Porthwen Anglesey - weekend trip out

[sprocker]

I'm interested to know how you manage your battery power for a long weekend away Bruce.

Do you have a generator, or does running between different anchorages keep your batteries charged?

[BruceK]

I never charge my batteries Sprocker. No shore power see and I removed the genny from the boat for lack of use and weight savings. I run 3 x ~120A/h dom batteries. Even with the kids / lights / tv etc they never run flat. A 4 - 6 hour run every weekend keeps them at a healthy 13 V. I think I gave my setup to you on the other site. I run just a single starter battery with a shunt from the dom's as backup.

[BruceK]

I have an inverter for running microwave and fridge but seldom use it. An inverter kills batteries except when running the engine /alternator, so things like cooling fridge freezer is done while on the run and not at anchor and helped along by pre freezing food etc at home. I will run the engines briefly once every second day but really this is for hot water for showers so the engine will run for 20 minutes or so to heat the calorifier. (It's large @100 liter and holds enough hot water for 2 days use before reheating is required)

[BruceK]

Also regarding genny... EATS ANNODES. I mean really eats them. I may have a problem somewhere but if I run a genny my annodes on the legs last 3-5 months

[sprocker]

I have an inverter for running microwave and fridge but seldom use it. An inverter kills batteries except when running the engine /alternator, so things like cooling fridge freezer is done while on the run and not at anchor and helped along by pre freezing food etc at home. I will run the engines briefly once every second day but really this is for hot water for showers so the engine will run for 20 minutes or so to heat the calorifier. (It's large @100 liter and holds enough hot water for 2 days use before reheating is required)

Ok thanks again Bruce. Were away for a week from Saturday and if the weather plays ball we have a couple of nights at anchor and three nights on mooring buoys planned, interspersed with a few marina nights, so should be interesting to see how much we need to ration the power.

Just doubled up the domestic batteries so should be ok for the two of us.

[BruceK]

Kids are the greatest abuser of power. If it's just you and Mrs Sprocker and you are reasonably conservative you should be fine. Hope you have fair weather and a great trip!