Back in the day, I needed to run a phone line thru a long culvert on our property. I had seen my cat travel that culvert on occasion, so I DID tie the cable to the cat, good boy Hans, and he dutifully walked it right thru!

@Technomadia

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome team work!

Thanks for putting in the time and effort to make this! It's really great to see what's possible from someone who is actually using their system every day.

You can’t beat these videos. It’s right up there with on the job training. Real time adapting and overcoming. Thx y’all

Such an informative video! Thank you for putting this out there. We really enjoy working with you guys and truly appreciate your business! Happy Travels! 😁⚡

You guys have inspired me to do the loop. Already started planning it out for retirement in 10 years. Would love to do it prior but my job required me to be present all time. Keep enjoying life!

I really enjoy listening to the two of you and your descriptions. Job well done!

Thank you for putting this together. Victron's power assist is awesome - this is the exact product that I was looking for but had not yet found. It will allow me to use just a 2 kw generator rather than sizing for maximum load. Really appreciate all of the detail.

Technology has certainly gone a long way since the inverter/wind generator back in my liveaboard days. I really enjoyed this video and it was so timely for me. This is really good information since I was just about to start researching how I want to set up my new boat since the house battery is totally shot anyway and I'm early enough in the process to consider the 24v for the DC system which although functioning really needs to be rewired. Thanks again!

Great video as always! Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge on this subject.

I found your video to be very informative and have been trying to follow you over the past couple of years. I had lost contact with you after Erma but glad to have you back,

Great video on your electrical system setup! Hope to one day do the loop or at least part of it!

Really enjoyed it. I was wondering about the Lithium batteries and the pluses. Learned a lot, Thanks

I have a 1992 50' Riva and had a 12.0 Cummins genset. It was not used for a long time before I bought the boat, so it was already seized. I was in a similar situation, did a lot of research, and ended up getting an 11KW Kohler, which other boats around my size seem to have. The gensets of today are much quieter and more efficient than the original ones we had, and I was told by people who deal with these things everyday that anything under 8 KW would leave me way underpowered (I have 2 Victron chargers, one 40 Amps for the starter batteries, and the other for the service batteries is 80 amps.) I looked into solar, which seems to work Ok for sailboats, but there was no way to put enough panels on my boat to be able to power the boat. But, I am still very interested in seeing how you like your setup, and you two are extremely honest and forth coming, so I am looking forward to seeing how the solar supplements your genset, and if you have enough power. Thanks for sharing your lives...

I love the detail.

Wow, some of it went over my head, but I’m still learning about lithium batteries (RV, not boat). Thanks for all the gory details and the good explanations. Also, Chris, I really liked your joke about the solar system :-)

Very informative. Like how both of you make such a great team technically as well as visually. Very easy to watch and absorb your projects. Willing to experiment and try new stuff.

@Technomadia

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the channel!

I like to point out to new off-grid friends is most of the year I have power to burn but near the winter solstice we struggle to get to 80-90% SOC daily. The The winter solstice is a huge factor that people rarely talk about or prepare for. Thank you for the post.

Great episode! Thanks for all the info! 😃

Great episode!

I have been waiting for this video ever since you left Sanford. I was surprised to find that you only have 40 more watts of solar panels than I do. While I run 36V custom built battery pack at 116 kWh (enough to keep my trailer air-conditioned all summer) your Battle Born pack reaffirms what I say on a regular basis, I wish I had more battery storage. Thank you for all you two share...

@bbcooter388

5 жыл бұрын

It sounds like you would be interested in (and capable of) installing a Tesla Battery Module form a model S or X. I just installed a 24v system using a Tesla Battery Module and am very happy with my choice.

realy nice system. really liked learning about the quarto inverter. we hope to put a fifth wheel into Rouco Azule on lake Chappla Mex rv park. they have just 30 amp electoral ser. and it is subject to frequent outages the quarto looks' to be a perfect solution, just batteries, inverter and a small 3k generator no need for panels. i want to thank you for all your efforts to make these videos.

Great episode

Loved the video...thanks very much....

