Panbo

The Marine Technology Hub

Category: How-to

The DIY lithium battery bank; Bob Ebaugh has 330 cycles so far 37

How-to / Electrical & Engines

The DIY lithium battery bank; Bob Ebaugh has 330 cycles so far

Bob_n_Elaine_Ebaugh_cruise_courtesy_MarAzulAdventures.jpg

Bob and Elaine Ebaugh did it, leaving Florida in April, 2011, on their Defever 44 Mar Azul and spending more than two years cruising a big Carribean loop. Their blog, Mar Azul Adventures, is a good read, but you might miss the fact that during the cruise, Bob managed to research, assemble, test, and install a 1,200 amp hour do-it-yourself lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery bank to replace the 12 golf cart batteries they’d worn out. He also wrote a thorough white paper about why he chose DIY lithium and how he put the system together…

Shaft Razor long test, with a look at the competition 17

How-to / Good Gear (non electronic)

Shaft Razor long test, with a look at the competition

Shaft_Razor_line_cutter_installed_on_Gizmo_cPanbo.jpgThere are still patches of icey snow left from a memorable March in Maine, but I enjoyed a recent afternoon wandering around the boatyard checking out shaft cutters. Pictured above is the Shaft Razor that’s been protecting Gizmo from line wraps since the spring of 2010. Like my stainless rudder it picked up a lot of barnacles last fall, but that double set of super-sharp serrated teeth were still quite effective. The Shaft Razor is also a good value that has required zero maintenance, and while I saw some interesting competition around the yard, I wouldn’t trade…

3M Scotchloks, is my love so wrong? 29

How-to

3M Scotchloks, is my love so wrong?

3M_Scotchlok_UYbx_connector_test_cPanbo.jpgIn October I promised to eventually discuss the 3M Scotchlok IDC connectors I used to tap into Gizmo’s engine gauge wires in order to install an Actisense EMU-1 Engine Monitoring Unit. Given that two experienced commenters already strongly dismissed these connectors for boat use, I did more research and testing. Tentative conclusion: While 3M does indeed state that Scotchloks like those tiny UY butt connectors above are meant only for 22-26 gauge solid copper conducter wires, they still seem like the fastest, surest way I’ve seen to splice the fine gauge stranded wires we often deal with afloat. Could it just be a mistake that’s kept a lot of useful Scotchlok models out of 3M’s limited marine line, or did I miss some major difference?

Ancor goes NMEA 2000 & the BEP Pro Installer line 6

How-to / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Ancor goes NMEA 2000 & the BEP Pro Installer line

Ancor_NMEA_2000_cables_n_connectors_cPanbo.jpgPerhaps coming soon to a marine electronics store near you (though not yet online) is a fairly complete line of NMEA 2000 cables and connectors under the well-known Ancor brand. I particularly like how the kits and explanatory packaging will encourage consumers to set up their own small networks. The 2- and 5-meter cables, for instance, are sold as Backbone/Drop Cables while the 10-Meter is simply a Backbone Cable (because a spur shouldn’t exceed 5 meters). I saw the preview Ancor line above at IBEX but learned more about it in a special Soundings Trade-Only advertorial publication designed for next week’s METS show…

Azek PVC board, great for electronics panels? 23

How-to

Azek PVC board, great for electronics panels?

Gizmo_main_helm_project_cPanbo.JPG

At first I was just going to replace the electronics panel at Gizmo’s lower helm, but I got carried away!  And at this point I’ve got a boat that I can’t start — because the engine instruments, and much else, are disconnected — in a slip that I’m just bumming until the real occupant’s boat is launched (which accounts for slow posting here).  But the project is going well, and I’m particularly pleased with the Azek expanded PVC board product I’m experimenting with for the dash panel(s)…

Cool tools: Rhino 101 & Triplett Fox/Hound Jr. 2

How-to

Cool tools: Rhino 101 & Triplett Fox/Hound Jr.

RHINO_101_cPanbo.JPG

There are numerous cable labelling devices and styles, as folks have commented about in the Gizmo schematics entry and the systems forensics saltwater pathogens entry (;-).  I even have a low-end, but decent Dymo LetraTag Plus whose tape labels can be made work okay on cables.  But last week I noticed, and bought, this newish Dymo Rhino 101, which can be used with self laminating cable labels.  I like it; it’s simple, light, and fast, and no batteries are required.