Power Sources - no landline

[matty40s]

I am out on the bank at the end of the month after 12 months of having the luxury of a landline when I needed, one as jobseekers allowance won't stretch to a marina!!! .

I can't really use the engine for power requirements except in emergency or cruising, as it's a noisy old lump .

So I am looking at a 2 or 3KW genny and possibly a 300 W wind genny too. I have a heart freedom 20 interface (with landline socket) and 6 x leisure and one starter batteries.

my questions are

Would the wind genny be connected directly to the battery bank (it comes with a 240V inverter but I can't see the point of running an inverter into another inverter).

Would the petrol/diesel genny run through the heart unit to supply power and charge at the same time??

There is also a sterling 4 step alternator regulator which is not currently wired to anything, could this be used?

and would i need one of Gibbo's box of tricks, and if so, where abouts in the system would it go?

[sueb]

How often do you need to run your engine to charge your batteries? We have 4 110amp batteries and can go at least a week sometimes longer. We have a gas fridge but I have the laptop on most evenings.

Sue

[matty40s]

How often do you need to run your engine to charge your batteries? We have 4 110amp batteries and can go at least a week sometimes longer. We have a gas fridge but I have the laptop on most evenings.

Sue

 

when I've been out and not cruising I have to run it for at least an hour each day,which given the age and nature of the engine isn't very practical, I have the laptop on quite a bit for job hunting etc.

I stayed at kilby bridge round easter and found any less than an hour would end up with me reaching the hearts cut out battery protector at some point in the evening. I rarely if ever use the eberspacher for heating so this will not affect consumption.

[Naughty Cal]

What are you powering? Our 95 amp battery will power our boat whilst we are out for over 24 hours without the engine running. We had 2 days in Newark and only had to run the engine for a couple of hours mainly for hot water. Are your batteries old?

[matty40s]

What are you powering? Our 95 amp battery will power our boat whilst we are out for over 24 hours without the engine running. We had 2 days in Newark and only had to run the engine for a couple of hours mainly for hot water. Are your batteries old?

 

Hi Phylis, not sure about the battery age, it's the only piece of paperwork missing from the last 6 years history (unless they are over 6 yrs old). I run a 12v fridge and all the usual other 12v stuff. 240v is tv/sat,laptop/printer sometimes and occasionally my keyboard. The only time I run high use items (iron/wash m/c, I run the engine).nothing is ever left on standby.

[Naughty Cal]

I would consider a new set of batteries. We run a 12V fridge and TV along with the laptop the usual array of pumps, lighting and a diesel heater. Should add we dont live aboard and do have a hook-up and battery charger for when plugged in that keeps the battery topped up. We have just rigged up a second battery for the electric outboard but it acts as a second battery for the boat as well to extend our time without firing up the engine. Are you sure you get a full charge into the batteries. Sounds unlikely if you only run the engine for an hour.

[simonk]

I am out on the bank at the end of the month after 12 months of having the luxury of a landline when I needed, one as jobseekers allowance won't stretch to a marina!!! .

I can't really use the engine for power requirements except in emergency or cruising, as it's a noisy old lump .

So I am looking at a 2 or 3KW genny and possibly a 300 W wind genny too. I have a heart freedom 20 interface (with landline socket) and 6 x leisure and one starter batteries.

my questions are

Would the wind genny be connected directly to the battery bank (it comes with a 240V inverter but I can't see the point of running an inverter into another inverter).

Would the petrol/diesel genny run through the heart unit to supply power and charge at the same time??

There is also a sterling 4 step alternator regulator which is not currently wired to anything, could this be used?

and would i need one of Gibbo's box of tricks, and if so, where abouts in the system would it go?

 

Have you considered some solar panel? A few months ago I got two 85W panels, which is a modest set-up, and you will still need a generator, but I find they help enormously, prolonging the time between charges (and I expect are quieter than a wind generator!)

[nb Innisfree]

If you are living aboard you will need to charge your batts for an absolute minimum of 1 hr per day, even then you will need to give a charge of several hours once per week. With this regime your batts will do very well to last 2 years. I think you will be using at least 100ah per day, a 2 kw genny will give you approx 88 A charging, 3kw about 130A so 1 hr is scarcely enough, I would say more like 1.5 to 2hrs. We have been doing 1 hr per day with 100A alternator (8x120 ah batts @24v) but batts are getting tired so we now do 1 to 2hrs + 4 or 5hr charge once per week. Wind gennies are a waste of money in this situation as are solar panels to a lesser extent.

 

Tin hat on

[Justme]

waste of money in this situation as are solar panels to a lesser extent.

 

Tin hat on

 

You tell that to my battery that are getting 250-300ah per day from mine on a sunny day or about 100ah when overcast.

 

 

Justme

[matty40s]

I am not going to be doing much cruising as can't afford the diesel, so surely a wind genny on 24/7 would keep batteries topped up with petro genny to give the regular boost, I have spotted a shoreline lpg fridge on another thread so might invest to keep ongoing costs down.

[aquapykes]

sorry we swear by solar panels and a decent set of batteries. We have 13 panels (normal and low lights)and most of the time the batteries sit between 14.60 and 15.20 In good sunny conditions we have had to dump power as the invertor refuses to turn on if they go above 15.50!As well as the usual electrical stuff we run household computer and freezer. As you have an engine already I would suggest you get it serviced and check belts, alternators etc to get the best from it. You say its an old engine that's noisy maybe some sound proofing or are the engine mounts loose does she vibrate? These are all things that might help you, but remember there is life after a marina!!

