The Captain's Guide to Alternative Energy Afloat - Part 1 of 2: Marine Electrical Systems, Water Generators, Solar Power, Wind Turbines, Marine Batteries

by Bill Morris

Overview

This is Part 1 of 2 of The Captain's Guide to Alternative Energy Afloat.

Part 1 covers the following topics:  

• Main Power Plant
• Engine Alternators
• Gas & Diesel Generator Sets
• Alternative Fuels
• Cranking and House Batteries
• Solar Panels
• Wind Generators
• Hydro Generators
• Voltage Regulators and Controllers
• Monitoring Systems

A successful ocean passage on a small to midsize sailing vessel means keeping things as simple as possible. Sun, Wind, & Water: The Essential Guide to the Energy-Efficient Cruising Boat gives you the most detailed, up-to-date advice on how to prepare your boat for an ocean crossing while at the same time saving money and ensuring a smaller footprint on Mother Nature.
Circumnavigator-author Bill Morris describes in detail the best options for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, minimizing battery usage, and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle on the water. He presents an array of electrical charging systems, power-saving electrical fixtures, and manual devices aimed at saving money on fuel, along with pointers on installation and maintenance. This practical guide covers:
• The development of an energy-saving plan for your boat
• Battery technology and hydrogen fuel cells
• Charging batteries from sun, wind, and water power
• Battery charge control systems
• Effective refrigeration options for the tropics
• Autopilots and windvane self-steering
• Energy-saving systems on three successful blue water vessels
• And much, much more...
Bill Morris, author of The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook and a frequent contributor to Ocean Navigator Magazine, currently cruises the Channel Islands of Southern California on the 1966 Cal 30 Saltaire as he prepares for his next offshore adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781892399823
Publisher:	Seaworthy Publications, Inc
Publication date:	01/01/2017
Series:	Sun, Wind, & Water , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	132
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Circumnavigator-author Bill Morris, a native of Los Angeles, received his first inspiration to sail the world's oceans at the age of twelve when his father offhandedly suggested selling the house and circling the globe aboard a large yacht. Though the proposal was soon abandoned, the idea was permanently engraved in Bill's imagination. Serving as a radio repairman and later as an outboard motor mechanic in the U.S. Army while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone during the mid-1970s, he picked up valuable skills that would help him later in life as a cruising sailor. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Administrative and Policy Studies in Education from UCLA, amassing nearly 30 years' experience in teaching writing at the secondary and college levels in Southern California, South Florida, and American Samoa. Bill and his wife Marilu eventually crossed the Pacific from Panama to Mooloolaba Harbour, Queensland, Australia, and then to Darwin, Northern Territory, aboard their 1966 Cal 30 Saltaire. After Marilu left Saltaire to give birth to their daughter, Yasmin, Bill continued west back to Los Angeles by way of the two canals, surviving a Somali pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden. Bill is the author of The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook (International Marine, 2004), and he has written many articles on both cruising adventure and alternative energy for offshore vessels in Afloat, Blue Water Sailing, Latitude 38, Ocean Navigator, and Ocean Voyager magazines.

Table of Contents

Contents Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Main Power Plant Gasoline Engines Diesel Engines Repowering with Diesel Electric Propulsion Hybrid Electric Power 2. Engine Alternators How Generators and Alternators Work Selecting an Alternator External Controllers Basic Troubleshooting 3. Gas&Diesel Generator Sets Optimum Power Dimensions and Layout Engine Manufacturer Engine Performance Load Surge Protection Sound Shield Traditional Genset: Westerbeke Belt Drive: Next Generation Asynchronous: Fischer Panda Fuel-Injected Gasoline: Kohler Hybrid Genset: Mastervolt Got Juice? 4. Alternative Fuels Petroleum Distillates Ethanol Low Sulfur Diesel Biodiesel Home-Made Biodiesel Complications of Biodiesel Liquid Petroleum Gas Gasoline-LPG Conversions 5. Cranking and House Batteries Cranking, House, and Dual-Purpose Batteries Battery Ratings Flooded Batteries AGM Carbon Foam Gel Lithium-Ion Fuel Cells Optimum Combinations Installing Batteries 6. Solar Panels Photovoltaic Energy Rigid Solar Panels Flexible Solar Panels Non-Marine Panels Electrical Installation Mounting Techniques 7. Wind Generators Theory Design Features Leading Models Deck and Arch Mounting Installation Kits Other Considerations 8. Hydro Generators Advantages of Water Power Design and Construction Towed Water Turbine Wind-Water Conversions Towline-Free Hydro Generators Experimental Technology 9. Voltage Regulators and Controllers Voltage Regulators Smart Controllers Switches, Isolators, and Solenoids 10. Monitoring Systems Analog and Digital Monitoring Engine Monitoring Battery Monitoring Monitoring Charge Sources Additional Monitoring Devices References Appendices Appendix 1: AWG Battery Cable Sizes Appendix 2: AWG Wire Gauge Sizes Appendix 3: Beaufort Scale Appendix 4: Cruiser's Ham Bands Appendix 5: Marine Fire Extinguishers Appendix 6: Sailboat Specifications Decoded Special Thanks About the Author