POWER SUPPLY

The force responsible for electric current

is called as Electromotive Force or E.M.F
( E ). Unit is VOLTAGE (V).
The rate of flow of electrons is called as
Electric Current ( I )
Unit is Ampere (A).
The opposition to the flow of any current
is Resistance (R)
Unit is Ohms ( ).
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The opposition to the flow of

alternating current (AC) is
Impedance ( Z ).
Unit is Ohms.

OHMS LAW:
At a constant temperature, a current
flowing in a conductor is directly
proportional to the voltage and inversely
proportional to the resistance of the
conductor.
I = V/R
R = V/I
V = IR
Eg. If I = 5A & R=10, then V=5x10=50V

When resistors are connected in series,

the total resistance increases.
Rt = R1 + R2
When resistors are connected in parallel,
the total resistance decreases.
Rt = 1
_____________
1/R1 + 1/R2
Eg. 2 resistors of each 10 when
connected,
in series total resistance will be 20
in parallel total resistance will be 5 4

POWER
Power (P) is the product of Voltage and
the current:
Unit Watts (W)
P=VxA
e.g. If V = 25V & I = 4A then
P = 25 x 4 = 100W
Loads of same rating,
If connected in parallel, then total power
consumption will increase.
If connected in series then total power
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consumption will decrease.

eg. If two 100W bulbs are connected in

parallel, then the total power
consumption, is 200 W.
If two 100W bulbs are connected in
series, then the total power consumption,
is 50 W.
If a bulb of 100 Watts lights for 10 hours,
then the total power consumed is 1000
Watt hour or 1 unit.
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FUSES AND METERS

Fuse is a conductor of low resistance
made up of an alloy lead and tin. It
protects the equipment from excessive
current flow.
Fuse rating is based on the load
connected and not based on the supply
Voltage.
Fuse rating is measured in amperes, it
means, above which current, it will melt
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and blow.

The meter reading:

Voltage has V printed on the panel and
The Current will have A printed on the panel.
The meter measuring all the voltage, current
& resistance is called as multimeter.
To check fuses, use the multimeter in
resistance and check between the ends.
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If zero ohms, then the fuse is OK & if

infinity ohms then the fuse is blown off.
Always replace the fuse with same rating.
If not available, replace with any other
closest rating, preferably on the lower
side.
Do not replace with a higher rating fuse
because it will not protect the load. The
load may be damaged.
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SHIPS POWER SUPPLY

In ships the power supply used for the
GMDSS console are :
Ships mains from the main generator.
Reserve supply from the emergency
generator.
Emergency supply from the GMDSS
battery.

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As per SOLAS requirement, an

emergency generator should give power
supply continuously for 18 hours and
should be fitted on an open deck area.
If emergency generator,
Complies with the SOLAS, then the
GMDSS console battery should work for
at least one hour.
does not comply with SOLAS then,
GMDSS console battery should work for 6
hours.
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BATTERY
Two types of cells are available :
Primary Cell and Secondary Cell.
Primary Cell :
Not chargeable Use and throw.

Carbon zinc ( Le-Clanche ) cell, of 1.5 V

Alkaline Cell of 1.5 V
Lithium Cells of 2.6 to 3.6 V commonly available
as button cells of 3 V. Lithium cells have shelf life of
3-5 years. Never try to charge it, will explode.

In all 3 Safety Equips 18v Lithium cells are used12

Secondary Cell :
Chargeable Use, charge and reuse.
Ni-Cad cell of 1.2 V shelf life 4 years
onboard ships 15 cells are connected in
series to get 18V. The electrolyte used is
potassium hydroxide.Used for walkie talkies.
Lead acid cell each of 2V shelf life 3 yrs
For GMDSS console, 2 blocks of 12V battery
are connected in series to get 24 V.
each block have 6 cells connected in series
to get 12 V.
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LEAD ACID BATTERY

CONSTRUCTION
In a lead acid cell,
the positive plate is Lead Peroxide.
the negative plate is spongy lead.
the electrolyte used is diluted
sulphuric acid.
This cell will give a voltage of 2.2 V
(potential difference between the +ve
and ve plates.)

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The specific gravity of a fully charged

cell will show about 1280.
A fully discharged cell will show about
1230.
Specific Gravity : The ratio between the
weight of the water and of the liquid in
question.
Each cell voltage = 2V
One block of 6 cell battery = 12V

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Off load voltage = 25V ( when battery is

disconnected from the load i.e.GMDSS
console . Mains ON means battery is Off
load).
On load voltage = 24V (when battery is
connected to the load GMDSS console.
Mains Off means battery is on load).
The voltage should not drop below 22V.
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AH = Ampere x Hour, is the Current

delivering capacity of a battery over a
period of time.
Depending upon the requirement it may
vary from 70AH to 240AH.
Requirement depends on total power
consumption and working hours.

