Charging your battery, Solar, Generator, or TV

[bdosborn]

Hell yes its overkill. I told you I'm addicted.

I probably wouldn't have a generator if I hadn't bought it before I got the PV system. And a smaller PV system would work just fine so you wouldn't have to run the TV engine to charge the battery.

But, overkill is the thrill.

Bruce

[Mukilteo]

I'm really into redundancy. Always have a backup.

[bdosborn]

I'm really into redundancy. Always have a backup.

Good point!

"Two is one, and One is none- a simple definition for Redundancy. Redundancy involves having backups and alternatives so that in the event of an equipment failure, loss, or absence – the “missionâ€

[eamarquardt]

I'm really into redundancy. Always have a backup.

I was cruising up the backside of Santa Cruz island one nice afternoon and was "hailed" by a cabin cruiser (by them jumping up and down waving their arms).

Sooooo, I got near and circled them to see what they needed. They asked: "Do you have jumper cables?".

Yeah, I always carried cables long enough to go from the engine compartment, through the cabin, out the companionway, through the cockpit, over the side, across the water, into their engine compartment, and to their battery!

Anyway, asked em what happened and learned that they had run the battery down with their bait pump. I suggested that they should have two batteries. They replied: "Yes, we do! We ran both of them down using the bait pump!" I then said: "You should really have three batteries". I'm not entirely convinced they got the message.

Not having 50' jumper cables I pulled one of my THREE charged batteries, passed it over to them, and they started their engine and returned my battery.

My twin axle trailers have electric brakes on one axle and hydraulic on the other. REDUNDANCY is a good thing. That's why I think swapping out two batteries between the tow vehicle and trailer make sense to have a charged battery for the trailer with a minimum of fuss.

I fail to completely understand the "logic" of aircraft manufacturers now. If you have only two engines (versus four), you are half as likely to have an engine failure. I understand the statistics, but not the logic as three engines are, IMHO, better than one!

[parnold]

I finally ran my test today, and was unhappy to find that at the start of the test my battery only read 12.01 volts. Depending on what chart I look at, this is somewhere between 40 and 50% of capacity.

I started my car, and connected the jumpers from my battery in the car to the battery in the tear and charged the battery for 1/2 hour.

After a 2 hour settling period, I checked the voltage, and found it to be 12.30 volts, which is somewhere around 70%. So, 1/2 hour brought back 20-30% of my capacity. This should be plenty for the amount that I use my battery. I have a Doc Watson meter, so I can easily monitor my actual usage, and adjust my charging accordingly. My new fantastic fan may change my usage habits.

I may take Len's advice, and buy one of those cheap solar battery tenders, just to keep the battery "active", but it doesn't seem to me the expense of a generator, or big solar panel is at all necessary.

I may eventually wire up some leads to my amplifier in the back, so I can simply plug the trailer battery in, instead of dragging out my jumper cables. The leads going to my amplifier are pretty hefty, so the current should be no issue. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I don't remember the guage of the wires, but including insulation, they are about as big around as a pencil.

[Mukilteo]

$74.10 each, free shipping. 15 watt, 1 amp
and it comes with a charge controler. that will handle 7 panels
http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50033-15-Watt-Solar-Charging/dp/B001RJOP5Y/ref=pd_sim_auto_5

[pete42]

Quote
I fail to completely understand the "logic" of aircraft manufacturers now. If you have only two engines (versus four), you are half as likely to have an engine failure. I understand the statistics, but not the logic as three engines are, IMHO, better than one!

being a pilot and having flown single and twin engine airplanes having two engines means you have doubled your chance of having something going wrong.

Especially taking off and landing but twins are "funner" to fly.

pete

[eamarquardt]

Quote
I fail to completely understand the "logic" of aircraft manufacturers now. If you have only two engines (versus four), you are half as likely to have an engine failure. I understand the statistics, but not the logic as three engines are, IMHO, better than one!

being a pilot and having flown single and twin engine airplanes having two engines means you have doubled your chance of having something going wrong.

Especially taking off and landing but twins are "funner" to fly.

pete

Having solo'ed a twin engine jet (at considerable government expense) I agree. The emergency procedure for dual engine flameout below 6K feet: EJECT! I bet "Capt. Sully" (and his passengers) wishes he had had that option!

Cheers,

Gus