Plastic junction box for solar re-purpose for buss - 2011

Used the Dremel Tool to cut it up.

The plastic junction box for the solar panels got cut up to make a housing for the buss we decided to use instead. The housing will cover the at least the top part of the buss which is all that is needed so that dripping condensation will not get at the buss.

Electrical dingy pump receptacle in place - 2011

 

 Had a little free time so we cleaned up the hole that was for I don’t remember what as we removed it a long time ago. We have had used it for stringing wires into the boat.

Refer light switches working - 2011

The one with the light on is the refer switch.

 The refer light switch we wired up with some permanent wires and some temporary wires. We will purchase some 2\16 to go from the switch to the Nav station T fuse block. 

Solar Junction box\controler

 We got another seven feet of #4 gauge cable from Marine Exchange and had them put ¼ ends on them for the buss and had 3/8 ends put on the eleven foot #4 gauge cables for the controller to batteries. I then put on the heat shrink as I had some at the boat.

 We are now almost ready to make the major hook up.

 A stop at Home Depot to pick up some box cable connectors and we are finished with the parts.

We earlier had 6 awg cables, now the new #4 gauge are huge. 

Refer light switches getting setup for install - 2011

These switches we purchased from Marine Exchange will be glued onto this teak.

Refer lid insulation is ready for gluing

 The Dow Blue Board insulation for the top lid of the refer on the galley side is shaped now and ready for gluing to the lid. It took a lot of sanding to get it custom fit. Next time we will cut it a little smaller. This stuff is not good for the environment as it will probably never dissolve. It will end up in the Pacific garbage path if left in the water. We sand it carefully and this time inside the dock box. It was getting really cold and dark by the time we were finished. Darn fall.

New water pump has broken hose barb - Update - 2011

 We got an email propyl form SHURFlo support on our questions. Seems this new info will require a re-install of the water pump. That is if we want to make it right and have it last a long time.

Original bilge pump IN hose installed - 2011

You can see the IN hose with the red hose clamp protector on it

While in the bilge working we saw the labels for the IN and OUT on the original bilge pump. We had access to the hose we had made up for the IN to the pump from the bilge and so installed it. Just needed a shorting of the connector hose by cutting off a half inch or so and it went right on.

Old refer thermostat sensor hole filled - 2011

The back bottom of the new lower thermostat.

Soalar panel junction box re-designed - 2011

 We did some more solar panel(SP) wiring and it became apparent that the junction box that we got from Home Depot(HD) was not going to work well for this much and size of wire. It could work but we would like something nicer.

Companionway doors, locking from inside - 2011

Top latch.

 We  wanted a latch on the companionway doors so we could lock the boat from the inside.

Kato Marine, Island Davits stern support straps finished - 2011

December 2011 Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA

Debbie then tapped the are applied 3M4000 UV Marine Adhesive  to the are and screws. 

Because the Frigoboat refer is now working we have started some of the little projects that have been lingering around.

New water pump has broken hose barb - leaking!

We just fired off a email to SHURflow support on this issue.

"We just a few days ago replaced our SHURflo 5.7 extreme water pump to a SHURflo 4.0 extreme water pump. Our 5.7 pump was cycling and it was suggested we change to a smaller pump.


  We just had one of the dark gray plastic hose barb fittings split that is screwed onto the bronze bronze threaded piupe which comes out of the valve..


 We will replace these (there are two) with bronze hose barb fittings.


 Also should we replace the white stiffer rubber hose with the type that is coming out of the pump?


Is there enough hose before the stiff fittings and valves so the vibration from the pump will not cause damage to the bronze fittings or the connection with the water tanks valve etc?"

Pressure cooker Vegetarian Chili - 2011

The recipe was found in the Vegetarian Pressure Cooker Recipe Book we have on the boat.

Rigging estimate - 2011

 We stopped by Pacific Offshore Rigging in San Diego. 

Solar junction box re-thought (another try) 2011

We bought 10’ of 4 AWG wire for the solar setup but after fooling with the junction box it was decided this was just not right for us.

Garhauer motor lift - re-purpose - 2011

December 2011 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA

stripped but saved.

WeatherDeck Fuse Panel came in

The new fuse panel came in. We are thinking of wiring it to the stern anchor winless buss. There should be plenty of amps left for these small LED items. Or the selector switch at the nav station.

Solar junction Box wiring - 2011

4 AWG wire for junction box to solar controller.

Math
485 watts total from panels
3 - 135 watt panels
each
Voltage at Max Power (Vmpp)
17.7
Current at Max Power (Impp) 7.63 Amps
85 watt panel
Voltage at Max Power (Vmp) 17.9
Current at Max Power (Imp) 4.84 Amps
Total
= 27.73 amps total
4 AWG Per Cent voltage drop = 1.43 for a 12 foot run

Had a little extra time left over from the water pump replacement so we did some solar panel work.

We got the rout figured for the panel wires and then the wire length. We cut to length and re- labeled some of the wires (cut off label) and stripped the ends.

Wiring is quite simple.

May need more holes.

Now we need to bring in the wires for the 135 panel we are currently using and add two 4 AWG wires that will go to the solar controller. We need to purchase those two 4 AWG wires yet.

 We mounted the junction box up under the starboard lazarette and use just one mounting screw as that was all we had that would work.

Note:

 We ended up getting a ST Blade Fuse Block from Blue Sea Systems.

Soleus Air 30 Pint Room Dehumidifier working great! - 2011

Soleus Air DP1-30-03 30 Pint Room Dehumidifier

 Looks a lot more modern than the we picture. The fan is not noisy, not quiet but not bothersome.