By Russ, on December 16th, 2007
This blog is meant to restrict itself to all things electric, but I can’t help but comment on the polarising debate that is going on in the UK leisure boat sector with regard to red diesel.
For the sake of foreign readers there is a very low rate of tax on diesel for marine users in the UK which makes it about 40% cheaper than the same diesel being sold to car owners. The origins of this benefit are not clear but it is believed that it goes back to the 1930’s post war years. Some people have attributed the concession
…….Click Red Alert Diesel v Green Alert Global Warming …. to continue reading
By Russ, on December 11th, 2007
Learning to navigate by the stars is like crossing the Rubicon for many sailors so it is encouraging to see useful devices that could help build confidence when sailing by the stars…
The MySky looks like a toy, but I think it should be taken seriously as a very useful aid…
Features :
Identify planets and stars in the night’s sky.
Visual and audio guided tours of the stars in your location.
Find and display mode for constellations.
LCD screen with full colour display.
Real time sky maps found.
Satellite finder.
Ergonomically designed to be comfortable to use and hold.
Can be connected to computerised telescopes
…….Click Identifying stars while navigating at night… …. to continue reading
By Russ, on December 11th, 2007
This personal wind turbine called the HyMini can be hooked up to various devices to charge your phones, cameras, and other small electronics when you are on the road or on the sea..
Just like the PowerMonkey the manufacturers say it too could be used on trains, cabs, or airports – so long as you plug in the bundled mini solar panel. It can be charged from its own mini solar panel or from a normal electrical outlet when there is just no wind. The mini solar panels can also be connected in series to up the charging
…….Click Portable wind power v solar power ? …. to continue reading
By Russ, on December 11th, 2007
I think I might be getting obsessed by solar power…people are emailing me links to all sorts of products – just because I raved about the PowerMonkey…
Now here is a a set of fashionable bags from NoonSolar with built in solar panels for charging gadgets on the move – who said sailing fashion was all about waterproofs and Goretex
Product details:
Two-sided design allows solar panel to face the sun or your body
9†drop from shoulder
2 interior zipper pockets — 1 for battery and electronics
1 exterior zipper pocket
Leather zipper pulls
Magnetic snap closure
16 x 13 x
…….Click Solar panels and haute couture ? …. to continue reading
By Russ, on December 10th, 2007
I have only just discovered Brunton solar panels which although they appear to be directed at the camping market are water proof and robust enough to use on a sailing cruiser.
These are the salient features claimed by the manufacturers:
Amorphous solar cells for effective low-light performance
Reverse flow protection
Tefzel® fluoropolymer construction for extreme durability
Waterproof
UV transparent
Link multiple like-units together for even more output
Rolls and stores in convenient storage tube
Includes vehicle outlet cable & multi-linking cable
One-year warranty
They also offer a useful chart of typical
…….Click Portable solar panels from Brunton …. to continue reading
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