Learning Solar Power
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Tue 20 Apr 2010 03:35
batteries stay up, so we going to turn off the freezer, so the big job is to
eat our way through that, we are debating about the refrigeration, it would
be nice to have it off as well.
But I am also trying to understand why I do not get as much as I expect from
my panels, as I have 2 120 watt panels, they are both producing but I get a
maximum of 8 amps combined for about 7 to 8 hours and then it tapers off.
I suspect the way I have them mounted where they are flat all the time which
means they are not direct to the sun, best is when the rays are 90 degrees
to solar panel, and then the next issue is my radar dome is situated above
the panels and will through a shadow on part of one panel during the day.
This became clear today as I monitored the generated current, and I cleaned
the dust off, and used the cloth to see the effect, it is dramatic even for
a small portion.
I think I should have got 2 more panels, the issue in this heat we have a
shade cloth over the total boat, so where would I mount them.
While we are on board it is less of an issue as I run the watermaker every 2
days and I can charge at the same time, but when we are not going to be here
I will have to get some other cruisers to monitor the situation.
But as an engineer I convinced I can do better with what I have, I am
looking at what some of the other boats are using the issue is mounting them
and having them out of the way, especially when we have used up most of deck
space.
But I enjoy the challenge and learning that comes with it. Like I have done
with lightening I read up talked and discussed with many people and then you
form a strategy, next thing people are asking you.
The other thing that is changing is I have been out nearly 5 months, and
certainly in the last 2 I have started to get into the groove of this
lifestyle, and constantly looking at improving ideas, but I am feeling less
tied back to software world, but I am now more interested. There was a
definite 2 months in Feb and March that I really did not want to think about
work, but that is changing, I getting hungry for challengers concepts, will
these be in software or else where who knows. While our day is very busy
with the boys education which takes up the initial 3 hours, and then
swapping entertaining them, plus the 15 hours maintenance on the boat, and
then the planning for the upcoming trip to South America (which is taking
huge amount of time). You find the day gone, but I am forming concepts and
ideas for things in the future, while small, these start in "mindmap" and
build, we will see what comes of them.
Certainly we will be going through Australia to start the next chapter of
our lives, and the next continent to cruise and explore, build what ever
idea. It is interesting this transition phase, one of the things maybe a new
cruisers has turned up on Shannon this week, he is on 3 weeks leave from
Webex and we have had a number of good reflective discussions, but as you
come away from this you also realize that you still have huge amount to
learn about this new lifestyle and the world around us.
Some of you may remember the Australian boat "Elixir" a cat which we met
with kids in Muertos back in Feb they are doing the puddle jump to South
Pacific and have been out for 3 + weeks and are 100 miles out from French
Polynesia 9having covered 3000 miles) so well done they will be in today or
tomorrow. When we win Muertos we discussed a lot about the challengers of
sailing 3 weeks with young kids, and reading the blog they have the
challengers keeping the boys entertained kids been sick and getting through
it, but they have done it well done, it gives us hope. Also reading the
first 500 miles they went through many of items we did in the 500 mile
crossing we just did but like us they seam to have found the kids fit in
well to a routine, the pressure is more on Mum and Dad.
So we end a warm day with a cool breeze pushing over the bow, and the music
playing away, yes this lifestyle grows on you as you adapt to it and get
things done.