Holland 25 Under Electric Power

[galan]

My Holland 25 "Jaffa" was coverted from the old original peter 6 diesel which went backwards in a sea or incomoing tide 5 years ago.
I re-powered with a Thoosa electric 48v system and now have 3 hours of silent running at cruise of 4 knots and with a small portable generator can extend this. Jaffa now in short bursts under electric power achieves nearly 7.2 knots (GPS verified) but expends a lot of battery power to do this so we only use this option after a race if we are tired and want to go home in a hurry. Great if it is raining and you only need 15 minutes or so of high speed travelling. My point is that with good fast motors these yachts can go very fast.

[sharsp]

G'day Galan,
Could you post some pictures of the electric install?
I am very keen to see what an electric install looks like.
Could you give us a run down on the total system setup and an idea of cost.
Is there much maintenance?
Also a photo of your ship from afar would be great to.
Where is your boat kept?

[scurrilous]

g'day galan, i have a diesel in scurrilous that needs work and would also like any information on an electric motor conversion.

[Mystique R333]

Mystique will be losing its Volvo to get a new EV 48V system this Winter, I hope. I already have BLDC 5KW motor (water resistant and SS shaft, weighing 11kg) and controller to suit. (I have another new BLDC water restant 5KW motor - 3000rpm if ayone else wants to build their own system.)

Instead of the toothed belt of the Thoosa, I'm going to link mine to a conventional ZF Gearbox. Will have slightlydifferent ratios of forward and reverse gear to play with as controller can switch rotation for forward and reverse (also gives me two clutches). Then I'll just leave in one gear and use controller for forward reverse.

Have the parts, now need to design joining system and mounts. Hope to then market as a ket for DIY install at much cheaper than Thoosa which two yachts I know of use. One is great, the other has a noisy whine for some reason.

For lots of other experiences of EV Power yachts and boats go to:
www.electricboats.org.au/ - Australian Site.
www.aeva.asn.au/forums/default.asp?C=9 Australian Electric Vehicle Association
but best is Yahoo Electric boats Forum lots of info and different approaches. groups.yahoo.com/group/electricboats/messages

Hope this gives you some ideas as to what is possible. Remember, 1HP = 0.75 Watts and electric motors tend to have flat power curves so tons of torque => bigger pitch props. So a 5KW electric has, in theory, about 7HP as a guide.

Biggest problem is weight of probably 8 x 100+Ah batteries to give 48V @ >200 Ah. Also charging such a stack of cells equally.

[sharsp]

Colin,
How are you going with the electric install?

Could you post some more info on your ev upgrade plans.
I am ver y interested in the possibility of electric power for Omega and have started to research my options.

[Mystique R333]

Basically out with old heavy, stinky Volvo and replace it on the drive shaft with a small 11kg weight motor with ZF gearbox attached to provide a thrust bearing and reduction gearbox of about 2:1. Sounds simple but there is a bit of engineering to connect motor driveshaft to gearbox shaft via a flexible coupling.

Should give equal or better thrust than 6HP Volvo, especially at its age. Also instant power without needing to warm up motor and ultra low revs possible for parking.

Great place to learn about what is being done is the Electric Boats Forum groups.yahoo.com/group/electricboats/messages

[sharsp]

Hey Colin,
Hows that electric conversion going?
Keep posting as I'm sure, like me there are plenty on the site keen to follow your progress.

[Mystique R333]

Have been busy getting boat into sailing condition. Then I'll get motor going for comparison pull force and then extract diesel and sell that. Anyone want a running MD5 Volvo with new exhaust, hoses, fuel line, and old instrument panel, fuel tank, exhaust system, filter etc - basically the lot including gearbox but excludinf crive shaft!

[Mystique R333]

Well old Volvo is out now and electric is in and wired up to 48V battery system. Motor only weighs 11kg but batteries are 4 x 30kg so weight is similar to Volvo, fuel-tank and starter battery.

It hopefully goes back into the water after 10 months getting hydraulic steering, custom seat and motor changed over along with other refinements and antifouling. Will live in Paynesville now after truck drive from Williamstown last July.

Have included a shot of engine bay with new motor in place for you to see.

Attachments:

[sharsp]

Well done Colin, the electric conversion looks great. Can you give us a run down of the specs and costs associated. Have you run her yet and if so are you pleased?

[Mystique R333]

Very happy with the way Mystique runs on electric power. Need to clean hull and prop then get some specs. But is great to have power at the flick of a switch, no warm-up, no fumes, no carting fuel, and instant. Recommended but needs realignment as hull has settled after being on the hardstand for so long.

I'll post more after bum is cleaned in Spring.

[sharsp]

Nice work Colin. Thanks for the pic. What size motor did you use? Can you give us specs on the rest of the system? i.e. amp hours, prop type and size controller type etc.
I'm just moving Omega from Adelaide to Brisbane this week and will be getting stuck in to the electric re-power after she arrives.

[Mystique R333]

Oct 2, 2014 14:39:01 GMT 10 sharsp said:

Nice work Colin. Thanks for the pic. What size motor did you use? Can you give us specs on the rest of the system? i.e. amp hours, prop type and size controller type etc.
I'm just moving Omega from Adelaide to Brisbane this week and will be getting stuck in to the electric re-power after she arrives.

Specs are:
5KW Golden air cooled motor mounted via a custom bracket to a 
Hurth 5M gearbox 2.7:1 reduction
Prop folding 12" x 12" Martek
AC Controller by Golden (China) for 48V system.
Batteries are 4 x 12V 120Ah VSLA in series

Gives me about 4 hours @ 2knots or 2 hours @ 3knots (yet to run out of juice, so can't be sure :-) ).


Did have a wind gen on the boat but now putting 120W solar panels on rear bar over rear seat, instead.


Wouldn't use a boat gearbox again as they won't run in reverse, so have to change from FWD/REV manually. Works fine once in gear though.

[Mystique R333]

  
After 3 years of running in and out of pens under electric power, changing throttles and buying a new improved and programmable controller, along with setting up a solar panel charging system, I have now removed the Electric unit. It was a complex decision that was mainly based on my wife's and my health and wanting to explore the extensive Lakes of Gippsland. The limited range of the electric of about 10+ kms in flat water (without running the lead acid battery bank too low), has led me to going to a 9.9 Yamaha outboard. That will give me a motor cruising range for wife and me to safely motor around the Lakes.

Being in a wheelchair, I can't get down to check the electrics and troubleshoot any problems, and there are no people around here who understand the technology and fix faults. Lots around here know outboards, but electrics are a paradigm shift in thinking and knowledge. I really enjoyed having clean, green, electric power, but had to face realities. Sob anyone with a moderate amount of electronic knowledge, wanting to go electric, my system of a 5KW BLDC motor (also have a spare new motor) coupled to a Hurth gearbox and a R&D flexible shaft coupling, a 300 Amp sine wave PWM controller, 100V, 100Amp meter and shunt system, two Hall throttles (more advanced one I'd replaced one of these with failed on me), cables etc, is now going to be sold, either as a whole or as pieces. This was only removed this week, so is available to view in Paynesville. I'll remove the four year old shaft, coupling, and 12 x 12 Martek folding prop 7/8" with sleeve to 4/4", when I next haul out for antifouling later this year.

If anyone interested, feel free to contact me on 03 5156 6656. Colin.