ZwerfCat (en-rss) https://www.zwerfcat.nl Adventures on a world travel en ZwerfCat 24 ZwerfCat (en-rss) https://www.zwerfcat.nl/zwerfcat_rss.png https://www.zwerfcat.nl 88 31 Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0100 BMS-News; News about the BMS project Follow our progress on the BMS project. Regular updates. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/bms-news.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/bms-news.html Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0100 Protection against corrosion; Some less well known secrets https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/corrosion.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/corrosion.html Sat, 17 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100 Maxair/Coltri divecompressor mods; Tips and Tricks If you want to use a Maxair or Coltri dive compressor on your boat, you might find some handy information in this article, like how to create reusable cartridges and how to modify the dive compressor so it can be used from within the engine room. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/divecompressor.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/divecompressor.html Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0100 Aisdispatcher.pl; Submit your AIS data to aggregation services Do you roam in areas where MarineTraffic and ShipFinder have no coverage? Do you have an AIS transponder/receiver on board and access to internet? Then you could become an AIS station and cover the area around your ship. I wrote a Perl script to make that happen, in this article you will find the information you need. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/aisdispatcher.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/aisdispatcher.html Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100 Watermakers; Tips and Tricks Many cruisers consider watermakers a necessary evil. It is a luxury to have fresh water all the time without having to fill up jerrycans from questionable sources a couple of times per week. But it comes with a prize: energy demands, noise and maintenance. We selected a watermaker with low energy demands and after two years of cruising we have optimized our setup and reduced and simplified the required maintenance. You don't have to reinvent the wheel: read our tips and tricks. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/watermakers.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/watermakers.html Wed, 09 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0100 Coconuts; practical tips how to make your own coconut cream and much more Here I share some ideas what to do with coconuts. Like how do you make your own coconutmilk, coconutcream, whipped cream from coconuts, etcetera https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/cooking.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/cooking.html Fri, 05 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100 WiFi with the Ubiquiti Bullet; How to get the most out of your UBNT https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/ubnt.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/ubnt.html Tue, 31 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0100 Corona; Lock down in the Marquesas Locked in Paradise!!! How long will this take. How will the future of sailing in French Polynesia look like? https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/corona.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/corona.html Thu, 16 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0100 OpenHybridBMS; Open source BMS for lithium / lead-acid hybrid installations The ultimate solution to use lithium batteries on marine vessels. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/open-hybrid-bms.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/open-hybrid-bms.html Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 Lithium-Hybrid; What is it and why do you want it? A Lithium-Hybrid installation solves a lot of problems, is the easiest lithium conversion possible, and combines the best of lead-acid and lithium batteries. The result is a system which is far better than lithium-only. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-hybrid.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-hybrid.html Thu, 05 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 Lithium implementations; A comparison between different implementations There are several ways to implement lithium batteries on a ship. All of them have specific advantages and disadvantages. In this article you will find a detailed analysis and comparison. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-implementations.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-implementations.html Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 Lithium but-whatabout...; Common marketing inspired mistakes In the previous article you have seen that proper management of Lithium batteries is not that simple. But then how is it possible that "simple" Lithium solutions are being sold and appear to be working ok? And on the other hand, why do we hear about unsatisfying implementations and Lithium batteries bursting in flames? https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-whatabout.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-whatabout.html Tue, 03 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 Lithium management; How to keep Lithium cells safe and healthy A lot of questions answered: Why do you need a BMS? Why does a Lithium battery need a power interrupter? What happens when you overcharge, when you overdischarge, exceed temperature limits, or when the battery becomes imbalanced? https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-management.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-management.html Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 Lithium advantages; The advantages of Lithium batteries You probably have heard about the advantages of Lithium batteries over lead-acid batteries, like their low cost, their durability, their low weight, their fast charge ability and their capability to support heavy loads without voltage sag? Then you can just skip this article. However, if you are not convinced yet that Lithium batteries are the better alternative for electrical energy storage on your ship, or have some concerns about their safety, then read this article. https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-advantages.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/lithium-advantages.html Sun, 01 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 On our way to French Polynesia, day 25 <p>Almost there! We could had arrived already but we don't want to anchor in the dark. So we try to go as slow as possible, together with Ziezo, the other catamaran we were racing against for the last few weeks.</p><p><i>Info, UTC: 2019-07-06 07:51, Local timezone: UTC-9, Speed: 4.5 knots, Heading: 239</i></p> https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html#blog624 Sat, 06 Jul 2019 07:51:00 +0100 -10.010833 -138.647339 On our way to French Polynesia, day 24 <p>Yesterday no update. Some complex weathersystem was coming over and the wind kept changing, so I kept busy changing and trimming sails and watching the radar for squalls. Weather is fine again. Only 144nm to go!</p><p><i>Info, UTC: 2019-07-05 05:25, Local timezone: UTC-9, Speed: 4.6 knots, Heading: 267</i></p> https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html#blog623 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 05:25:00 +0100 -9.366333 -136.614166 On our way to French Polynesia, day 22 <p>Almost there but now the wind decided to go away. Sigh. Ok, we are still moving but nowhere as fast as we have come used to...</p><p><i>Info, UTC: 2019-07-03 08:47, Local timezone: UTC-9, Speed: 4.1 knots, Heading: 230</i></p> https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html https://www.zwerfcat.nl/en/timeline.html#blog622 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 08:47:00 +0100 -8.444333 -132.887497