Chris's Dive Boat... a new RIB

 5 years ago Tim and I rewired Chris's boat at Alpha Divers.

This spring he asked if we could re-wire his new RIB. We didn't have time to do the complete re-wire, which is what he wanted, so we came in at the end to check everything over and fix all the problems.

This morning he launched it, with Tim and me watching. Great to see him able to take out people in a lightweight RIB.

Wiring a RIB is not simple. It still needs to meet all requirements of a commercial vessel, but without the space to do so. It also has to be 100% watertight.

5.72 kWh in 8 days!

8 days of the new EPEver Tracer 3210A solar charge controller... and 5.72 kWh put into the batteries!

You can buy in from our website. More technical information: http://malumarine.com/renewable-energy/Solar/Tracer-3210A

PS, ignore the fact it implies only 3.19 kWh for the month... I reset the date in the middle of the week to make it correct!

MPPT Solar Controller

We installed the new EPEver Tracer 3210A solar charge controller today for testing in King Malu.

This is the first of the new MPPT charge controllers we will be selling as Malu Marine. You can buy it from our website.

We have been evaluating which MPPT controller to use and to sell and this seems the best compromise. Some are very expensive, this one comes in as a complete kit at €229.00.

I was keen to try it out, so installed it immediately. As soon as we had done so I began so see the benefits of MPPT controllers...

08:00 hours
Wind power providing 4 amps...

Silentwind controller showing 4 amps wind power

Sun still low providing 4 amps...

EPEver solar charge controller showing 4.2 amps sun power

13:00 hours

Sun is full, but a little overcast... providing 10.3 amps 

EPEver solar charge controller showing 10.3 amps sun power

Now this shows the power of an MPPT controller compared to a PWM controller: We are getting 8.1 amps at 17.4 volts from the solar cells, ie a total of 140.94 watts being converted into 10.3 amps at 13.5 volts, ie a total of 139.05 watts. This is an efficiency of 98.7%. If it were a PWM controller it would convert the 8.1 amps at 17.4 volts into 8.1 amps at 13.5 volts, which would be an efficiency of 77.6%. In other words the MPPT gives you about 20% more from your solar cells!

Cape Greco again... trying out the davits

Off to Cape Greco again for the night. This time with the inflatable dinghy on the new davits. It rolled somewhat, because we had a couple of fenders to stop it being damaged by the bathing platform. We were the only people in Cape Greco, which surprised us somewhat. When we got back we used the spinnaker pole as a derrick and lifted it easily onto the foredeck. So easy, that in the future we'll take it that way. In the past we had manhandled it on and off the foredeck hence why we were trying the davits. The davits will be useful for just lifting it out of the way, but not for sailing for a day or longer.