do you have room for more lithium battery storage (to double your storage capacity?) to take more advantage of your solar panel capacity?

Thanks Mads. Great video!!! I know this was a "dummed" down talk but I actually understood all of it. I've been using bestween 1 and 3 solar panels for over 10 years. It's become pretty intuitive. If I'm at 100% SOC during the day, I plug in my laptop, phone, tablet, etc. The one thing you might want to consider is doing more grilling out and getting a Jet Boil to do some cooking - to avoid using the AC stove. Thanks again.

We need more DIY o glorious sanding and such

Yep... we need to know about the gen- set...

Thank you so much for talking in watts instead of amps, which really annoys me when they don't quote the volts so you have no idea of the actual consumption.

Mads, to contribute to eh discussion I will add some suggestions: - Today, going to a 48v system would probably be cheaper over all, 48v is the "default" for on shore off grid systems so the number of offerings for chargers/inverters/battery packs, etc is great. and they don't come with the "marine tax". - Also, a 48v alternator will give you doble the power for the same current, so, basically the same size alternator. If you have a battery pack big enough to absorb that power, that cuts the engine hours in half.... - Batteries are still on the expensive side, but coming down fast, so if budget/space permits, "over battery", a battery pack that can handle 2-3 days of typical use will give tremendous flexibility with the charging schedule, and if space for solar panels is limited, suck up every little bit of energy when the sun finally shows up.

Dear @FisherPanda Mads & Ava have no fresh cookies on cloudy days!!!

What is the status of the Generator repair?

Hey, awesome set up! Been following since the beginning of Athena. Have you thought of running your PC directly on DC? I doubt it would be beyond 24 volts. I just installed a 12 volt PC into my race car. All I had to do was cut the included adapter and add a connector.

That video was fantastic! But how am I going to fit all that on a Moody 336? 😂

Have you taken a look at the Integrel system, as an alternative or addition to standalone generator and high output alternator? There a few good youtube videos of Nigel Calder explaining it. Other than this system, the Beta Marine Hybrid is quite interesting too, allowing the additional possibility to drive the prop using electric only.

Been watching and not really commenting...I don't do volts,watts amps. Like sanding.. building... tourist trail stuff.... Will still watch weekly, but if you mention electric again!!...odd life next watch 🤣🤣

Mads, interesting video. You may want to consider that diesel engines operate more efficiently and have less wear if operated at constant and higher rpm so it might be better to bring up the idle speed when running engine just for the generator. This is why farm tractors have manual throttles that are generally set at high rpm and use gears to control tractor speed.

Hi Mads, Thanks for all of your content over the years! There is a lot of news/press a Li battery fires be it scooters to cars. I am curious about how you have mitigated this risk and if you have a contingency beyond the “ditch bag” and what that is?

What was the primer paint you used on the bare GRP inside the hull

OK, continuing to nerd out here, how much improvement in panel efficiency would it take to make you replace what you have?

1) Liquid fuel storage is VERY efficient in Wh/kg and Wh/Euro. I understand your reluctance towards high dependency of diesel fuel - BUT have you considered adding a fuel cell to your system (e.g. from EFOY) using e-Methanol as a steady weather/sun-independent additional power source, since you dislike wind turbines? E-methanol is maybe on the brink of a break-through (see eg. "Laura Maersk" = an innovation within container shipping) 2) Why charge your EPropulsion battery at night? Why not at solar cell peak hours or the afternoon, when the battery bank is full anyway?

More solar would be good to compensate somewhat for the overcast days along with another 200AH 24V battery...only real issue is the cost and perhaps room for the extra solar panel or two.

It seemed from your calculations that a adding a bit more (20-30% perhaps) to your battery bank would be the by far most cost-efficient solution. Given that you *on average* gets a little bit more from solar than you consume, that would make more of that energy available.

See you👍🏼🥰

Maybe some flexible solar panels could provide the additional watts you need. Something you could stow when not needed and placed out on deck with a few discreet plugs wired into the charging system.

I'm surprised you use as much electricity as you do. I also have 1600W of solar and the same 7.2kw of lithium battery on my 47' cat. We have a gas stove and oven, but we run our 12v cabin AC every night. The water heater is set to come on automatically when the battery is just below absorbtion voltage. We rarely have the battery go below 45%.

@Mads - pretty sure You know this already, and You are trying your best to keep the nerd stuff crisp - but just to make sure, when You explain the concept of efficiency while converting electric voltages (from min 06:05) ... I would like to point out, that when going multi-stage, efficiencies don't add up, they multiply. And that is indeed significant, especially when using devices below 90% efficiency. As for Your wish to "use more solar" ... Do You have stats on how much time a month Your batteries are at or near 100% while the sun is shining? If that is a significant number, say 300-400 hrs, it might be worth looking into additional battery capacity, i.e. a second bank (if space allows).

This reminds me why I'd never go total electric (even with induction burners) on a stove and oven, nor go electric outboard only over a gas powered outboard.

interesting video. looks like your solar set up is at the low end for your needs. do you have any plans to extend/upgraded it. for example flexible panels on your porthol tent (the one you made few weeks ago) or bigger battery bank its a selfish question videos about electric setups always peak my interest

A great use of excess solar power is water heating. In my previous boat I made an automation to do just that, if batteries were full (read from the Victron BMV), and there is sun power available (read panel voltage from Victron solar power controller) it would turn on the inverter and turn on the heating element on the boiler. If/when the sun went away, or the water reached set temperature) it would turn off. I suggest using a low(ish) power heating element, so it does not take more power than the panels can produce, or, you can use some circuitry (like a Triac) to control the the power provided to the heating element. (In my boat I had 1600w of solar, and a 800w heating element, it worked great)

Fischer Panda customer “no-service” still MIA?!

I know Mads you tech nerd, but all that tech, tends to have a tendency to fail and usually when you least expect and at the darnedest times, and few, can repair all the tech stuff on the go. Analog still has its place at sea. Pray you never get a lightning strike half way to nowhere. All those wires could put on quite the light show, and a ton of toxic smoke. Plus aesthetically all those panels that you need to drive all that tech, is making Athena more solar farm than sailboat.