something scary

[CharlieJ]

I posted this already on TSBB but felt it should be seen here also. I did a very simple, but very stupid thing that could have cost us Tehani.

Went to the boat today and did some simple chores.  While was there I happened to look into a cockpit locker for a box with some screws in it, and in so doing moved an already out of place throwable cushion. Behind that cushion, this is what I found. The cushion had been laying against the solar panel charge controller, which prevented it from venting heat.

Here's the cushion and front of the controller- That's about a 1 inch deep hole, 1 1/2 inches in diameter, melted into the cushion



and here's the back side-



A simple dumb move on my part, not paying attention and putting the cushion where it didn't belong, against that controller, could have been a disaster. As it is, the solar panel is fine ( other than needing a new plug on the end of the wire, and the battery is fine too.

The new controller will NOT be in that locker- it will be inside, on the bulkhead, ,in plain view where NOTHING can cover it!!!!

[Captain Smollett]

 :o :o :o

Yikes, CJ.  Very glad you found it, and that the damage is not worse than it is.

You were meant to go the boat today.

[s/v Faith]

WoW Charlie,

 It is a good lesson, often small boats don't give us many options on mounting things.... (of course a charge controler would go in a dedicated electrical panel, or mounted on a bulkhead on a bigger boat).

 Lot's to think about, glad this ended well, that might have been awful.

[CapnK]

CJ - Quick! Go buy a lotto ticket! ;D

Katie Marie is as relieved for Tehani as I am for y'all. :)

[Zen]

Wow! close! :o, thank whatever you believe in.

[AdriftAtSea]

Yikes!  That was a close one by the looks of it.  Even if it hadn't been a fire risk, the other problem is that you might not have known that the batteries weren't being charged by the solar panels, and could have gotten stranded with flat batteries unawares.