Our overnight run from Barra De Navidad was nice and calm.
We played with several pods of dolphins along the way, did some fishing and
after catching numerous skipjacks we reeled in the lines
and called it quits. Currently we are lined up at the marina in Ixtapa with
Spring Day and Insignia, enjoying the warm weather.
I continue to learn about the various systems on Anna Mae in
bits and pieces.
I have the basic knowledge of our Balmar regulators. I know
they regulate the power our 12 volt and 24 volt alternators distribute to our
batteries, then to our hot water heater, major appliances, inverter etc.
When we arrived at Ixtapa Bill indicated that he needed to
reprogram the regulators... The
regulators had held the alternator at bulk charge to long. The three modes on the
regulators are bulk, absorption and float. I didn’t know each one was a smart regulator and had an
adjustable voltage set point as well as an adjustable time period that locks
the regulator into each mode?
We can also regulate how many amps each alternator produces.
There are battery specifications from each manufacturer that they recommend you
follow. We had the lock in time for the bulk mode to charge at 3 hours. We
brought it down to 18 minutes after talking to the Balmar representative.
After 18 minutes it does not automatically go into the
absorption mode. Instead it goes through a formulation of analyzing the state
of charge, the load as well as the temperature of the batteries and makes it’s
adjustments.
Our original Balmar internal regulators had just one set
point that brought them up to a set point and held them there. Our new Balmar
regulator does a deeper and more complete charge of the battery bank. This is a
big deal since we have 18 8D batteries at 235 amp hours each. That gives us
4230 amp hours, which is what we live on while at anchor. We have 240volts, 120
volts, 24 volts and 12 volts of power available to us directly from our 24 volt
battery bank as well as our 12 volt battery bank and through our inverter for
the 240 / 120 . This allows us to run our large appliances easily 24 to 36
hours with 4 people onboard, living as if we were at home.
This information is written down in my notes, I am still working on my 18 minute automatic absorption mode...
This afternoon we are heading out to Isla Grande north of
Ixtapa for a couple of days. The marina is nice, but it will be nice to anchor
and spend time in the water.
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