Sailing Squibvideo
Squib's Refit - Troubleshooting the solar panels - Repairing the engine panel /54
15 February 2024 · 18 min · 1K views
What this video covers
The crew of the 38-ft catamaran Squib troubleshoots a solar power system failure and repairs a damaged engine control panel.0:42 After discovering that the two roof-mounted solar panels produce no power, the crew determines that the previous series wiring configuration is ineffective.1:13 They rewire the panels to operate on independent charge controllers, replacing faulty connectors and heat-shrinking the new connections to ensure a secure, weather-resistant circuit.5:22 Separately, the crew repairs the engine control panel, which suffered from four broken mounting corners.9:24 To restore the structural integrity of the plastic housing, they use a soldering iron to melt the original plastic, reinforcing the joints with fine steel wool as an armature.10:03 When original material is missing, they melt plastic from beverage bottle caps to fill the gaps.10:32 After building up the material, they sand the corners to a functional shape and drill new mounting holes.15:38 The repair provides a cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire panel.17:15
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