Lol good on you guys!!!! Don't know how you don't have more subscribers... been watching for quite a while now.... good content keet it up!!!

LOL, can't wait for the solar system tour!

super nice

Awesome project 👍👍👍 im completely lost when it comes to solar, but i want it lol

You might consider one or two solar panels aft that could hinge downward if needed. More shade! Personally, I would get a canvas guy and fill in between the arch and the panels, and also around the curve along each side, you’ll appreciate the shade.

Very interesting! Enjoying it. Your audio sounded like it was being starved of something starting at 37:49. I'm enjoying the geekery.

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Air conditioner and generator background made a challenge for us in post.

Since Battle Born has designed the safeguards needed into the batteries, it only makes sense to use them. You don't need temperature sensors to prevent charging below thirty degrees F. They rate them in the usable range and don't allow them to be discharged below the safe level. Etcetera, etcetera. It saves a lot of external circuitry otherwise needed. The neat thing is that you can operate batteries in different environments and they will all work together if they are hooked in parallel. This is a big help when an RV does not have enough room in heated space for all the batteries they want and some are in outside temperatures and some are in heated space, each battery can respond to its own environment. I am anxious to see how your bus is doing as your battery system there predates Battle Born. Hope it is doing just fine for you!!!

You may find some 15 amp hookups in the NY State Barge Canal.

The beauty of MPPT controllers is taking advantage of low sun angle, and still harvest energy. However, this is less of a probability when all those panels are connected in parallel. At low sun angle with them in parallel, you don't have very little voltage range between Vbat + 1V up to the the panel's nominal Vmp. So, your missing out on lots of energy that could still be harvested at low sun angle. Paralleling panels is from the days of PWM controllers. Meanwhile, like all the videos and accompanying stories. They are all inspiring.

The solar design looks well thought out and pretty well meets your needs. About the only other place you could add solar panels is over the Bimini top over the fly bridge. That's probably doable with the system you used for the aft top. It looks like it suits your needs well and as you go north you may find you need more panels. Your certainly accumulating a wealth of information for Battle Born and I'm sure they will use that for future design changes. Happy sailing.

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

We originally were going to do panels forward of the arch - but that would make lowering the arch a lot more difficult.

Thx!

Inspiring videos ! Wanting to get back into boating/cruising after a long layoff . Looking forward to your videos of your future travels up north . Nice electrical system , love the remote access . I see that these batteries have lots of protection but is there any need for ventilation of gasses having them stored under your sofa ?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

There's no off-gasing with lithium. That's only a concern with flooded lead acid batteries.

You guys are great. Or as Jim Neighbors would say "Thanku Thanku Thanku"

I wonder if this would work on a Bayliner 4550 in which the sofa is on the other side of the salon? There's a narrow cabinet all down the wall on the stbd side.

Great video, very informative and you answered a lot of questions that I have. Am planning to upgrade my boat from 600 W solar power to nearly 3 Kw panels, with a 800 or 1000 A battery bank. Also want to change from 12 V to 24 V, will have to change the alternators as well and hope that in the end I will be able to run all the fridges, freezers all day long plus one night time airco (inverter 1200 W total) without running the generator at all. Generator (6 Kva) will have the emergency start if the batteries run low. The theoretical mathematics say it should work, but based on your experience: 'would you say this is a feasible option or are we still aiming too high ?

@Technomadia

2 жыл бұрын

Best to do an energy audit analysis and know your loads, and typical charging throughout the year / weather. With our setup, when in non hot times of the year - we end up needing to run the generator 1-2 hours every other day at least.

Thank you soo much for your videos! I run a 24volt system using Chevy Volt batteries. This is the first video that I have ever seen someone run Battle born batteries in SERIES. Do you know of any power losses (like BMS issues) in running the batteries in series?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Every battery is made of of cells in series internally - and it really isn’t much of an issue to chain batteries together in series like this. Battle Born (and most other LFP battery providers) fully support this.

30:09 I just met an RV repair guy that said he talks people out of going Lithium because they have a "Chip" in them... and they can't be discharged below a certain level and they will remember that and will go bad. OMG, I about fell over. I so Had to bite my lip.

