Anchoring Out Electrical Board Settings

[JollyRogers]

New to us 2016 29S with solar panel. Looking to understand how to optimize our electrical situation before we first anchor out. Goal is to not use generator unless absolutely necessary.

When looking at the power panel it is not exactly intuitive deciding what switches should be in what positions to keep the boat's power from draining to dangerously low levels.

I assume the 120 goes to Off as do all non-essential items.

Does the inverter switch go to Off, I or II? Or does that change depending what one is doing with powered items?

Does the solar panel/charger switch need to be manipulated?

Do some of the 3 refrigerator/chillers need to be turned down or off?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[tdellaviola]

Battery management is a bit of an art and you will likely get a few opinions. I have a C30 and anchor often. this is my process.
- Inverter off, unless I need 110. if the item draws significant power like a coffee maker I usually run the engine as it does not take much to drain the house battery using house hold appliances
- Starter and thruster battery switch off, bi-pass off. Only want house battery bank live
- no changes to the solar switch
- at night, anchor light on
- I usually turn off the wine cooler as I find it useless and does not really keep anything cold
- Turn off the 2 Garmin screens and autopilot displays
- I don't usually turn off or adjust fridge
- I usually run the engine by noonish the next day to recharge batteries
- I have the engine running when pulling up the anchor

 

[Kaptajnen]

Battery management is a bit of an art and you will likely get a few opinions. I have a C30 and anchor often. this is my process.
- Inverter off, unless I need 110. if the item draws significant power like a coffee maker I usually run the engine as it does not take much to drain the house battery using house hold appliances
- Starter and thruster battery switch off, bi-pass off. Only want house battery bank live
- no changes to the solar switch
- at night, anchor light on
- I usually turn off the wine cooler as I find it useless and does not really keep anything cold
- Turn off the 2 Garmin screens and autopilot displays
- I don't usually turn off or adjust fridge
- I usually run the engine by noonish the next day to recharge batteries
- I have the engine running when pulling up the anchor

Agree with all the above; turning the inverter off is essential since it is a major drain on the batteries.

 

[JollyRogers]

Thanks. This was very helpful and clear.

Planning anchoring out trip next summer and want to be as well informed as possible.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

if you plan on anchoring out a lot, Id also recommend installing a proper battery monitoring solution so you can watch your amps beyond just the voltage levels. with a solar panel I am anchor for 3 days with the fridge on no problem.

something like the blue victron which has a shunt to accurately measure the amps in and out.

https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Ener...ocphy=9060414&hvtargid=pla-391768428369&psc=1

I have a balmar smartguage which also determines the state of charge of the batteries. what the blue victron and other shunt based systems dont do is measure what state/age your batteries are in to start off with.

 

[Chimo]

I would agree with what has been suggested with one exception. I leave my engine power on when I'm anchored. If I should find myself dragging anchor in the middle of the night because the current has shifted or the wind has picked up I want to get control of the vessel as fast as possible. This doesn't apply, of course, if I tie up to a mooring.