The Maestro

Patch Bridge sounds perfect. I would like to visit the Wildfowl Trust which could hardly be closer. Thanks again Thanks. All sounds good. Paul

Thanks. Paul.

Thanks Rich. Towpath side is fine but I need longer than 2 days, preferably without paying. I think you have answered yes to that. Cheers, Paul.

On the Gloucester & Sharpness is there a 5 days or more mooring, free if possible?

Has anyone any experience of these? A friend has bought four GF6 Sonnenschein batteries, 2nd hand. They are 6volt, 240 ah.

Thanks. Who is the manufacturer. Mitisbushi ????

Ok thanks for that. I hadn't thought about the belt type. I guess that crank and water pump pulleys are directly available parts from Vetus? As I have bought the 175A alternator cheaply on ebay I would like to persevere and make it fit but it is not clear with it sitting here on the table whether or not it will fit.

Has anyone fitted an ISKRA [now Letrica] 175 alternator onto a Vetus 33 engine? The Iskra was suggested on this forum, but my mechanic friend and I are not gure if it can be done!

Thank you for your interest and help. The engine is a Vetus 33hp. The make of alternator isn't listed in the manual but I'll try and look when the rain stops. Likewise for pulley sizes, but you may not need this info because I adjust the engine revs when charging to get 14.8 volts, for 1-1.5 hours [usually but variable, average daily total 4-5 hours] The fridge is 12v, no 240v or gas option, and it makes a very quiet buzz rather than a hum! When the smartguage was fitted all the main cables were replaced with thicker ones 13mm diameter including the rubber. During seven years of boating much advice about batteries, and work, has been conflicting and/or not specific enough, so the help from yourself and other posters has been a breath of fresh air. Of all the work done, the most useful has been the fitting of the charge controller - it has clearly given me much better charging for the same amount of engine running. The electric blanket consumes 10ah per hour and is rarely on for more than 1 hour. The real biggie would seem to be the fridge. A friend who is technically savvy looked for alternators on Ebay. He found an Iskra 175 which is exactly what nickhlx suggested. It didn't sell so might be what I need.

Towards the end of last year I was charging 3 times per day. This meant making sure I was moored out of earshot of boats and houses so I could run the engine at 11pm. I have mains power now, until the end of March, and intend to run in the new batteries on mains before setting off for the summer. The 250ah was a quick total of what I used per 24hrs. If I could get through 8pm to 8am on one charge I could live with that. I've rechecked and this would need about 90ah, 75ah if I turn the fridge off overnight.

They only warm the foot area. An electric blanket warms the WHOLE BED! Getting in Is my favourite moment of luxury!

The TV is a 20watt LED, SKY+ uses about 25watts, so 50watts will run both and the LED lights as well. I've got various time switches to ensure Sky isn't running when not needed. Apart from the electric blanket the other biggie is the fridge, Off-grid charging is a 95amp alternator with a Stirling charge controller. Also 300watts of solar panels, very useful but intermittent! About 18 months ago I met a boater with a 40" TV and he seemed to have no bother! [but he wwas new to boating and might have fared worse later]. Thank you. I've waited years for clear advice like that.

What should one do, as well as watching Smartguage?

I'm a bit like that, TV and SKY+ on all evening and an electric blanket to warm the bed, everthing else is fairly trivial apart from the fridge. What sort/make/model are your batteries?

Thanks, It's great to have specific advice. If I get T105s can I hope for a longer life from them?

Wow, that was a surprise! A few of the songs are real performances, and some are on YouTube complete with visuals. To get back on topic, I am now much clearer about my problem. After speaking to battery suppliers/manufacturers boat engineers, etc I have got more and more confused. Thanks for your help.

Thank you, that is very helpful. No, I didn't mean 3 sets within 2 years.

Sorry, I only intended to invite comments about traction batteries so hadn't thought to put other details in. I have: 95amp alternator, Sterling battery management unit, Smartguage. 5x110ah open wet batteries. My power audit came to 250 ah needed between charges. Also 300 watts of solar panels which work well when there is sun. The batteries were new when the Smartguage was fitted. They were kept above 50% and often reached 100%, but in spite of this after a few months a hydrometer showed that the 100% reading was misleading, most cells were not green or only just. Any further thoughts would be appreciated. A PS. The Sterling was fitted after I discovered the discrepancy between the hydrometer and Smartguage readings.

I think they are used in fork lift trucks and someone has suggested they might help my battery problem. My third set are failing after less than two years, and I never seem to have enough charge to last overnight. Perhaps I'm power greedy, but some boaters seem to manage in spite of using a hairdryer[!]

My favourite is SAWLEY MIST.

Its a 5-socket mains extention lead with a meter built in. Maplins sold them for a while although I haven't seen one recently. Thanks to everyone who has replied with very helpful information!

I have a meter which measures the consumption of all my 240 volt gear - The TV is 20 watts and the SKY+ box about the same. They are usually both on together. I hope someone can tell me how to convert these numbers to amp-hours drain on 12 volt batteries, through a 1800 watt inverter, perhaps assuming 100% efficiency in the first instance. A separate estimate of efficiecy losses would also be helpful!

Thanks, that is very much as I feared. As the previous batteries had only had 2 years use I expected better this time, but I fear I was misinformed about what the smartgage can do and I was wrong to trust it. I have heard of an equalisation charge but don't know what it is - perhaps a search will help here. How long is a very very long time?

I had a smartguage and 5 new batteries [110ah open lead acid] installed in June. Since then the SM reading has never been below 50% and up to 100% at least once every three weeks. But checking with a hygrometer [hydrometer?] has shown that in spite of the 100% reading they aren't fully charged - the HG says the voltage is 12.5 or 12.55. Any comments anyone?

I need someone to make and fit a mount for 3 solar panels on my narrowboat roof. I'm in Shardlow. Any suggestions?