E FOY Fuel Cell Generator

[phantomracer]

Another update on the efoy.. one minor issue.. not with the unit per-se.

I notice that whenever the voltage drops, even for a moment, under 12.x it goes into battery charging mode (to 14.4 ) even though the battery really isn't low.

Something like the fresh water pump came on, or the fridge starts up..or anything that might drop the voltage momentarily below the threshold, will cause it to come on and go through the cycle. (and using a lot of methanol)

I am going to purchase the interface to connect it to my pc (so you can configure it) to lower the threshold, maybe to 11.9 or so

I am going to check out getting the updater from efoy to get the latest version running on the unit as well.

Other than this, been running great!

[smac999]

I'm pretty sure you can adjust the time delay and voltage levels on the screen itself?. but I haven't played with one in a few months.

[phantomracer]

Originally Posted by smac999

I'm pretty sure you can adjust the time delay and voltage levels on the screen itself?. but I haven't played with one in a few months.

maybe with the newer one. i have the 1600. I didn't see anyway to adjust anything. the manual suggested the IA1 adapter to connect with using a computer.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by phantomracer

I notice that whenever the voltage drops, even for a moment, under 12.x it goes into battery charging mode (to 14.4 ) even though the battery really isn't low.

Something like the fresh water pump came on, or the fridge starts up..or anything that might drop the voltage momentarily below the threshold, will cause it to come on and go through the cycle. (and using a lot of methanol)

I suspect that if the eFoy is affordable, then LiFePO4 batteries are also affordable. They will not suffer such a voltage drop as consumers start up and have many other advantages.

[COLINFLTENG]

Your battery bank is the problem if your voltage downs below 12.8 with only running water pump check batteries.

[phantomracer]

yup im on it... been doing my best to breath life into the batteries.. I started another topic here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ed-160501.html

[COLINFLTENG]

EFOY not problem then I replace my batteries this season

[phantomracer]

Originally Posted by phantomracer

yup im on it... been doing my best to breath life into the batteries.. I started another topic here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ed-160501.html

Just an update. after going through the process of testing/charging my house batteries (see the other thread if you want to be bored to tears ). My batteries were FUBAR.

Got a new set of batteries and will try again! Hope to have better results with the refrigeration/battery load. Hope to go through less methanol this year with batteries that can last more than 20 minutes

next project is to rebuild the icebox with insulation that is not 48 years old!

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by phantomracer

My batteries were FUBAR.

Got a new set of batteries and will try again! Hope to have better results with the refrigeration/battery load. Hope to go through less methanol this year with batteries that can last more than 20 minutes

I hope you upgraded to LiFePO4 batteries.

Originally Posted by phantomracer

next project is to rebuild the icebox with insulation that is not 48 years old!

I suggest aerogel insulation.

[phantomracer]

Originally Posted by mcarling

I hope you upgraded to LiFePO4 batteries.


I suggest aerogel insulation.

Got 2 Carbon Foam Firefly batteries.

Yes i plan on using aerogel

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by COLINFLTENG

Just went to Vancouver boat show was show demo E FOY unit look interesting has any one used this unit a little price limit
Cheers Colin

The current crop of commercial fuel cells dont even pass an initial trade off with solar and diesel generators. They crop up at boat shows now and again.

Fuel cells will only become viable when we can extract hydrogen from water as the fuel. This technology exists but has never reached commercialization. It's what powered the Apollo space program in the 60s and 70s.

The dissassociative membrane technology has existed since the 80s. It was a major research project at Uni of South Australia during my undergrad years.

We could use solar to power the hydrogen dissassociation process. Similar equipment to a water maker.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Finistere

Defender has these units for sale:

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp...985&id=1848741

$59.99 plus shipping for the 10 liter (2.5 Gal) fuel cartridge, that is only $24 a gallon methanol. I will pass up going green in this case.

Methanol is a nasty fuel to handle and store. I worked extensively with it in the 80s in fuel and combustion research. It burns clear and is one of the worst fuels to handle on a day to day basis. In indy cars we would see the methanol dance.

Its also used on naval vessels as an an antifreeze and washer fluid for optics surveillance systems. Its one of the most feared stores on these vessels. Even more so than the munitions on board. Its where most of my time has been consumed in safety engineering approvals.

It's a great drag racing fuel which allows you to run high compression and it provides excellent charge cooling. These benefits have no correlation with our cruising needs.

Could you imagine storing lots of methanol on our yachts. Makes no sense.

$24 per gallon of methanol is highway robbery. It is a very cheap fuel to produce. However brazil has now abandoned its support of ethanol as a transportation fuel.

Ethanol and methanol have attracted some of the green fringe element. I suspect thats why every few years they appear again.

I wouldnt waste time with anything methanol related on a yacht.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[phantomracer]

I was just updating the thread because there seems to be some people interested in what's going on on my boat. I am one of the few members here that has a fuel cell.

Not trying to sell anyone on the idea of a fuel cell but it's working in my situation.

I'm not putting solar on my boat, mainly for cosmetic reasons. Plus solar doesn't work well at night when I have the most electrical load

The fuel canisters are very safe and they are rigorously tested for safety. Yes it is very expensive however

[COLINFLTENG]

I have both fuel cell and solar 500 watts plus 650 amp AGM battery bank very thing working great

[lsoltero]

Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff

$24 per gallon of methanol is highway robbery. It is a very cheap fuel to produce. However brazil has now abandoned its support of ethanol as a transportation fuel.

Has anyone tried reagent grade methanol in the efoy unit? Its quite inexpensive compared to the efoy cartridges. For example here is a 5gal pail of 99.99% purce methanol of $44

(Freight Only) 5 Gallon Pails of Methanol [methpailf] | DudaDiesel Biodiesel Supplies

Just wondering if there is an alternative to paying the $80 for an M10.

--luis