[Public-List] Electricity Consumption

[Justin Riddle via Public-List]

Jonathan,
It looks like your calculations are based on incandescent bulbs in your
fixtures. Is that the case or have you gone LED? An incandescent BA9S will
use 416mA whereas an LED will use 98mA. Switch to LEDs in all your nav
lights and cabin. That will significantly reduce your usage.
Your chartplotter backlight probably consumes most of those 10 watts
(approx 833mA.) Consider dimming the screen when it's not needed and you'll
generate some savings there too.
Maybe consider using a handheld rechargable VHF most of the time. I can go
for days without recharging mine. I don't usually need the power of the
mounted unit.
Anyway, 40amps over two days isn't bad but I think you can do much better.
And I think that addressing the lights would go a long way.

- Justin
Hiraeth #498

On Fri, Mar 17, 2017 at 2:07 PM Jonathan Bresler via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> 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
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