The simpler and lighter the better – but to what extent?

1. Our Requirements
2. Production
3. Storage
4. Distribution and Consumption
5. Components on our NEEL 47

Our Requirements

As TALATA is our home and we live on the boat full time, there was little chance of kerosene lamps and solar showers bags just to keep things simple. Obviously we’d have to simplify and live more energy consciously by adapting and changing some behaviours. Nevertheless, we weren’t willing to sacrifice good comfort on board. For starters, our boat should:

• Be fully enjoyable & liveable in any climate we plan to go. Let’s say from Europe to Caribbean, Alaska to Asia. This translates to a need for heating, cooling and dehumidifying the living space.
• Provide enough fresh-water and electricity.
• Safe and easy monitoring of the installation. 

Based on this, we thought it wise to stay in one eco-system with a ‘one supplier’ strategy and also decided that storage would be in lithium batteries. In our opinion there are only two serious contenders here, Victron and Mastervolt.

We decided to go with Mastervolt. At the time we needed to make our decision, batteries from Mastervolt were protected with an IP65 rating whereas those from Victron came with IP22. In my opinion, IP22 might be ok in a shed on land but not on my boat. The fact that each Mastervolt battery comes with its own BMS helped decide in their favour.

With this in mind and a schematic drawing in hand, we approached NEEL. It was clear after our first session that NEEL would refer us to POCHON S.A. a renowned company in La Rochelle with further locations in France and the Caribbean.

Homework

First step is to create a consumption worksheet with each and every consumer, from the biggest to the tiniest. The better you estimate your consumption, the better you can decide on how much energy you’ll have to produce and also how much storage will give you peace of mind.

Sounds easy right? But who really knows how long a fridge runs to reach and maintain the pre-selected temperature? How long do we cook per day? How much energy does a cycle of the washing machine really use? What does it mean to navigate 24/24 hours with all the electronics engaged. Charging all the batteries in computers, Dysons, phones, speakers, Torqeedo (electric outboard) adds up but just how much does it come to in everyday life?

One thing is certain, it’s worth putting in an effort here. Less guess-how and more know-how will improve the next steps and result in a better system on the whole.

Distribution and Consumption

On TALATA we have two electrical power circuits. One with 12V DC (Direct Current) and one with 230V AC (Alternating Current, like you use at home). 12V comes directly from our batteries and powers the navigational instruments, the autopilot, the majority of our pumps, the fridge and freezer and all the LED lighting.

230V is produced by inverters (Mass Combi Pro) which convert our DC to AC. For example, the cooking, the air-conditioning and the water maker run on AC. As we wanted to be able to run our air-conditioning (more on this in another post) via our batteries we installed 9 KW of AC power. The 9 KW allows us to easily use the induction hob, electrical oven, washing machine and the water maker simultaneously if there would be a necessity to do so.

Despite operating with the latest technology, our air-conditioner uses a LOT of energy and runs only for a few hours on a low eco setting solely powered by the batteries. When there’s need for longer run-time or more cabin volume to be cooled/dehumidified, the generator then kicks in. Preferably and generally, we run the AC while there’s a lot of sunshine.

On occasion we’re in a marina and then will use shore power. Should there be insufficient delivery, within milliseconds our intelligent inverters help cover the deficit with power from the batteries.