[matty40s]

erm, the engine is on my "avatar" I think it's called , I have serviced it and know what it does, and when the deaf old dears sat at the locks hear me comin 1/4 mile away and say " is that a gardner??? I used to work those" . Of course it's noisy, of course it vibrates, thud, thid, thud, thid, etc. but it's 76 years old and I would rather keep it to run the boat moving and source alternate power where possible.

would you recommend solar over wind aquapykes?? , even in winter.

[nb Innisfree]

You tell that to my battery that are getting 250-300ah per day from mine on a sunny day or about 100ah when overcast.

 

 

Justme

 

I wasn't suggesting SPs were useless just very expensive, your 250-300ah per day (assuming 12v) involves thousands of pounds worth of SPs, in fact I doubt I would have enough roof space on my 60' nb

[david and julie]

So I am looking at a 2 or 3KW genny and possibly a 300 W wind genny too. I have a heart freedom 20 interface (with landline socket) and 6 x leisure and one starter batteries.

my questions are

Would the wind genny be connected directly to the battery bank (it comes with a 240V inverter but I can't see the point of running an inverter into another inverter).

Would the petrol/diesel genny run through the heart unit to supply power and charge at the same time??

There is also a sterling 4 step alternator regulator which is not currently wired to anything, could this be used?

and would i need one of Gibbo's box of tricks, and if so, where abouts in the system would it go?

Your inverter will only charge the batteries if its a combi.

The Sterling will do nothing without the main engine running.

Gibbo does more than one box of tricks - if you mean the Smartgauge then yes it will help you moniter your available battery power.

 

If i was in your situation and assuming your inverter works the washer - I'd go for new batteries, as the ones you have sound tired - and a quiet generator such as the Honda EU - the size of which will depend on your charger. The genny wont be cheap, but you need a quiet and reliable one especially in the winter, plus a cheap one won't end up good value in the longterm.

 

I'd give the solar and wind a miss at this stage because you need something that will definately work regardless of the weather.

 

If you do go for a genny remember to read up on or ask again about the earthing and RCD as its important you get it right.

 

Out of curiosity what do you have in mind for hot water?

[sueb]

You don't need 240v for your laptop. A gizmo from maplins for under £20 will convert 12v to 19v or whatever you need. Do a search and you will find threads on running computer from 12v supplies.

Sue

[aquapykes]

sorry picture of engine not clear so could not see it was a gardener! my o/h would be so jealous, he has always wanted a 'real' engine! Because we have the two different types of panels, we still get enough amps going in to run everything.(they also work in moonlight I am told). Yes they are not cheap, but as We usuallyget together with other people and as we are only poor boaters, we get them cheaper.!The set up we have has cost us £2000 but has a 50 year guarantee!

[matty40s]

If you do go for a genny remember to read up on or ask again about the earthing and RCD as its important you get it right.

 

??

Do you not just plug the genny into the landline socket??

This is turning out to be more complicated than I thought!!

Who is the forum member who I heard sells 1 year old batteries, I definately can't afford a new set?

Hot water, either from the Eberspacher or immersion when the genny's plugged in

[WotEver]

Do you not just plug the genny into the landline socket??

 

Yes you do. I think David & Julie might have missed the fact that your boat is already wired for mains hook-up.

 

Doesn't hurt to check that it was correctly wired in the first place though.

 

Regards,

Tony

[sueb]

If you can't afford new batteries can you afford wind gennys and solar panels? Remember you will have to move every 14days so if you move once a week it would take care of most of your charging.

Sue

[matty40s]

someones getting me a genny and the money is bloomin tight!! I'm experimenting with landline off this week to monitor power consumption and battery life.

[Chris Pink]

would you recommend solar over wind aquapykes?? , even in winter.

 

Wind is pretty well useless on inland waterways, with the possible exception of a mooring in the Eastern flatlands. Even in winter.

 

Solar is good and anecdotal evidence of those who have them seems to gainsay the theorists who scoff. Matching solar spend to your use is tricky and my recommendation of strategy is to generate electricity with a generator and then build up a solar bank and see how the solar contribution affects your monthly petrol costs.

 

I am an ideal candidate for solar as my main use, the computer, is during the day so I don't need to store as much electricity as some applications.

 

Engine generation of electricity is probably the cheapest per amp hour in fuel terms but long term will probably prove more expensive in capital replacement cost.

 

If you suspect the batteries to be old (and changing pattern of use will likely tip them over the edge) then this is the first thing you should address.

[Gibbo]

The smallest recommended (by the manufacturer) generator for use with a Freedom 20 is 6kVA

 

I know a few who have managed to get by with a 4.5kVA but I'm not aware of any working at all with a smaller generator.

 

So perhaps you need a rethink.

 

Gibbo

[david and julie]

Yes you do. I think David & Julie might have missed the fact that your boat is already wired for mains hook-up.

 

Doesn't hurt to check that it was correctly wired in the first place though.

 

Regards,

Tony

I've not missed anything.

 

Whilst his RCD may be working perfectly OK from his shore supply it doesn't follow that it will still do so when plugged into a generator.

[WotEver]

I've not missed anything.

 

Whilst his RCD may be working perfectly OK from his shore supply it doesn't follow that it will still do so when plugged into a generator.

 

Good point - depends on the RCD which, as Gibbo has mentioned more than once, is pot-luck.

 

T

[matty40s]

[The smallest recommended (by the manufacturer) generator for use with a Freedom 20 is 6kVA

 

chuffin eck gibbo, you've just knocked my finances out of the water (so to speak!!!!)

does this mean a 3kw one will only run the electrics and not power the batteries??