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Electrical power generation on a sailing yacht
Electricity is one of the most important blessings that science has given to mankind. It has become so much a part of modern life that we couldn't think of living without it. All devices which facilitate our activities and impact on a big portion of our life require electricity. But once we cast off from the dock we also unplug from the almost limitless power source that we have become accustomed to. Aboard a seagoing vessel, we have to generate all the power that the vessel and its crew require.
Care and maintenance of batteries
Once a vessel is cast off from the dock all the power it requires has to be self-generated and then stored in batteries which require some working knowledge and maintenance.
Emergency electrical power
If you flatten your battery, unless it is a particularly small engine that can be cranked over manually, you will be without engine power and be crippled for power aboard. This is a very bad occurrence whilst out in deep ocean or in a remote location whilst long distance cruising.
Keeping batteries charged when the vessel is unattended
Unattended wet cell batteries naturally discharge by approximately 1% per day in warm climates and significantly more in cold climates. Maintaining a charger in a marina is a possible solution but it is not prudent to leave a vessel plugged in unattended, and this is not available to moored vessels.
Improving a cruising vessels charging by right-sizing the alternator
Most all inboard sailboat engines have a standard alternator size range from 35 to 55 amps and use it to top up batteries. However the modern cruising life is electrically hungry and we quickly add batteries without considering the alternators capability to charge an expansion.