waterdog

Hi, I have 2 separate solar arrays on mine. seems to work fine My thoughts were if the first pair were under a tree when moored then hopefully the back pair would still be producing (or vice versa). The controllers don't talk to each other but do their own thing independent of each other.

Thanks all, good to know I can get a drop in replacements.

I'm looking to replace my tired leisure batteries before winter and would like to find replacements that will drop in without making any changes to the battery storage area / wiring etc. Currently I have 4 x Hankook XV31MF 130ah deep cycle, no idea how old as they were on the boat when we bought it. Searching the web produces no results for the Hankook but I can find XV31MF from Numax 105ah, also Enduroline and Powerline both 110ah but can't find any at 130ah. Numax also do a CVX31MF that looks the same. https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/types/xv31mf/ also found a powerplus LXD100 that has a better CCA and is suggested by following website as an alternative. https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/product/advanced-lxd100-dual-purpose-leisure-battery/ The question is, are all xv31mf the same despite the different brand names? Also open to suggestions if anyone knows of a better drop in replacement. Thanks.

I got the MCBS as part of the bimble kit but after a discussion and advice on here I used 40 amp fuses at the battery and used the breakers between the panels and the controllers. makes it really easy to "switch off" the panels if you need to.

Yup, same on ours. Our immersion (when cruising) can only be powered by the travelpower too but pointless switching it on as the engine will be heating the water anyway.

I'm not Alan,

Just to give you an idea of what is possible this is our set up, 240v equipment onboard, fridge, tv, satellite receiver, soundbar, freezer, washing machine, immersion heater, toaster, electric kettle, laptop, charger for power tools, printer, wifi router. 12v stuff 2 water pumps, all lighting (led), charging for 2 tablets and 2 phones, radio, Eberspaecher heating, toilet pump, shower pump Power generation, 520ah lead acid batteries that are probably down to 260ah and could do with replacing, 2kw inverter, 3kw travelpower (produces ac when engine on) + 1.2kw solar. The immersion is only used on hook up in a marina, hot water off grid is via the engine if cruising or with the diesel fired heating system. The washing machine / electric kettle / toaster only ever used with the travelpower on. (maybe possible with just engine). Otherwise as Tony said above, toast done using gas grill and the kettle on gas hob. Everything else runs quite happily via the batteries & the inverter with the solar during summer keeping the batteries charged, . We have just sat for 5 days in the middle of nowhere and only started the engine once because the missus wanted to put some washing on. In winter the engine or generator if you have one will still have to be run most days when off grid. Hope this helps.

Blooming 'eck, 6.8kw of solar !!!, I thought my 1.2kw was big Perhaps if you do a power audit and post your onboard equipment and what you expect / want from solar then people will be able to advise better and point you in the right direction.

https://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/complete-packages/boat-kits/900W-boatkit-mppt-mounting 960w kit for £850

That kit seems expensive, is that the fitted price or diy install have you tried bimble, I got a 1200w system from them last year for less money, did the install myself though.

Try looking for a number where the metal of the key goes into the fob under the shroud, I've not described that very well but hopefully you understand. My engine is a beta 38 of similar vintage to your engine and the key is stamped - 14607 which brings up this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14607-Key-fits-JCB-Lancer-Boss-Jungheinrich-Bomag-Terex-Volvo/123989373150?hash=item1cde57b0de:g:N-4AAOSwHZhbPb6e you can just about see the number in the photo and it looks just like the top key in your pic. If you can find your key number then you will have half a chance of finding the right one.

Not going to help the OP but maybe of use to others, We are with EE, and had 2 phones and a mifi unit, total across the 3 devices was 38gb + unlimited calls / texts, costing us about £67 a month. The contracts were ending so I called EE and got unlimited data + unlimited calls and texts for £25 on one phone and 2gb + unlimited calls and texts on the other for £8 a month. Cancelled the mifi so now have unlimited data + 2 phones on unlimited calls and texts for £33. (12 month sim only contracts) Easy to transfer data between the phones though it is limited to 100gb a month transfer.

I had similar on mine, wiggling the engine connector kind of helped but I eventually found the issue was at the other end, there is another multiplug behind the instrument panel and it was this one that caused the problem. A bit of a clean up of the terminals and cable tying the two halves of the connector blocks together solved it.

Crick & Cropredy can be a pain when the winds up.

No idea, I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you a sensible answer. ?

We didn't stop at the pig place in the end, I didn't fancy trying to park our 60ft boat in what looked like a 50ft space. We did slow right down as we passed but didn't see anyone around. @Nightwatch - Aynho is very busy with moored boats, once through the diamond lock there are only a couple of spaces unless you carry on out into the sticks the otherside of Aynho.

No, we're not in any rush . Moored now between Twyford wharf and kings Sutton lock, will pop into the pig place tomorrow morning then on to Aynho for the pumpout and will post back tomorrow p.m. edit, traffic quiet so far, only 3 boats passed us all day.

Brilliant, thank you.

is the shop open Monday, or just Saturday and Sunday at the moment?

We plan on sitting here for a few days but will stop and say hello and visit the shop. I never pass up a chance to get some proper grub

We Passed you about 20 minutes ago . We've stopped just before bridge 172. Boat is called Fortuna.

Thanks for the info.

Now that we are ok to cruise again we are thinking of leaving the Cropredy area and bimbling very slowly down towards the Thames. Our Pearsons guide for the area is quite old now so looking for some up to date info on marinas / boatyards where we can get a pump out between Banbury and Oxford. The first one needed will be somewhere around Aynho in about a weeks time. Thanks

We have a beta 38 fitted with a travelpower in our 19 year old 60ft boat and not had any issues so far, mind you we've not done any cruising against a significant flow yet but I suspect the previous owners have given the amount of "river" books left onboard. Like others have said I suspect the cooling system will be the limiting factor rather than the engine power.

ok, but remember a bit of haggling might work, sometimes (not always) boats go for a lot less than the ticket price.