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Old 25-07-2014, 06:08   #16
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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Originally Posted by a64pilot View Post
Unusually for these types of things, I believe he has realistic expectations, it will work as long as he has basic mechanical skills.
An issue in my opinion of electric propulsion is most of us have trouble generating or collecting enough power to keep up with basic systems, so where does this huge excess needed for propulsion come from? He has this figured out, charging from shore power
It's not a new idea. Practically all electric boats have a shore power battery charger as an integral part of the plant. And for a daysailer, that is all that is really needed.

Some boats even carry portable generators for emergency charging. But I think my main way of coping with it will be to just not use the prop except when I need to do close quarters maneuvering. Seriously, after initial shakedown and sea trials to collect empirical data, I probably will never use the motor for extended periods again.
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Old 25-07-2014, 06:08   #17
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

We are in the inner harbor. Let me know if you need a hand. I have always been interested in seeing an electrical installation.
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Old 25-07-2014, 06:27   #18
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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Originally Posted by DeepFrz View Post
Have you read mbianka's blog?
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: HAPPY AT THE HELM!
Yeah, I have. Very inspiring. Also a good reality check for anybody having unrealistic expectations about going electric. OTOH it clearly demonstrates that if you respect the limitations, and go redundant on the charging methods, it is a workable and practical system for many of us.

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After our earlier talks Growly, I'm excited to see you put your plan into action. Having a second electric 2-27 on this forum excites me.
Yeah I'm pretty psyched, too. I think a 2-27 with an original raw water cooled A4 is an ideal candidate for electric conversion. These tubby little boats can carry a lot of batteries. I might even put in a second bank, of group 31s, maybe, up forward somewhere. There's room under the vee berth.
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Old 25-07-2014, 06:37   #19
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

Converted to electric propulsion seven years ago and never looked back. I'm sure you will find it a big improvement over flaky internal combustion engines. Make sure you pull out all the hoses, wiring, controls associated with the old engine while you are at it. You'll be amazed how much stuff you can remove when get rid of an ICE:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: GOING ELECTRIC: Part 4: Still they'll be more
Follow that with a good clean up and painting if you want. Your boat will never get that grimy again once you finish the conversion. I am spoiled by the smell of clean!
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Old 25-07-2014, 09:24   #20
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

Just curious about why you are swapping out the Atomic 4?
I had one for years on my Ericson 27 and it was relatively problem free
And you can get a completely rebuilt one from Moyer for about
5 grand or rebuild yourself for a lot less.
All those batteries,charger,controller to me seems like trading
A tried and true piece of gear for a never ending science project
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Old 25-07-2014, 13:26   #21
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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Just curious about why you are swapping out the Atomic 4?
I had one for years on my Ericson 27 and it was relatively problem free
And you can get a completely rebuilt one from Moyer for about
5 grand or rebuild yourself for a lot less.
All those batteries,charger,controller to me seems like trading
A tried and true piece of gear for a never ending science project
I'm tired of smelling fuel. Tired of buying fuel. Tired of hoping the engine will start. And my conversion will come to a grand total of way under $3k. That's including a 48v, 210ah battery bank, charger, controller, motor, thrust bearing, coupler, etc. Not a science project. I'm sticking pretty much with proven technology. Now, if I built my own motor and controller, and home brewed nimh flooded cell batts, that would be a science project. Yes I could buy another A4 but then I would still be running a gas engine. My old A4 still runs, anyway. I could have just replaced the corroded, leaky fuel tank and kept putt-putting as before, until it finally gave up the ghost, but that's not good enough. And if I were re powering with infernal combustion, I would probably go with a Beta diesel, anyhow.

The Atomic is a really cool piece of mid 30s technology, and as gas engines go, it is simple, and fairly easy to work on. But it's all relative. Compared to a brushless DC motor, it's rube goldberg. Perfect for the average person, I guess. Electric is the way forward, for me.
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Old 25-07-2014, 13:47   #22
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

So what you gonna do with the A4 once it's out. I may need one
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Old 25-07-2014, 13:51   #23
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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Originally Posted by mbianka View Post
Converted to electric propulsion seven years ago and never looked back. I'm sure you will find it a big improvement over flaky internal combustion engines. Make sure you pull out all the hoses, wiring, controls associated with the old engine while you are at it. You'll be amazed how much stuff you can remove when get rid of an ICE:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: GOING ELECTRIC: Part 4: Still they'll be more
Follow that with a good clean up and painting if you want. Your boat will never get that grimy again once you finish the conversion. I am spoiled by the smell of clean!
You got that right. I spent an hour or two just removing old hoses, wiring, blowers, etc. Now I can crawl in my engine room, where before it was all I could do to just squirm like a worm. Lots of old dry rotted plywood down there gonna come out, where the gas tank was. I can't wait to scrub it clean and hit it with some good epoxy paint.

You are running on 48v, right? I might want to ask you stuff about your solar setup some time. I'll be adding solar and wind maybe next year, after creating a pilothouse and a hard top over the cockpit.
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Old 25-07-2014, 14:02   #24
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

I pulled the MD7A & fuel tank out of my boat earlier this summer in order to prep it for EP, the boat has never smelt better

You won't be sorry.

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Old 25-07-2014, 14:06   #25
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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So what you gonna do with the A4 once it's out. I may need one
I think I have a buyer. If it falls through then I will sell it locally, buyer picks it up. I can't be bothered with crating and shipping. Or I would deliver for $2/mile, i load, buyer unloads.

This engine was raw water cooled, from 1976. Before shipping cross country, you would be better off with a fresh water cooled motor, or Moyer rebuild. Or even better, a Beta diesel. Or ELECTRIC!
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Old 25-07-2014, 18:37   #26
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

The first sea trials on my friend's electric showed that the prop was too large which overheated the electric motor. Make some good calculations on that one and you shouldn't have much problems on your conversion. There is so much written on the subject that you have a lot of reference material to help you.

Best of luck on your conversion.
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Old 25-07-2014, 19:57   #27
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

I have two of these motors and have built my own controller for them.
They are rather noisy, in fact, I'd call them VERY LOUD for an electric motor,
really unacceptable for me.
If buried in your boat, it may not matter much.
Listen to how loud they are, skip to about 2 minutes.
(This is not my video, but I get the same noise with my controller)
Another video with the Kelly controller also shows how loud they are.

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Old 25-07-2014, 23:32   #28
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

What are the advantages of reinventing a BLDC controller other than saying you made it yourself?
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Old 26-07-2014, 09:33   #29
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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What are the advantages of reinventing a BLDC controller other than saying you made it yourself?
To learn things that apply to many other things, which then lets you build things you can't buy, to 'invent' things and not just 'reinvent' them.
For example, I put this motor in a jetski, and the controller was designed to fit right on the back of the motor that was waterproof and had the fets mounted where they got water cooled. Not possible with a Kelly controller, which btw did not exist back then.
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Old 26-07-2014, 09:58   #30
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Re: It begins: converting Cal 2-27 to electric propulsion!

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5kw is about 6.7hp - does that equate apples to apples to a carbon engine? And is that enough HP to drive the boat?
As I understand it internal combustion engines are rated for power a step or two before the shaft so the prop on an engine rated the same actually sees somewhat less horsepower than an electrically driven prop. Couldn't tell you how much.
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