Online Book: Electrical Systems For Cruising Boats

Cross-bank battery charging with DC/DC chargers or alternator-to-battery chargers.

How to buy and install a real live-aboard cruiser’s alternator that will be reliable over the long term.

One of the biggest snow jobs in boat gear sales is the myth of the smart three-stage alternator regulator. In fact, the alternator regulators that have been available to us cruisers for about the last 15 years are not that bright…OK, they’re downright stupid. But, finally, we now have a truly smart regulator. John takes a look and comes away impressed.

Most marine battery chargers are, in fact, battery killers. Yes, that includes most of the fancy three stage units we all pay so much money for. Here’s why and what to do about it.

Can we replace diesel fuel generation (main engine or separate) with wind, solar and/or hydrogenerators?

Yes, but there’s stuff to know to avoid wasted money and disappointment.

So far in this series of chapters we have been looking at the benefits and drawbacks of the renewable options. Now let’s pull it all together.

An analysis for any live-aboard cruiser who is considering a lifestyle that will require more than about 250 amp-hours at 12 volts (3 kWh) of electricity daily.

These days, most boats with AC generators have significant DC (12- or 24-volt) battery banks that need to be charged regularly by the generator. But often that process is horribly inefficient. The good news is that the fix is easy, simple, and relatively inexpensive.

John recently replaced the house battery bank on Morgan’s Cloud. But before starting the project he had a big decision to make: which battery type. Here’s a look at the options he considered, starting with lithium.

John takes an in-depth look at the benefits and drawbacks of carbon foam, liquid filled, and AGM lead acid batteries, and then reveals his thinking if faced with battery replacement today.

With all the claims and counterclaims for the two chemistries, how on earth do we make the right decision?
Good news, it’s not hard.

Many cruisers have already made the jump to lithium. But what if we would like to delay the considerable expense and complications of lithium, but want to be ready at a later date?

Load dumps are an intrinsic danger with lithium batteries installed on cruising boats. Here’s why, and why we need to fix it.

Load dumps on a cruising boat are dangerous. Here’s how to prevent them, including some special tips for “drop in” owners.