Generator/Electricity:
As reported in yesterday’s log, the generator cut out during the night. Don Foutz joined us at 8:30am to fix the generator. We believe the alternator IS broken, as the batteries do not appear to be recharging. It appears that one of the batteries holds less charge than the other, and once it discharges then the volts to the generator drop below the ~18V required to run the fuel pump. This causes the generator to cut out. When the truck battery is connected across the discharged battery then this increases the available voltage to a level suitable to start the generator again.

We have now connected a 12V battery charger to EACH of the generator’s batteries. These chargers are being powered from the generator AC output. The convenience outputs were examined and ARE connected, but when tested, do not provide any power out. We are not sure why. Instead Don has connected the chargers via a ‘modified’ extension cord directly to the output terminals of the generator (between the active and neutral wires running to the Hab). The chargers are sitting beside the generator, protected from the weather by upturned polystyrene boxes. I will send a diagram of the current generator set-up through tonight. One of the chargers connected to the generator batteries was found inside the Hab, the other is Don’s charger. No other 12V chargers were found in the Hab that could supply sufficient current to maintain battery charge.

The generator was restarted at about 11:00 using Don’s truck battery in parallel with the discharged battery, using the new set-up described above. The batteries appear to be maintaining sufficient charge now, though this will be monitored. Don commented that he expected the generator battery volts to be in the ‘green’ zone of the meter, however the volts are stable in the middle of the ‘yellow’ region. This should be investigated further, however, at present we seem to have a working solution, and are happy not to fiddle anymore. The generator was run from 11:00 until 17:00 when it was deliberately switched off to enable a battery frame (provided by Don) to be installed (to reduce the large vibration of the battery at present, which may have caused some of these faults in the first place), and for an oil level check and refill. Generator successfully restarted without use of car at 17:20. Generator will be switched off at 21:00.

We currently have a spare large 12V battery (the Yanmer battery) charging on the front doorstep of the Hab via an extension cord from the inside of the Hab. This is as a backup in case our generator solution does not work, we can implement a rotation of the generator batteries through the charger at the Hab, and be able to restart the generator whenever it stops.

As at 17:00:

Generator oil Pressure before stop: 39 ; After restart: 39

Generator oil level: Satisfactory (3/4 between "Add oil" and "Full")

Generator output current: 23-30%

Generator battery volts, stable at high in the 'yellow' range

As at 19:00:

Hab Battery Volts: 26.6V trickle charging from generator

Hab Load Current: 19A (with hot water heater on)

Fuel Status:
Generator Aux fuel tank: 3/4 full
Propane tank: 46%
ATV fuel (red gasoline) tanks: 7x full, 1x half full, 3x empty
Diesel fuel bottles: 2x full
Oil Bottles:

Grade=30: 8x full

Grade=20-50:1x half full

Grade=5-30: 1x full

Water Status:
Internal water tank: Had some problems with the pump from the external tank, because the charger from the pump at the top of the external tank was removed during the generator repairs and replaced with a smaller charger. This was found to be due to a bad connection, but the original charger was re-installed anyway, and the connection checked. Working fine now. Still trying to use more water for the GreenHab.
Internal tank refilled 13:00 (24 to 50) and 18:45 (21 to 51).
Water meter change: 2060.6 (13:00) to 2088.7 (18:45) = 22.1 gallons
External Water Tank: 23" deep
Flushes: 5
Showers: 6 (This was to refill the GreenHab tanks, and will not be a regular practice!)

Transportation:
ATVs: ATV #2 is still idling too low, one of our crew is familiar with these ATVs and requests permission to adjust the idle speed. It is currently very difficult to drive without stalling. ATVs #1 and #2 were taken out on the early afternoon EVA. Refilled fuel in all ATVs after EVAs. Oil checked in all ATVs full.
ATV #1: .75 full refilled to full
ATV #2: .75 full refilled to full
ATV #3: .25 full refilled to full

Mars Suits: Suits #2 and #6 used for both EVAs. No problems found. Helmet #1 does not have the hole required for the drinking attachment installed by Crew 39. Sheryl is confident with the use of drilling equipment, would you like us to drill the small hole (a mirror to the PTT button hole) in this helmet and equip it for drinking water too?

HVAC: Heating off overnight, switched on for 2-3hrs later afternoon.

Computers & Network: Operational. As per commanders check in report, we would like to get the webcam to look out the window, but even with sunglasses this only provided a white image capture. Further instructions on how to use this webcam requested.

GreenHab:
With LOTS of showers (we are the cleanest crew at MDRS I'm sure) we are refilling tank #5 at last. The TFT pump hose is still in tank #4 while we let tank #5 reach a higher level. We plan to move it back across to tank #5 tomorrow.
Tank #1: full, 80% surface covered by healthy plant growth
Tank #2: full, 30% surface covered by healthy algae
Tank #3: full, 20% surface covered with green algae, 40% with brown algae (dead?)
Tank #4: full, 5% surface covered with green algae, 15% with brown algae
Tank #5: 1/2 full, no algae on surface

Miscellaneous: There are very few extension cords in the Hab. This would be a useful addition to the inventory at a future date.