Using the electricity when your on your fancy yacht in the Cycladesdefinitely differs from using the electricity at your home! You can’t just hook up to the National Grid, so you need to be careful – once the battery has died, you might be left, stranded out at sea with no power!
So, it is always a good idea to have some information about the usage of electricity on the yacht. The main source of electricity on a yacht is the onboard system of a battery. And there are high chances that you may run out of the power because of over and unnecessary electricity usage, so here are some tips and tricks to save electricity and use it in a proper manner.
Other sources available for charging
Sailors can also connect their electrical appliances to the system of shore power to get Alternative Current 220/240 V, and this can be done when it is properly moored in a good marina. When it is connected to this system, you can easily charge your appliances via electric outlet of 220/240 V. however, Electric generator can also provide you the same power as of shore power i.e. 220/240 V, during sailing but it is very diesel hungry and noisy or when it is anchored without any a connection of shore power. On the other hand, modern generators are a better option as they are less noisy as compared to electric generators.
If your boat is not properly equipped with a converter from a current of 12 Volt to 220/240 V or a generator, you may be using sockets of car lighter (12V). The adapter of car lighter can easily be used to charge laptops, tablets and mobile phones. So, try to equip yourself by buying socket adapters of 12 V as it will convert it into 1 or 2 proper USB sockets. And at best, you will also be able to charge efficiently almost all of the devices. But keep in mind that this is a slow process of charging your devices. So try to bring power banks and solar chargers as well.
Keep an eye on the voltage
Meanwhile, the voltage on your yacht should be in between 11.5 V and 14 V. And remember that if the voltage drops below 11.5 V, then there won’t be enough power on the boat to start its engine. So don’t forget to regularly scrutinize the voltage. You can also save some more electricity by reducing the temperature of the refrigerator or just by switching it off for some hours during the nighttime. Make sure to turn off the light of the saloon and cabins as it can save a lot of electricity in the long run.
Ideal time for charging
The best time to charge any of the devices is when the boat is using the electric engine, at that time electricity will be produced from the same source. But when the engine is idle, use the system of onboard battery only.
Having your boat properly equipped with some solar panels is one of the best ways to acquire electricity in order to use electrical appliances. Although the amount of power acquired will depend on the surface of solar panels, it will definitely provide enough electricity to power navigational instruments and other electric devices.
So, with these tips on your fingertips, you can easily save enough energy and can have pleasant holidays while sailing.