I am building a small kiteboat for a 750 nautical mile boat race in mid June around the 50th parallel north.
Mid day sun angle 80 degrees off horizontal.
Speeds could reach 30 - 35 knots (~35MPH, ~60KPH) day and night, water strikes are common.
2' - 3' diameter, 50' long logs awash, sea containers, whales, submarines, rocks even, you get the picture.
It's a tough boat: foam core and many layers of epoxy-fiber.
I was all keen to build a 100ah lifepo4 pack to fit, encased in polyurethane gel to mitigate impact,
only to discover they're unavailability in Canada, cost and shock susceptibility...
12 volt AGM seemed an alternative. Good shock resistance so no polyurethane gel, but heavy.
I have room for three 100 watt flex panels.
A PWM controller seems cost and space effective.
6 hours of "peak" sunshine is the average per day for the area, at that time of year.
I have excellent panel exposure on deck.
12 volt, 2 - 5 amp constant draw (10 max) 24/7.
Race duration: 2 - 5 days with no shore power available.
Does this sound a reasonable set-up?
I am about to purchase as my build approaches that stage and June is not far away.
I could really use some help with this.
Thank you.
Draw breakdown:
1 amp navigation system,
0.5 - 2 amps auto-pilot,
0 - 2 amps air blower, .
0.04 - 5 amp VHF radio,
0 - 1 amp nav lights,
0 - 2 amp bilge pump,
0 - 2 amp spot light,
Sat and cell phones.
Mid day sun angle 80 degrees off horizontal.
Speeds could reach 30 - 35 knots (~35MPH, ~60KPH) day and night, water strikes are common.
2' - 3' diameter, 50' long logs awash, sea containers, whales, submarines, rocks even, you get the picture.
It's a tough boat: foam core and many layers of epoxy-fiber.
I was all keen to build a 100ah lifepo4 pack to fit, encased in polyurethane gel to mitigate impact,
only to discover they're unavailability in Canada, cost and shock susceptibility...
12 volt AGM seemed an alternative. Good shock resistance so no polyurethane gel, but heavy.
I have room for three 100 watt flex panels.
A PWM controller seems cost and space effective.
6 hours of "peak" sunshine is the average per day for the area, at that time of year.
I have excellent panel exposure on deck.
12 volt, 2 - 5 amp constant draw (10 max) 24/7.
Race duration: 2 - 5 days with no shore power available.
Does this sound a reasonable set-up?
I am about to purchase as my build approaches that stage and June is not far away.
I could really use some help with this.
Thank you.
Draw breakdown:
1 amp navigation system,
0.5 - 2 amps auto-pilot,
0 - 2 amps air blower, .
0.04 - 5 amp VHF radio,
0 - 1 amp nav lights,
0 - 2 amp bilge pump,
0 - 2 amp spot light,
Sat and cell phones.
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