Jim K,I wasn't taking the length into account. Time to back up and think this through again. My first plan was to move the thruster pair forward and put them on a common shaft rotating forward of the pressure hull. This would allow the pilot to operate both with one hand, more or less. One of the issues with the K-boats is that you have your hands full all the time. I'd prefer to simplify that. Maybe I'd better back up further and rethink the fixed thruster arrangement. Look ma, no hands!Alec S,Which thruster motors did you install on Snoopy? I'd like to hear how the sub works with just two. Actually, I'm beginning to wonder if a single unit aft wouldn't do it. The Kittredge 3 hp 36 volt motor was designed to put more umph in the water than the pair of standard 1/2 horse motors could do. I'm beginning to think that the Minn-Kotas can outperform Captain George's best effort. What do you think?Vance
Sent: Sat, Jul 31, 2010 11:05 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] thruster penetrations
Hi Vance,Sounds like a good plan. I only did the other work because the subconns would come into the passenger area and are about 3 1/2 to 4 inches long, but that's a guess.Best Regards,Jim KOn Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 9:51 AM, <vbra676539@aol.com> wrote:
The pics don't help, but your explanation does. I was thinking of using the sub-conns, but simply screwed into the inside of the rotating shaft (inside the sub, that is). I believe they hold almost as much pressure from the inside as the outside and, as they are massively overbuilt for our application, anyway..... I'll contact sub-conn about the back pressure question before settling on this. If it works, then it will save building the compensated chamber.Vance
Sent: Sat, Jul 31, 2010 9:42 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] thruster penetrations
Hi Vance,Sorry about the misunderstanding! I made 1-1/4 inch hollowed shaft with related housing and used a block V seal for sealing. Since I could not figure out a good safe way of making the electrical Thru-hull I used high power connectors from sub-conn and placed them inside of a turned housing with O-ringed caps and 6 bolts holding the caps on which enabled me to pressure compensate them as well as support the thrusters. The high power connectors are only available in 4 conductors, so I just used two and cut the other two off. I would be happy to take some pictures, however right now my computer is refusing to send them. I was recently able to load some onto the psubs sight, so maybe that will work.Best regards,Jim KOn Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 7:19 AM, <vbra676539@aol.com> wrote:
I was thinking more about the penetration area. How are your electrical pens done? What sort of bushings did you use for your side thrusters? I have the motors and controllers. Just need to build something to get through the hull.Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: kocpnt tds.net <kocpnt@tds.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Sat, Jul 31, 2010 7:45 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] thruster penetrations
Hi Vance,I just oil compensated the 101's and made no other modifications. I used the factory controllers at $129.00 each. They are sized right for the moters and require no modifications.I know many build there own controllers, but I am not sure why. In either case, I am not into electronics and lack the skills to do this myself.Sometime down the road I would like to get specifics on the ceramic seals are adapted to the 101's per one of your earlier posts. Are these then run without compensating? Mine were compensated in Florida, and while I can only guess, I believe that they lost about 20% of max RPM when compensated with wd-40Best Regards,Jim Kp.s. With 2 subs to build you'll certainly be kept out of trouble. Enjoy!On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 7:02 PM, <vbra676539@aol.com> wrote:
Jim K.I'm working on two subs at once here. The K-sub is getting Minn-Kotas and I'd like to pick your brains about how you modified things to set the 101s on Guppy and carry the amperage necessary. Those things kick up a storm, so I'm sure they will be more than adequate to replace the anvil-heavy Kittredge units that I have on the shelf.Vance