Thanks for the informative video. We have a 4588 which we plan to retire to in a few years. My question is, since we don't use our boat every day currently if we install the solar now will we damage the batteries by constantly charging them without using them for days at a time?

@Technomadia

4 жыл бұрын

A quality solar charge controller will not overcharge batteries.

Great video! I was wondering why you did not go with Victron Energy MPPT 150/85 ? It looks like it is 30% more efficient and handles Solar panel shading issues. Thanks

@Technomadia

4 жыл бұрын

The 150/85 shouldn't be any more efficient than the 100/50 - and should handle shade exactly the same. Where have you heard otherwise? The two controllers are near identical - one is just physically larger and able to handle more power input, but they are all part of the same family.

Really great video. I know when I see your vids there is much learning to be had. I was wondering how you handle the whole single phase vs 2 phase from pedestal to pedestal. Last year I outfitted our fifth wheel with two Multiplus I/C's, one for each leg. This allows us to utilize the full 50A service when available and also when it is not. How do you do this with one Quattro? Thanks,

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

On our boat each leg feeds a different bank of circuits, and there are switches that let you combine the banks together. So by default everything other than the air conditioners and heaters are on one leg, and this primary leg is powered through the Quattro. At a marina the second legs powers the AC/heaters directly, but at anchor I just flip a switch and every circuit is downstream of the Quattro. Two Multi's is also a great way to go - especially if you also have a two phase generator. But it does complicate things significantly.

@richardbohlingsr3490

5 жыл бұрын

I like your idea to add 24 volt alternators to the dual engines. If you can add an additional bracket on each engine you may be able to add both 12 and 24 volt alternators on each engine. That way the 12v system will keep the starting batteries charged and the 24 v system can add to the solar system. That should cover both your needs and keep the load balanced on each engine with only a small dent to your fuel consumption while underway.

Great overview!. i assume that is a AC generator you installed, not a DC generator, correct.?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Yes - it is a 6,000W Northern Lights. Here is the post with the details on that project: www.technomadia.com/2018/08/boat-generator-upgrade-installing-a-northern-lights-m673l3-in-a-bayliner-4788/

Have you implemented any types of security measures for the boat? Alarm or locks weapons Etc

@Technomadia

2 жыл бұрын

We are comfortable with our security setup.. part of which is not sharing details in public :)

Hi, one question I have about the panels. Does the salt spray with the salt crystals when they dry, affect the output and do you need to constantly clean them of the salt spray?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, it definitely pays to clean the panels. We don't get too much salt spray however at 15' high cruising the ICW. It's mostly rain drops, bird poop, etc.

I'm not familiar with Marine Air Conditioners. If not "Ground Source" systems that move the hot air into the even hotter ambient environment than the best energy efficiency improvement would be to draw water from beneath the hull into the heat exchanger so that the compressor would have reduced back pressure and reduced run time to cool the interior tot he desired temperature. Have you ever considered doing this?

@Technomadia

4 жыл бұрын

Marine air conditioners rely on seawater instead of air for temperature exchange. It tends to make for a quieter and more efficient system overall than RV AC units.

Just curious could you have installed the panels over the canvas? Are special clips needed?

@Technomadia

3 жыл бұрын

Our canvas was already in need of replacement - so we opted to replace with panels.

You might wish to go with 1 mppt solar controller per panel, less loss per panel for when they are partially shaded (a little more power conversion overhead, but not much), most of the people I am in contact with go for one per panel, to cover the shading issues. They also are on sail boats, more chance for shading. Cheers

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

On a sailboat with drastic shading issues that can make sense - but yeh extra cost, complexity, and long wire runs would be prohibitive in most other situations.

@carlthor91

5 жыл бұрын

@@Technomadia Complexity? Managed in software, as is the rest of your gear. Long wire runs? Same as now, just choice of exactly where you wish to mount the mppt controllers. Cheers, fair winds.

