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19/11/20

12:29

Post #: 48987635
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Originally posted by pintohoo ↑

If we are talking non winter (when I'm on shore power - in town).

Using the cooktop or/and the microwave/toaster - comes down to taking a few things into consideration.

Time of day - are we talking about cooking 2 or 3 eggs and a couple of slices of toast --------- or
are we talking about a meal later in the day - and, that meal? - are we talking about something that's going to take 5 or 7 minutes in the pan - or something with bone in it like full chicken legs with the bone which takes a bloody age.

it also depends on - if it's morning and I'm going to move - in which case - I can hit it considerably harder because I'm going to get it back in a hurry with engine running even if it's cloudy.

Lets go a worst case for an example --

Battery full or near enough ----

afternoon - I want to do say 10 minutes on the induction -

******note this - 'almost all' cooking is done on the 400 watt setting -

this means that the cooktop runs at 2000 watts - but, only switches on for a couple of seconds then off for maybe 6 - then, on then off - etc etc.

but, for an afternoon with no sun - I do NOT like my batteries down much at all overnight - so ---------- I have two choices --

run on the genny - which means that - the batteries aren't involved at all - I just use mains ---
but, that means going forward and firing up the genny -

if it's pissing rain and blowing a gale ------- well, bugger that -

I 'could' if I chose - just run on inverter and wear the batteries being down 'a bit' overnight - but, I can also - switch on the main engine -
run the inverter - and, at 400 watts induction setting -
the batteries will be in POSITIVE about 1 amp an hour -

*** note that well -- it's important -

I'll restate - with the main running - I can run the induction and actually MAKE power -------------- only up to the 400 watt setting though - above that - go to 600 watts and you are depleting --------
ditto the microwave.

Oh -- btw --- I agonised in whether to change to Lithium batts or stay with LA - I chose to stay with LA - and, it's been a very wise decision - the system works fine - and, a LOT cheaper and easily replacable.

Some ideas on how it's been - I have now winterised and taken the genny off the front deck from it's little house and put it in the cockpit locker - it will come out again before I move into the canals for the cruising season.

In summer - I ran the genny - really only a few times - and, some of those times was to actually give it a run - it wasn't necessary.

There was the rare time where we had heavy cloud for a few days - if I ran (travelled) - it made no difference - if I was stopped - then, I might have only once actually ran the Victron charger to hurry things up.

Basically - summer is a doddle. - On a normal morning - eggs and toast the power is back by morning tea time.

I do -in summer use a little camping walking stove to make my coffee water - *** that's an important point - it's the only gas I have on the boat.

In winter for ALL cooking - I use electric.

When running - IF one wanted hot water - I have actually used the inverter to run the electric hot water - I let it run for about 10 minutes - give it a rest, then the batteries replenish - then, I give it another go for about 10 minutes and I have full hot water -

I've only done that a couple of times - because I really don't need hot water -

and, for the vast bulk of moving cruising -now, I use canal water or river water - either bathe in the creek -- or - shower in the cockpit - depends on temperature of the air if I add any hot water or not.

feel free with questions ---------

P

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thanks

got a old new one recently

at the moment only got 200watts solar cell
2000wats inverter (never used)
Batteries wet cells 24volts at 200amphrs
no genie

charger (from solar at 24volts) is nothing special does a boost and a float but I will be changing that to one I can control better with software, not just physical circuit joiner (not sure of the name)

and have not tested the engine outputs yet

gas for cooking and
engine for hot water
only used once as a waste of water

I leave the camp fridge on all the time at 2degC

so would like to increase solar input
better charger
find out if the engines charge the main batteries (they do the engine batteries)
reduce use of gas,
me does love green tea

it is a work in (slow) progress

oh and slowly replace all the spaghetti (not cheap)
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