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Discharging or charging should be

limited to 10 PCT of the total AH.
If a battery has 70 AH, the charging /
discharging current should not be more
than the rate of 7 ampere per hour.
That means we can draw a maximum of
7A current for 10 hours from a 70AH
battery.
Similarly, in a 200AH battery, we can
draw 20 A for 10 hours

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Defects of Lead Acid battery :

1. Buckling effect:
If charged or discharged above the
recommended rate of current, large amount of
heat will be produced inside the battery,
causing the electrodes to bend.
Due to this bending, the plates short each
other, resulting in reduction in the Voltage.
To overcome this effect, do not over charge or
discharge.
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2.

Sulphation :

If the battery is left idle without

charging or discharging for long time,
the sulphate from the sulphuric acid
starts settling on the electrodes,
thus reducing the area of conduction,
thereby reducing the voltage.
To overcome this, use trickle charging.
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Trickle Charging :
After the battery is fully charged and
if the battery is not required for
operation and kept in idle condition,
keep it charging with a mild current
i.e. low rate of charging, say at the
rate of about 1A or 2A.

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Cells in series increase the voltage

Cells in parallel increase the AH.
If two blocks of 12V / 200 AH batteries are
connected in series,
then the total is 24V / 200 AH.
(voltage increased & AH remains same)
If two blocks of 12V / 200 AH batteries are
connected in parallel,
then the total is 12V / 400 AH.
(AH increased & voltage remains same)
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ELECTROLITE
Diluted Sulphuric acid in Lead Acid cell is 65
percent of water and 35 percent of acid.
Specific Gravity is measured by Hydrometer.
Full charge = 1280
Completer discharge = 1230
While taking the Specific Gravity readings of
each cell, large variations between cells usually
mean that one or more cells no longer retain
charge and so it is a warning of imminent failure
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of the battery.

BATTERY MAINTENANCE
1. Daily: On load and Off Load voltage
check.
2. Monthly:

Check Specific Gravity,

top up if required and charge fully.
(During charge /discharge, the water level
will come down from the required marked
level and current delivering capacity will be
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less).

Keep cell terminals clean and dry and

coat them with Vaseline or petroleum
jelly, (otherwise, sulphate formation on
the terminals will restrict the current
flow)
Check vent holes, (vent cap of each cell
will have number of vent holes to
facilitate venting out hydrogen gas during
charging).
Tighten terminals with lug connectors to
prevent sparking.
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Topping up
If electrolyte level is less, then add
distilled water up to the marker line or
1 cm above plates, but do not overfill.
Never use or keep concentrated
sulphuric acid in the battery room.
Always top up with distilled water only.
(if Distilled water not available you may
use tap water).
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3. Annually: capacity check.

After topping up, charge the battery
fully.
(the correct method of finding out the
condition of the battery is only Specific
Gravity reading and not the voltmeter
reading).
Note down the Specific Gravity. Then
disconnect the battery from normal
load. Connect the battery to few bulbs
in parallel so that it discharges 10
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percent of the total AH.

Example : 200 AH battery means, we can

draw 20A current for 10 hours.
This means 20 A x 24 V = 480 Watts (W=IV)
(rounded up as 500 watts ).
So, connect, 500w or 2x250w or 5 x 100w
bulbs in parallel. The bulb/s should light for 10
hours or a minimum of 8 hours.
Less than 8 hours means the battery is losing
its capacity.
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
When working on batteries, following
effective safety precautions must be taken:

Keep all ventilations open before entering battery

room. (Doors & Port holes)
Wear protective goggles, rubber gloves and
protective clothing.
Never use naked flame inside the battery room.
Do not wear loose metal ornaments such as neck
chains or bracelets.( it may come in contact with
the terminals and sparking may take place ).
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 Exercise extreme care when using metal

tools. ( special non conductive tools are
recommended ).
Use funnel and beakers to pour distilled
water inside each cell.
Never leave any rags or waste cloths inside
the battery room.

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MANDATORY TEST of GMDSS

equipments
1. Daily tests :
DSC self test (no radiation)
Batteries ON/OFF load (voltage) check
Printers ( DSC, Navtex, telex, satcom ).
Check for sufficient paper.

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2. Weekly Tests :
MF/HF DSC live test to coast radio
station. (or with a ship station, if no CRS
replies).
VHF DSC live test to be carried out only
with duplication DSC on board or nearby
ship. But never to a CRS.
Reserve source of energy : emergency
generator.
Survival craft VHF portable not on
Ch.16 ( on Ch.06 with wheel house )
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3. MONTHLY TESTS :
EPIRB self test (no live transmission)
SART using the test facility.
4. YEARLY TESTS :
EPIRB live test by shore technician
in the presence of MMD surveyor.
HRU test by shore technician
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