Mrhigherbeing

ah yes, totally agree. a 20 it is then if I decide to add another 90 panel in future I should be ok. Thanks dude

HI, thanks but how did you calculate this? Is it simply 180/12? Thanks Ian

Thanks all, very helpful and I now know what the hell an MPPT is after reading up on Sterling website. Did not know there were 3 types! So its an MPPT. But which one, what sort of ah level should I go for on a 550 domestic battery bank. Most of them seem to be 10-15-20amp? If I have 180w of solar what the best level you think? Also cannot find prices on Sterling website so no idea on costs but EBAY costs range from £80 > £600!!! Thanks ian

oh dont worry about that, after 9 years of being a live aboard I have gone through a fair number of the suckers!

Hi guys and gals, I am adding x2 90w solar panels to my system which is made up of Mastervolt charger, genny and battery monitor panel. Have 5 110ah domestics and 110 starter. Generally speaking what advice for the fitting, I will be doing it myself? But importantly what regulator/controller shall I get that will handle this all ok? I was going to mount this flat on my removable wheelhouse roof, one on each side. This is close to the engine room so short wire run and is the only place that is not ever going to be shaded. Any advice poeples :-) Thanks Ian

Update. I took 2 domestics batteries off, not really much better. Just went below 12v quicker! Put all batts back on and goign to see how this is for few days before kicking up a stink to the supplier, who i do not know as via the Coal boat dudes. Thanks for advice all. ian

Gurus of the net forum, ye help is needed please. I 'upgraded' my battery 12v bank, from 440ah domestics + 110 starter too 550ah (all new batts)+ 110ah starter. At the same time I installed a second hand BTM 1 Mastervolt monitor and a Mastervolt Mass 2000 inverter. I have no access generally to landline so rely on my own generation. I reset the monitor switch at installation and all seemed dandy for a few days, topping up the batts with genny when they dropped a bit. They kept dropping over a few weeks and I couldn't get them above 30% after 2-3 weeks. I even went on a landline for 12 hours and they still would not go above 30%, after 12hours the charger was not putting any more in, not even float. Now I know what most people will say, I think, that I have put too many amp hours on system. So I was thinking if so fine I will take two domestics off and keep the other 3 running. But not wanting to waste the other two can I just put a manual switch separating these, in affect have two separate domestic battery banks that I can just? Or what the hell am I doing wrong? The details: The system is connected to a Mastervolt 3.5 Whisper genny and a mastervolt 60amp battery charger, plus a 50ah engine start alternator and a domestic alternator c60amp via Kestral management. This is all controlled by a manual cross over switch. Battery's are lead acid. Any advice welcome, thanks. :-)

Quick update on this, the guy is now in jail, he got done by his foot prints which is awesome (and tryiong to flog my phone to cashconverters next day). I love the idea of the CO2, but cant be hassled with the disposal of the body! I also like the idea of the spiked whiskey, though feel at some point that will bite me or a friend in the ass! I have fitted the boat with a simple to install wireless alarm system from Yale http://www.wireless-alarm-kit.co.uk/ its really good actually and would at least annoy neighors enough for someone to look into what the racket is all about. If I have learnt anything, it is secure th boat as bets as possible, but if they wnat to get in they will. Make sure you have contents insurance and register everything of value. And moor next to other boats. Stay safe, and just remember things are just things and not worth getting upset about (oh and backup picture files outside of anything on your boat).

Wow, seems the 'scrots' that burgled us cause a stir on cw.net! Well I am of the mind big locks work, I have already bolstered the side hatch with brass dead bolts, like the look of the Brighton fasteners, but am also going to fit some internal bolt locks, the kind you put inside the door and use one of those hexagon shaped keys. This means the bolt will go through the steal if the hatch and has the benefit of not looking ugly. I am going to get a remote alarm connected to magnetic triggers attached to all doors and hatches. I live aboard and do not intend living a monastic life with no possessions, so my thoughts are big locks, alarm system, always try and moor near other boats and try to hide any existence if 40" tvs and laptops!!! Safe cruising all

Got burgled, £6k worth of things, on Grand Union at Brentford. Boooo So now ready to beef up security and hoping for some suggestions for what system are out there. I cant use motion detectors as missus has a cat, which by the way did sweet FA in combating the intruders after plenty of talks and Rocky style keep fit sessions to prep him. Ah, that's why I hate cats. And no I don't want a dog thanks. Might be interested in a GSM type alarm. Cheers ian

Hi all, I am kind of happy with the manual switch to be honest, I don't see much benefit from the auto one and that's more likely to die than the one I have. Having said that though, I am sure that connecting my system together would probably need an automated one to get any benefits. I still do not actually know what benefits I would get if the system was connected together via a BUS cable. At a guess, and I am sure this will cause a tut-tut, but I think the connected system would help each other out a bit, so the inverter is struggling and so the genny kicks in, or the genny is struggling and the inverter kicks in some battery power to help out, or the charger stop them arguing between the two. Stop bashing the Whisper 3500, I love it and while it is a stretch to say it whispers, I am saving a lot of hours and diesel on my main engine. Keith, no PM mate? Hasta ian

Thanks for pointers. It is a mastervolt whisper 3500, the precursor to the 3.5 and that image looks correct apart it's a 3.5. Few points - I have a manual switch over for land/gen/inverter. I plan on increasing the amp/h, but also I don't plan on using major appliances so fine for now. Will review link cheers guys and sorry for debate but suspect you kind of enjoyed it! :-) Oh one more thing, the unit is 10 years old. I have changed Over heat switch and control unit plus it has had an exhaust manifold replacement due to design fault. It's the first unit of it's type but got to say it runs really well after ten years!

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Can you add a second alternator instead? Its a big bank for relatively small alternator and getting things fitted now would save you hassles and £ later (builder will fit all this gear presumably so the only cost is the equipment). Good luck Ian

Hi gurus, I want to connect my Mastervolt system together, to make what is almost my dream set up. I bought Borah a 2001 Dutch Barge and she already had a Mastervolt (MV) Whispergen 3500 and a MV 60amp battery charger, but no inverter strangely. I have just purchased a MV Mass Inverter 2000 (I would have liked to replace charger with a combi unit but a good deal came along on inverter so...) Firstly can I connect them all together, if so what benefits do I get and secondly how the hell do I do that and thridly what would I need to get to do that. I would also like to add a battery display monitor, I do have a Adverc DCM III unit form my old boat I never fitted and have the shunts and bits for that (though no wiring diagram). Would prefer a Mastervolt monitor to keep the system all MV. Does anyone have any suggestions on a unit suitable? Other details - 330amp/h domestics, 110amp/h engine start - I will not be running anything massive off the inverter, its just everyday items such as TV, power tools, stereo, iMac etc etc Any help or advice as ever gurus would be much appreciated. Thanks Ian