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Sail Life - Victron Energy Smart Shunt and leaky chain plate
30 July 2023 · 19 min · 58K views · Prickly Bay, Grenada
What this video covers
A 1987 Warrior 38 named Athena requires a permanent fix for a recurring chain plate leak.0:31 After previous attempts using butyl tape failed, the owner cleans the stainless steel chain plate and fibreglass deck hole, then applies Sikaflex 291 following the manufacturer’s surface preparation guide.1:34 This process includes abrading the stainless steel, using Sikaflex 205 activator, and applying multi-primer to the fibreglass.2:53 The repair remains dry after heavy rain.4:40 To monitor energy consumption, the owner installs two Victron Smart Shunts in DC meter mode to track the fridge and freezer independently.10:32 By configuring the shunts in the Victron Connect app, the owner identifies that the Isotherm freezer consumes 1.1 kWh over 24 hours, nearly double the 0.6 kWh used by the larger, holding-plate-style fridge.17:38 The data suggests poor freezer insulation and a failing lid seal contribute to the high energy draw.18:23 Proper surface preparation and adherence to manufacturer primers significantly increase the lifespan of deck hardware bedding.
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