[Public-List] Electricity Consumption

[Jonathan Bresler via Public-List]

Did a back of the envelope calculation to see how much power Constance
might use in a 24 hour day of inshore cruising.  A day of inshore cruising
being defined as 16 hours of sailing and 8 hours anchored.

What surprised me was the total usage....about 480 watt-hours,  which given
8 hours of sunshine on a panel derated by 50% means about 120 watt worth of
solar panels are required. Holy Cow!     By way of comparison, the
alternator may generate 55 or 80 amps when running full out, which could
address the electrical need in less than an hour if it could/would run full
out for that length of time.   Guess this is the argument for external
regulation.

Guessing that one conclusion is "turn off the GPS, turn it on when needed
only".   Offshore turn off the GPS but for obtaining a fix every xxx hours,
say every four or eight hours.

Note: no allowance for a tiller pilot or other electrically power steering
device.

Thoughts ?

Jonathan

Single Day Estimated Electrical Consumption assuming 16 hours of sailing
and 8 hours anchored
ItemReferenceWattageTimeEnergy
Anchor Light AquaSignal 20 <http://www.aquasignal.com.au/series-20/> 5W 8hr
40Wh
Sidelights AquaSignal 25 <http://www.aquasignal.com.au/series-25-standard/>
10W 2hr 20Wh
Sternlight AquaSignal 25 <http://www.aquasignal.com.au/series-25-standard/>
10W 2hr 20Wh
Steaming Light ML-2 Combination Deck / Steaming Light
<http://www.forespar.com/products/sail-combination-deck-bow-light.shtml> 10W
1hr 10Wh
Deck Light ML-2 Combination Deck / Steaming Light
<http://www.forespar.com/products/sail-combination-deck-bow-light.shtml> 20W
1hr 20Wh
Compass Navigator Bulkhead Mount compass
<http://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/navigator/navigator-bulkhead-mount/>
10W 2hr 20Wh
Depth Sounder ST 40 Depth <http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=1089> >1W 16hr
16Wh
GPS GPSMAP 192C
<https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/marine/discontinued/gpsmap-192c/prod319_010-00431-00.html>
10W 16hr 160Wh
Knotmeter ST 40 Speed <http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=1089> >1W 16hr 16Wh
Wind Indicator ST 60+ Wind <http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=595> >1W 16hr
16Wh
VHF VHF 600
<http://newcontent.westmarine.com/content/documents/pdfs/OwnersManuals/ELECTRONICS/VHF/WM-600%20Manual.pdf>
~6W
recv 16hr 96Wh
Interior Lights
Radio
TV
Total 434Wh
Total w/o GPS 274Wh

-- 
Jonathan M Bresler
S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
Annapolis/Eastport MD