By Melissa Gervais, photos courtesy Pacific Yacht Systems
Pacific Yacht Systems Inc. (PYS), based in Vancouver, BC, specializes in marine electrical and electronics. PYS can help you maximize safety, comfort and performance so you feel safe and enjoy your boating experience to its full potential. “With all the new technologies available, finding the right balance between battery banks, charging systems and inverters has become very complicated” states PYS President, Jeff Cote. “Not only is it a challenge to keep up with the advancements but many installations are not correct from the start. We have many clients who had all the right equipment but were not maximizing the charging capacity because the batteries or charger were not wired properly.”
To meet this, and other electrical needs, PYS offers an Electrical Audit. For $139, an ABYC-trained technician will meet you at your boat and spend an hour and a half reviewing your battery setup, main connections wiring, charger, alternator, DC switching and fusing. You will receive a full written report, which will include recommendations to ensure your boat is safe. The technician will also leave you with suggestions for future improvements based on how you use your boat. A boater who anchors for one to two days in a row has completely different requirements than a boater who stays at the dock connected to shore power.
Just recently, a client was having problems with his electrical system and no one could explain why the engine batteries would drain while underway. During the Electrical Audit, PYS discovered that the boat’s two alternators were different sizes, with a small alternator on the port engine charging all the loads associated with both engines, some house loads, and even the thrusters. The starboard engine had a large alternator, but it only charged the house bank. The port-side alternator couldn’t keep up with the power demand of the engines, and the engine batteries were actually draining while running the engines. PYS replaced the smaller alternator and rebalanced the charging system through the use of smart alternator combiners, so that both port and starboard engines would recharge all battery banks while underway.
Another client was retiring and wanted to spend more time at anchor. His existing system did not keep the batteries charged for more than a day so he added two additional batteries himself. PYS was invited aboard for an electrical audit. One of the realizations of the audit was that he should NOT have mixed new batteries with old batteries. Through conversations with PYS, the owner re-did his battery bank and properly balanced it for even charge and discharge. In order to reduce the charging time while underway, PYS installed a high-output alternator and an external regulator. A battery monitor was also installed so he knew his draw and the state of his batteries with the push of a button.
Along with traditional charging systems, PYS also specializes in solar panel installations. The new flexible solar panels can be attached directly to a bimini or dodger with zippers, snaps or Velcro, which makes them easy to remove in the winter months. “In order to extend their time at anchor, many boaters without generators are opting for solar panels, we are even seeing power boaters simply removing older, unreliable generators and switching to solar”, says Jeff. “Solar power is perfect for the Pacific Northwest summers, the sun is out at 6 a.m. and it is light until 8 p.m.”
If you would like to book an Electrical Audit or are interested in adding solar to your existing setup, please visit the company website www.pysystems.ca or contact the office at 604-284-5171.