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lockedout

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Posts posted by lockedout

  1. 3 minutes ago, frangar said:

    What makes you think I know little about it? 

     

    Oh, I'm sorry...  Have we met?   Maybe you were the guy I bored to death with my life story in my local that night after I had one too many snifters of the 18 year old Glenmorangie?

     

    Alternatively please don't assume that because I don't agree with your point of view that I am in some way inferior to you and that my opinions have no value.

     

    The noun 'Opinion' has two definitions - 'a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge', being the generally accepted definition pertinent to these circumstances.  The second being - 'a statement of advice by an expert on a professional matter', now while I have little doubt that you consider yourself to be an expert, I don't think we can call this a 'professional matter'.

     

    My opinion, and anyone else's for that matter, has exactly the same value as yours and it is arrogant and foolhardy to assert a contrary view.

    • Greenie 1
  2. 17 hours ago, frangar said:

    If you cared to notice who had given opinions on Liverpool shells you may realise that all of us have many years experience of boats and especially narrowboats…but I guess that passed you by. 

    And you say I throw insults about….I would add more but you will no doubt accuse me of personal threats again. 

     

    All I would say in response to this is you seem to be assuming an awful lot about something you know little about.  Maybe one day, over a pint or three, I will tell you what I do for a living and what my boating experience is.  But until that day, please don't assume that the rest of us are idiots.  As Jesse Jackson said - "Never look down on anyone, unless you are helping them up".

  3. A bit late to this...

     

    Apologies for repeating what others have said.

     

    When we got repainted, I took the opportunity to change the old Caldwell windows for new DG units from Channel Glaze, the windows fit well and look great with an anodised finish.  I had some bespoke Oak trims made for inside which took a bit of work but look the mutt's nuts now they are in.  I treated the wood with Osmo Oil. We get minimal condensation on the frames, but the Osmo protects the wood really well.

     

    Advantages - 

    Heat retention

    Sound reduction

    Better security

    Looks the Biz

    Adds value to the boat

    • Greenie 1
  4. Wow!   You go away for a day and look what happens...

     

    Thanks everyone for your contributions, every day is a school day and even with a certain divergence of opinion I have learned a lot.  I am reluctant to change all of the batteries just yet - apart from anything else, lifting them out of the engine 'ole is a complete bu**er!

     

    I am going to take the duff one out and take it back to Bardens and ask their opinion on the basis that I may get a discount on a replacement (I can dream). I may just run with three until they all eventually die then replace the whole lot in one go.

     

    I am also going to have a look at my charger and see if it needs replacement with something better.

     

    Thanks everyone.

  5. 3 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

    Whilst the Smartguage may be inaccurate while charging so what you think is 100% charged may only be about 90 to 95% charg4ed long periods on the shore power charger should minimise any sulphation unless you cruise for months at a time. However many multi-stage chargers go into float too soon and that won't help getting to a true 100% charged. When you visit the boat for a day turn the charger off and on again to force it to start its cycle again.

     

    I suspect you may have been unlucky and got a bad battery BUT how are the leads connected to the battery bank? If all pos and neg leads are on the same end of the bank then that will not help maximise battery life. Especially if the battery interlinks are a bit thin.

     

    If you have a multi-stage charger I can't see buying a Victron unit will be cost effective apart from the fact you MIGHT be able to mess with its settings so you can do an equalisation charge once in a while.

     

    When I rebuilt the bank, I configured the 4 batteries to connect through bus bars using brand new cables, all exactly the same size and length. I can't remember the diameter, but they are good and thick, as advised by Bardens who made them up for me.

     

    Good advice about resetting the charger, I will put it on the maintenance list.

  6. 21 hours ago, Dr Bob said:

    It is impossible to advise why the battery has failed in 2.5years without more info.

    You say you are rubbish at electrics and only have a multimeter. How are you measuring that 60%? If the battery has failed via sulphation, it is likely that you have not had it up to 100% enough when you are off the grid or you have been hammering it with high loads. Not enough info in your posts to be able to advise. What voltage readings are you taking - how often and what time of day? How are you determining when the batteries are up to 100%? How many days a year (approx) are you off shore power and what are you typical lengths of time off shore power? I assume you have a decent charger that has a low float voltage and doesnt keep it up near 14V.

