[Public-List] Charging a battery on a mooring

[John Riley]

Is this just for replacing self-discharge of  flooded batteries, or 
actual energy use?  If the latter, what's your energy budget aboard?

The answers to those questions will determine how large a panel you 
need.  With a tight enough energy budget, a small panel is more than 
adequate.

I kept my boat at anchor for 18 months...never touched shore power in 
that time and only light charging from an outboard occasionally ... 
maintained batts with only one of those little 5W maintainer panels.

I have a friend that cruised the better part of a year and a half with a 
35 W panel, and only plugged into shore power once (if I recall 
correctly) and he had no engine charging at all.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have some other friends that have a 
cruising cat with I think 4 135 W panels.

It's all about "needs."  There is no single "right" answer.  What works 
for us may be completely unacceptable to you.

On 04/14/2014 09:43 PM, Amy & David Swanson wrote:
> Looks like we may have our boat on a mooring for a while, which is a new experience for us.  How do you folks who do this keep your batteries charged?  I was assuming that the alternator will help bulk charge it, and I am thinking of getting a small solar panel (30 watts or so) with a good controller, and mounting it in the stern rail so that I can tilt it down flat when sailing.  Any thoughts, or suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
>
> David Swanson
> Strayaway Child
> Alberg 30 #229
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-- 
John S. Riley
S/V Gaelic Sea
1972 Alberg 30 #521


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