On 2007-04-02 10:53:29 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

The Heartland America catalogue just arrived showing a 2 HP 1000 watt,
15" x 13" x 14" generator for $147.95 (including shipping and handling
after $20.00 rebate). This might be a toy but maybe just the thing to
lug out in the dinghy to recharge the batteries if they should get so
low that the engine won't start or to run some power tools.

I read the rest of the post, but for my money, a solar cell is ideal
for the core of your problem. Even up Nawth, I expect a 12w one would
bring a battery up enough the start the engine in a few hours.

You're cruising. Why be in such a *hurry*?

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Gogarty" wrote in message
...
About $500 vs. $1,200. Complete setup with table less than $700. Weight
225
pounds. Shipping -- get this -- NINE DOLLARS, CA to NY. And the sewing
machine does not have a generic brand label.


Did I read that correctly? A sewing machine that weighs 225 pounds?

"Gogarty" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...



"Gogarty" wrote in message
.. .
About $500 vs. $1,200. Complete setup with table less than $700. Weight
225
pounds. Shipping -- get this -- NINE DOLLARS, CA to NY. And the sewing
machine does not have a generic brand label.


Did I read that correctly? A sewing machine that weighs 225 pounds?

Yup. But that's not all there is to it. The machine itself does not weight
that much. But add in the 1/2 HP motor, which is under the table, and the
table itself, which is mostly iron, and it adds up. The thing scares the
bejeesus out of us. It will do 1,500 stitches per minute through eight
layers of Sunbrella. It takes a very light touch on the treadle, which we
have not mastered yet. Not your dainty lingerie sewer.


Man oh man. That thing sounds passing dangerous. The ideal machine to use if
you want to sew your femur to a sail. ;-)

Which 'solar cell' do you recommend, please, and why ?

Thanks,
Courtney

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
news:2007040223582275249-jerelull@maccom...
On 2007-04-02 10:53:29 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

The Heartland America catalogue just arrived showing a 2 HP 1000 watt,
15" x 13" x 14" generator for $147.95 (including shipping and handling
after $20.00 rebate). This might be a toy but maybe just the thing to
lug out in the dinghy to recharge the batteries if they should get so
low that the engine won't start or to run some power tools.

I read the rest of the post, but for my money, a solar cell is ideal
for the core of your problem. Even up Nawth, I expect a 12w one would
bring a battery up enough the start the engine in a few hours.

You're cruising. Why be in such a *hurry*?

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

On 2007-04-07 18:35:57 -0400, "Courtney Thomas"
said:

Which 'solar cell' do you recommend, please, and why ?

Thanks,
Courtney

We're mostly weekenders, with two or three 2-3 week trips thrown in, so
a 12w works fine for keeping our 120 AH group 31 up to snuff. When we
return after 4 days away, the battery is almost always at 100%.

Accidently, we ran the battery flat. As a test, I turned everything off
to see what the cell would do. By 11 AM, we had charge enough to start
the Yanmar.

But our needs are minimal. The anchor light, VHF and autopilot are our
big draws. No windlass, pressurized water, TV, computer or the like,
and our lights are mostly LED or fluorescent.

I like "hard" cells because they give slightly better performance, but
many have made a good case for the flexible ones.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
news:2007040819034016807-jerelull@maccom...
On 2007-04-07 18:35:57 -0400, "Courtney Thomas"
said:

Which 'solar cell' do you recommend, please, and why ?

Thanks,
Courtney

We're mostly weekenders, with two or three 2-3 week trips thrown in,
so a 12w works fine for keeping our 120 AH group 31 up to snuff. When
we return after 4 days away, the battery is almost always at 100%.

Accidently, we ran the battery flat. As a test, I turned everything
off to see what the cell would do. By 11 AM, we had charge enough to
start the Yanmar.

But our needs are minimal. The anchor light, VHF and autopilot are our
big draws. No windlass, pressurized water, TV, computer or the like,
and our lights are mostly LED or fluorescent.

I like "hard" cells because they give slightly better performance, but
many have made a good case for the flexible ones.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/


A case of the blind leading the blind?

Sorry Jere but you should refrain from speaking and let people think
you're ignorant rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt. Please
allow me to correct your misconceptions.

1) It's called a photovoltaic panel not a "cell" Photovoltaic panels
consist of several solar cells wired together.

2) Amorphous (flexible) photovoltaic panels are less than half as
efficient as the more costly polycrystalline or monocrystalline panels
area for area.

3) A twelve-watt panel will output about 3/4 amp max. This means it will
take about 100 hours ideal sun conditions to charge a fully discharged
85 amp hour battery and more than 150 hours to charge your 120 amp hour
battery.

Wilbur Hubbard

In article ,
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote:


Wilbur Hubbard


I thought you left....

On 2007-04-08 19:19:13 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

3) A twelve-watt panel will output about 3/4 amp max. This means it
will take about 100 hours ideal sun conditions to charge a fully
discharged 85 amp hour battery and more than 150 hours to charge your
120 amp hour battery.

It still measures about 1.2 amps in good sunlight after 3 seasons --
panels are rated for what they'll deliver when they're something like
8-10 years old. They do better new.

I said I had enough of a charge to start the Yanmar, not that the
battery was 100%. Doesn't take much with big, short battery leads.

AND, I am not talking theory, but experience.

YMMV, but that's to be expected in all installations.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
news:2007041002411316807-jerelull@maccom...
On 2007-04-08 19:19:13 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

3) A twelve-watt panel will output about 3/4 amp max. This means it
will take about 100 hours ideal sun conditions to charge a fully
discharged 85 amp hour battery and more than 150 hours to charge your
120 amp hour battery.

It still measures about 1.2 amps in good sunlight after 3 seasons --
panels are rated for what they'll deliver when they're something like
8-10 years old. They do better new.

You must be measuring no-load, dead short, amperage. You will find your
amperage at the 14-15 volts needed to charge your batteries is perhaps
half that figure.


I said I had enough of a charge to start the Yanmar, not that the
battery was 100%. Doesn't take much with big, short battery leads.

AND, I am not talking theory, but experience.

Sounds more like talking ignorance to me . . .


Wilbur Hubbard