    Once you have disconnected the duff battery, you should be able to estimate the state of the remaining 3 batteries with a decent voltmeter and preferably an ameter.

    Have you any solar?

    So, trying to answer some of the points raised:

     

    My method of measuring the state of the bank as a whole is Smartguage/Smartbank . We certainly don't hammer the batteries when we are off grid, as I say, we have never been below 60% since the batteries were new and we always drive enough during a day to get it up to 100% at the end of the day.  We don't have solar (yet). The boat spends most of it's time on shore power, we are holiday boaters with weeks, long weekends and days here and there but we use it year round.  I can't remember the name of the charger, maybe I should look at getting something better, I think I have the space for a Vectron combined unit.

     

    Thanks for taking the time to respond!

  7. Thanks Tony - Every day is a school day.

     

    The bank has never gone below 60% (to my knowledge) and when not on alternator, the boat is plugged in via the electric mooring line and the charger is a decent one.

     

    I really don't want to replace all 4 batteries, they are only about 30 months old and the other three seem to be ok (I have my fingers crossed!).

     

    I will follow your advice and replace the duff one and keep a really close eye on them.  I am going to take the duff one back to Bardens and get their opinion, if they are prepared to give one!

     

    Thanks again everyone...

  8. Thanks guys - I think I can test the voltage easily enough with my limited knowledge and multimeter and should be able to compare with the other three.

     

    But it looks like I need to get along to Bardens and pick up a replacement.

     

    What would have caused it to fail?  Is it something I have done, or was it faulty? There isn't any warranty left, but I might have a go and see if I can get some money off the replacement.

     

    ETA  -  posted before I read Alan's really helpful response 

  9. I started to notice that our batteries were producing significantly less power than they should.  I keep them topped up fairly regularly and checked them today. Of the four batteries, three of them took hardly any water, but the fourth took a LOT more.  It was warm to the touch (on charge through shore power) and when I took the first plug out there was an audible inrush/outrush of air (?).

    I am rubbish with electrics. I presume that the drop in overall power is due to the fourth battery not doing its stuff as well as the other three.

    What I don't understand is why one out of three has 'broken'.

    4 x 12v 135Ah deep cycle leisure batteries the same age, all connected to a bus bar using exactly the same cables (length and thickness).  The batteries are now 2.5 years old and have been well looked after, always on charge with shore power when not out and about and have never dropped below 60% (as far as I know) as a bank.  I am pretty sure the casing isn't cracked, there are no signs of a leak. I think I screwed the plugs in properly when I filled them last. 

    I only have a mid range multimeter, but I have no idea what I would be testing for, I told you I was rubbish with electrics.

    Do I have to buy a new battery, or can I recondition this one, or will it sort itself out??

  10. 'Er Indoors loves her Lockmaster and she uses one of the over one shoulder style of holders.  It works fine allowing her to use both hands to manoeuvre, but I am constantly reminding her to mind the paintwork!

     

    I can't for the life of me remember where we got it from but Dave on Anon makes a similar style.

  11. 8 hours ago, David Mack said:

    Posted earlier, but seem to have lost it:

     

    The FAQs on that link say that the boards need to be supported every 350-400mm. I don't think many cruiser sterns have supports that close. I think that rather confirms Dr Bob's view that this stuff is not strong (or stiff) enough to replace ply.

    Yeah, I spent some time in the Tech Data last night and it looks like the stiffness isn't there.  Also, looking at the many use cases the site presents, very little of them are in any way structural.

     

    The last thing I need is the Memsahib disappearing down the engine 'ole in a cloud of denatured plastic!  That would be the start of a very bad day.

     

    Back to Phenolic Ply then...

    • Greenie 1
  12. On 30/05/2018 at 10:18, blackrose said:

    I thought about using this stuff (EKOply plus 19) when I replaced my deckboards and I got some samples, but because the boards on my widebeam have a 4ft unsupported span on the large section, I realised that EKOply wouldn't have the same 3 point bending strength as phenolic wood ply.

     

    http://www.slpw.co.uk/ecoply.php

     

    For the deckboards of a NB it may work fine.

    I like the look of this stuff - and it is made from recycled things, so even better!

     

    I will have a look at the strength figures, but it should span my engine 'ole ok.

     

    Thanks for the link!

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