Project progress :
72V/12V bypass switch
The rational for this project is to allow us to make better use of the regeneration on the boat. We have a switch that engages the DC cross converters that allows us to flow charge from the drive banks to the house banks. This keeps us off the generator for days when at anchor and allows us to fill the house banks when sailing regeneratively. There is a ‘feature’ which cutrs off the cross converter when the drive bank charge drops below 80% and only reenables it when the charge gets above 86%. We can get around this at anchor but when sailing this can get very irritating. Given our typical tapping of the drive batteries at anchor and our usual sailing in the morning, we normally set sail with house batteries down at 50% and the drive batteries around 70%-80%. As soon as we’re in the wind we’re regenerating but as a result of the described ‘feature’ we can’t use any of the power we’re making for the house bank.
The fix is to change the switch so that we can activate the cross over relay whenever we want. This I managed to do yesterday and am very pleased with the results.
The project is not yet complete as the new configuration represents a risk of drive bank depletion should we forget and leave the switch on. The next step is to implement a red indicator light somewhere in the visible console to warn us when the relay is engaged. The light I wanted was in Island Water World’s other store so I can’t get it til Monday.
Watermaker Reflush
The water that comes from the watermaker has around 200 parts per million of impurities in it. This better than most tap water but not good enough for using in lead acid batteries. Good distilled water comes in at around 1 part per million but we’ve found it hard to find at times. I understand that anything under 20 parts per million is ok (please comment if I’m wrong on this). (NOTE: We bought some battery water in Rodney Bay, St Lucia that had over 40 parts per million).
In theory, if we run product water back through the water maker the new product water should be close to adequate. If nothing else this could provide a promising backup supply of battery water.
Yesterday I proved the concept. I independently powered the valve used to take fresh water to flush the system at the end of normal operation and used the system in normal mode. With Helen’s help we monitored the water quality as it came out and very soon we hard water at 10 parts per million. Because the pipe I was using to collect the water was missing a seal we were leaking water so we stopped the test there.
Having proved the concept I set about wiring in an override switch for the fresh water valve. Turned out I had the wrong switch so all was able to do was run in all the necessary wires and fuse and leave it there. All the marine and hardware stores close at midday on Saturday. I tried to find an open store but the only one that was open didn’t have the switch I wanted. To be completed Monday.
Topping Lift Shackle
The way the topping lift is tied to our boom eventually chaffs the line so a smooth shackle is required. On attempting this improvement I discovered the shackle I bought was too small so I’ll replace it on Monday and have another go.
Bow Locker Platforms
The bow lockers are so deep that we rarely put anything in them. We intend to put in place platforms on the convenient ridge half way up. Yesterday we bought the wood and Helen cleaned out the lockers. Now the wood needs cutting. Once installed we’ll put rubbish/trash up front out of the way of our noses.
Lazy Bag Line Replacement
One of the short lines at the rear of the lazy bag (which covers the mainsail) was badly chaffed from rubbing against one of the reefing lines. To protect both lines I put in place a longer one which should hang better. This project can’t be considered closed until we’ve had the sail up and I can see the chaffing has been addressed.
House Battery Bank
Batteries require topping up and full equalization. The former was completed but the latter awaits our docking at Clarks Court Bay Marina some time next week.
Net result of days activities: Zero projects fully completed.
In between all this we managed to refill the dinghy, did some food shopping and a walk around town.
At 5pm Carol and John from Sweet Caroline came over for a couple of hours for refreshments. We closed the day with an episode of 24.
We’re at a parts jam for moving ahead on projects. Jim has offered us the use of his electric saw which we can use to cut the bow locker platforms. If this is available we’ll get this task done this morning. We can also research some parts we need to build up our spares inventory as well as look for somewhere to get some of the more expensive items (such as a second windlass). Some time today we hope to move out of the lagoon into the fresher waters (and more importantly fresh air) outside. It’s a bit further to come into the shops on Monday but we’re becoming desperate for breeze. We can also fill our water tanks.
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