Living Off the Grid on a Motor Yacht Cruiser - Top 5 Refits EP 6

[@flutterbyeflutters]

Thank you for addressing this major boating and RVing problem.

[@tonywilliams7918]

Great tips and details for serious live abord that you would like to take out on the hook often.

[@phillo1818]

That is a very intelligent Top 5 pick! It certainly pays to do the research and implement the best of the modern systems bringing years of frustration free cursing. The stern a d bow campers are an absolutely brilliant idea. I’d be nice to see a working tour of the new systems. Great video, I’ve watched & liked several and now subscribed to the channel.

[@ElliYacht1]

Thank you Phill! You’re feedback is gold. We’ll put together a video walking through the systems, great suggestion!

[@Chris.Tustain]

WOW, you seem to have covered everything; I didn't catch if you had any high output gen/alternators on the engines to also help top the batteries when the engines are running ??????

[@ElliYacht1]

With 21kWh of power on our 48V LiFePO4 bank, we can go 5 days before having to recharge from shore power or the generator. When we aren’t running the engines, the 12V battery bank charger runs off of the 48V inverter. However, the 12v system recharges from the engines while running and relieves the draw from the 48v system. This creates redundancy if one system was to fail and eliminates the cost and complexity of changing out the 12v alternators.

[@hankystang1]

Amazin video. That you for sharing your expert knowledge.

[@billblendick9780]

Great vid. Power has always been a challenge. We have not been as bleh to find any Lithium battery deals anywhere near what you were able to find. So how you accomplished that is not an option for everyone.

[@ElliYacht1]

It was pre - COVID when we bought the batteries.

[@jackiemauro4774]

Wow, what a bunch of great information! Thank you guys, so glad I found you!

[@frankiegregoriou2271]

Exellent video, very technical for me, but definitely the woman of the boat is the soul of the boat, regarding that you are a very lucky man

[@ElliYacht1]

I couldn’t agree more! Thank you for the compliment.

[@UrielsJunkDrawer]

What a great list, new subscriber. Did you get that ice maker yet? May it is in one of your other videos :)

[@stevereger1574]

Very cool. Ty so much.

[@Colinpark]

Have you looked at a wind generator? I know some are noisy, maybe one that you can easily put up when on the hook?

[@ElliYacht1]

We haven’t yet. Wind generators are great for sailing since wind is a more constant factor. I’ll make sure to compare the efficiency of solar vs wind generators when we tackle that project in February!

[@msurmel007]

Great Infos... thanks for that ... regards from Germany...

[@larrybuse6254]

Wow you just lost me. Keep it up I’m going to try and keep up with you!!! Thanks!!

[@ElliYacht1]

We live it every day so we may go a bit too fast. What would help make the content more digestible?

[@michelesarver5613]

How do you check your VRM portal say if hiking on an island and you don’t have internet?

[@ElliYacht1]

Good question! If you can use either Bluetooth or the Touch50 to obtain the same info. The Bluetooth can be spotty but the Touch50 is a beautiful touchscreen interface that gives complete stays and control of your Victron system

[@michelesarver5613]

@@ElliYacht1 thank you! I’m going to need to up my tech skills!

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

How many outside vendors were needed to install the whole package? TY

[@ElliYacht1]

Sorry for the late reply, just one. Emerald Harbor Marine in Seattle.

[@CaptnButch]

I didn’t understand the point about not running the 12v house system on li on. Or did u mean the the 12v is also li on but just on a separate circuit. I was planning to start by just replacing current house batteries with battleborn drop ins. Do you see a risk in this?

[@ElliYacht1]

Good question! If your current house bank charges from your alternator(s), the Battleborns will take everything the alternator(s) will give in amperage. The Battleborns can take 100% of their Ah rating while recharging (this is called 1C), from your alternator(s). That’s fine when you are at cruising speed and the alternator(s) can cool themselves, but at idle, the alternator(s) aren’t designed to deliver their full Amperage ratings and will burn up. This is because alternator cooling designs are built for lead acid charging profiles (.3C), or 30% of the rated battery Amperage. So a Battleborn 100A battery will demand 100A during recharge, in contrast a lead acid 100A battery would demand 30A. If you have an alternator designed for 30A at idle but can generate 100A at cruise speed, that’s where LIFePO4 causes the problem. As with anything, there are a few solutions: 1) have your Battleborns charge exclusively from your inverter/charger that is powered from shore/generator/solar and leave the alternators out of the mix, or 2) install new alternators with external regulators that are designed for LIFePO4, or 3) install a 12V 30Amp DC to DC charger between the alternator(s) and Battleborns. That will limit the Amperage draw from the alternators to 30A and you’re good to go! Victron has a KZbin video on this topic as well. I hope this helps!

[@CaptnButch]

Elli-Yacht thanks for that great explanation. I’d have made the mistake for sure. Watched the Victron video and will consider when we finally decide how to proceed.

[@johnnyhunter4345]

Have you told us what boat you purchased yet?

[@ElliYacht1]

John Hunter we did in the early videos and the ‘Top 20 Must Haves’ but, it’s overdue for a walk through of our 2010 Navigator 4800 Hardtop. Thank you for the reminder!

[@casondave]

OK, cool nice job on the spark refit...... now tell US where to get that battery deal and its useful knowledge. If you can't, than the whole vid part about the power system is mildly moot and you're just bragging .....

[@ElliYacht1]

There’s a link in the video description to be able to purchase the batteries on eBay. A quick Google search can often find other options to purchase them as well. Thnx!

[@Poolguy8879]

Theses folks won’t actually cruise !!! Lmfao

[@ElliYacht1]

We have 50+ days on the hook this year and are wrapping up a three week trip in the San Juan Islands. I recommend watching some of our videos in our adventure playlist 🙂