CHRIS and Cherie> GREAT VIDEO, JUST A QUICK QUESTION; I NEED YOUR INPUT. I HAVE AN RV AND I WANT TO TAKE OUT THE ROOFTOP AC AND PUT UP 4-5 SOLAR PANELS. I THEN WANT TO GO 24VOLTS BB BATTERIES. I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU WENT WITH YOU SOLARIA PANELS BECAUSE THEY WERE WIDER. WHAT ABOUT 12V VS 24VOLTS >> IS THERE A NEED TO PICK MY PANELS FOR 24 VOLTS??? I THEN WILL WANT @3000 INVERTER/CHARGER ... I DON'T LIKE VICTRON BECAUSE OF THE TINY/SMALL TERMALS POSTS. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTION ON A DIFFERENT BRAND? THANKS.

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Most residential panels put out power higher than 24v - only small mobile panels are designed for 12v. If you need more voltage, just put two in series and avoid shade. And we don't have experience with other inverters to share - Victron’s reputation is top notch.

Have you seen the guy who made retractable solar panels, doubled the amount of panels on his rig.

Just learning about electrical for planned/upcoming sometimes-off-grid RVing trips. I'm a novice at electrical. Yup, novice is an understatement. But I'm trying to learn. So, I hear most RVers talking about "12 volt"; I notice you're going 24 volt. May I ask why? (If this is too complicated to answer, do you have a suggested text I might read?) . Thanks in advance!

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

We have an entire section in the companion blog post going over the reasons to go 24V: www.technomadia.com/2019/08/tour-of-our-boats-electrical-system-solar-lithium-inverters/

Also does your engine alternator put power into the Victron while you’re underway?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Not yet.. future upgrade.

37:47 NOW the CAT VIDEO you have been waiting for...

Wouldn't adhesive solar panels on the front of the boat (in front on the lower bridge and the windshield wipers are)? Gone With the Wynns used adhesive ones and they lasted a long time. Is there a difference in efficiency between the flat panels vs the adhesive?

@Technomadia

2 жыл бұрын

Flexible panels can work OK - but in general they are less efficient, less durable, and more expensive.

@bwtawny

2 жыл бұрын

@@Technomadia Thanks for responding. I wondered since Gome With the Wynns have them. I realize tjey are no having to replace them due to damage but most of us are not sailing around the world in variable weather so I was thinking their damage was unusual.

where do you get those clamp ? I like your video :)

@Technomadia

3 жыл бұрын

Not sure which clamps you're referring to? Do check the linked blog version of the article, we did supply links to parts.

@sylvaingamache6430

3 жыл бұрын

@@Technomadia the white removable clamp that hold your solar panel in place, I think I saw them in Amazone

33:08 THE GEEKY PART! :)

I think I know some of the people in this video :D

Have you looked at Lead Carbon?

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

There are a lot of potentially interesting battery chemistry's that get talked up - but most don't ever amount to much. I have not seen any Lead Carbon options widely reported on.

@jeremykamel9655

5 жыл бұрын

Technomadia yeah I’m not sure how well they do but Victron does sell them.

You've got to keep the furry supervisor happy otherwise there will be hell to pay.

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

She's the real reason behind it all :)

Cherie, were you ever a teacher in Anne Arundel County MD? You look SOOOO MUCH like one of my old teachers... Lol.

@Technomadia

2 жыл бұрын

Nope.. never been there. I've been a tech consultant & software developer my entire career.

@jonjacob1962

2 жыл бұрын

@@Technomadia huh. Well you got a twin here in MD. Lol.

Hope you have an auto disconnect or safety interlock for your radar power when your arch folds down. Thus reducing the risk of cooking yourselves with microwaves. Because you will forget to turn off the radar.

@Technomadia

4 жыл бұрын

Not a worry - we rarely have the radar on, and extremely rarely have the arch folded down.

KiKi one luckie cat all that power at the stroke of a paw.

😎👍✌

IS there something wrong with the MIC? Chris sounds ODD.

@Technomadia

5 жыл бұрын

Generator + AC running did add some sound challenges in post. It was 100+ degrees out... so, best we could do.

15:00 BATTERIES.

Kiki

KiKi don’t care. 8-)