On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:18:49 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:32:26 -0400, wrote:

Batteries are never quite big enough. I think there is a tendency to
add things that draw power., or simply get more casual about useage,
as your battery banks and charging system expand.

Additionally, batteries gradually lose capacity as they age, combined
with the fact that you really shouldn't draw them down more than 50%.
In reality you can only use about 30 to 40% of rated capacity without
unduly shortening battery life.

Electrical buget is much easier if you just omit refrigeration, and
pay attention to everything else. Don't run anything unless you really
need to run it. You don't need your whole boat's interior lit up
bright enough to read by. Well thought out ventilation means you
almost never need to run even a small fan. I rarely run my batteries
down anywhere near 50%.

I enjoy that my boat's environment is very different from my land
bound home. I'm pretty conservative with energy there, too, but not to
the same degree. I did reduce my heating oil usage 27% this past
winter by adding a few hundred dollars worth of insulation in
strategic places. That will continue to save every year going forward.
I'm looking into geothermal for the primary house. Looks like about
20-30k, but part of that is absorbed by what it would cost me to
replace my present boiler when it's due in a few years, so it's not
really so bad. There are also usually all sorts of credits and tax
advantages available. I could probably even put up enough PV panels
(with a battery bank) to cover power for the geothermal's pumps and
controls. For me, it's not just about saving the money. I like the
idea of using less energy, even if there is no big savings. There are
savings, though. It just requires longer term thinking than many are
capable of.