Optima Marine

Optima Marine We specialize in sales & installation of lithium systems, navigation electronics & other fun stuff.

Current work in progress. Out with the old and in with the new! Old house battery bank was (4) 12V 110 Ah flooded lead a...
02/21/2026

Current work in progress. Out with the old and in with the new!
Old house battery bank was (4) 12V 110 Ah flooded lead acid batteries without circuit protection (440 Ah total). New house battery bank consists of (3) Victron Energy B.V. 24V 300 Ah NG lithium batteries with (3) Class T fuses (Equivalent to 1800 Ah at 12V).

We haven’t posted any updates in a while, but we’ve been busy with projects large and small.Here are several pics of a 1...
06/28/2025

We haven’t posted any updates in a while, but we’ve been busy with projects large and small.

Here are several pics of a 1979 Tartan 37 from a while back and one recent. We’ve done a few smaller-sized projects to this vessel over the years, such as: 120V shore power from 1 30A to 2 30A, 120V panels, navigation electronics system, 12V panel, holding tank and sanitation hose upgrades, etc.

Good things come to those who wait (and travel long distances). Latest project on a 2022 Lagoon 42. 2075 Watts of Maxeon...
03/17/2024

Good things come to those who wait (and travel long distances). Latest project on a 2022 Lagoon 42. 2075 Watts of Maxeon solar from Sun Powered Yachts, 5 MPPT solar controllers, 2 24V 3000VA inverter/chargers, 2 24V 90 Amp Alternators, 2 Wakespeed Regulators, 4 24V 200Ah LiFePO batteries, etc.

The owners had a few requests: to be able to run one or two AC units at a time, run coffee maker, rice cooker, air fryer and ice maker (all 120VAC). Added an AC outlet to the starboard engine compartment so dive tank compressor and watermaker could be easily powered. 120VAC water heater runs off batteries as well.

System design with redundancy in mind. If one inverter/charger fails, the vessel may operate on the remaining one. If both fail, the vessel may operate by taking the inverter/chargers out of the loop by “unplugging” them. It would take no more than 5 to 10 minutes to make the change in either scenario. Optimization and redundancy built-in to solar design.

03/14/2024

"We ran our generator for 2 hours from Kemah, TX to Freeport, Bahamas!" Mitch, Lagoon 42 with 5x415W-R Maxeon solar panels 😎

Arch fabricated by ApexCNC.com
Electrical install by Optima Marine

Another work in progress. ~4000 sqft home, pool, 3 ‘barns’, water well, etc. 30kVA inverter/chargers, 15 48V/100Ah batte...
11/19/2023

Another work in progress. ~4000 sqft home, pool, 3 ‘barns’, water well, etc. 30kVA inverter/chargers, 15 48V/100Ah batteries (15k Ah at 48V or 78.6kWh), 3.5kW solar capacity with approximately half used to date.

The first pic shows what the system looked like when I was first called out to “assist in getting the Quattros to talk to each other.” I quickly realized that much more needed to be done at the time. The second pic shows what the system looks like today, with still more to do

Current work in progress with before and after pics. 1200W solar, 3000VA inverter/charger, 990Ah Lithium, etc.
11/19/2023

Current work in progress with before and after pics. 1200W solar, 3000VA inverter/charger, 990Ah Lithium, etc.

These big ass Quattros barely fit in my truck. 😂
07/18/2023

These big ass Quattros barely fit in my truck. 😂

Cleanup on Aisle 1.
07/17/2023

Cleanup on Aisle 1.

This install was completed in early June 2023 on a 2005 Hunter 36 . It represents a slightly-above entry level LiFePO4 s...
06/12/2023

This install was completed in early June 2023 on a 2005 Hunter 36 . It represents a slightly-above entry level LiFePO4 system in terms of size. The batteries are Victron Energy 100Ah and can continuously charge/discharge up to 100A each. Maximum discharge of 150A each for 10 seconds. These numbers become important so a) charging takes less time; b) can use these batteries to emergency-start engine or genset; c) operate higher current loads, such as windlass, etc. Note: Need to account for inrush current. Many less expensive BMSs do not allow for high charge/discharge rates compared to Ah rating.

How a battery bank is wired is important. This post aims to visualize what happens to a bank when charging/discharging a...
05/11/2023

How a battery bank is wired is important. This post aims to visualize what happens to a bank when charging/discharging at higher currents with different ways of wiring main bank leads. It becomes even more salient when working with lithium batteries. Our preferred method with LiFePO4 is to use common bus bars, equal length conductors, uniform lug crimps and even torque on all connections. The result of wiring both main leads to the end of a bank is the battery closest to the loads/chargers gets overworked, and the battery farthest away gets charged/discharged later than the rest. Thus, non-uniform SOC and differing rates of charge/discharge. Other consequences will emerge as well.

1988 Lien Hwa Seamaster 46: It’s been a while since I worked on this boat, but thought this was worth sharing. The owner...
01/08/2023

1988 Lien Hwa Seamaster 46: It’s been a while since I worked on this boat, but thought this was worth sharing. The owner wanted all new navigation electronics installed (first major project). Sometimes there are surprises/unknowns that should be dealt with before new systems can be installed. These piles don’t even represent all of what was pulled out of this boat. None of the factory wiring needed removing, as it was all in good to excellent condition with plenty of current carrying capacity.

1979 Tartan 38: This was done as an ancillary project to a new 12VDC panel going in on the face of this cabinet. Room ha...
12/06/2022

1979 Tartan 38: This was done as an ancillary project to a new 12VDC panel going in on the face of this cabinet. Room had to be made behind the new 12VDC panel so the stereo had to go. This panel had things haphazardly installed over the years and this was a good opportunity for the new owner to start fresh. What's worse is a cushion normally goes where the horizontal spot is in the foreground. The outlet was installed without planning for this. The panel extends below the horizontal section and is glassed to the hull.

Address

Kemah, TX
77565

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+17135108900

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