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Johny London

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Everything posted by Johny London

  1. It's all about the minimum, not the maximum (power that you will get). I would look for a job lot of panels (ebay etc) taking into account what panel sizes will best fit onto your roof, and put as much on as possible. You'll never regret it and it isn't really necessary to walk on the roof so you might just as well fill it. Do it from day 1. If you have A LOT (3kw+?) you may have enough for basic elec all winter (tv pumps etc) with the use of a genny for washing machine and occasional battery top up. And in summer you may be able to run your big appliances on a sunny day. Beyond a large solar array, you have the controller/s to think of, and the battery bank. If you can fit lithiums, you'll be able to quickly capture power on days with very short periods of sun much more effectively than with l/a's but that's for another thread. One other thing - some people like to use tiltable mounts, but I think it is a faff and the money is better spent on extra panels (lying flat) though tilting (especially in winter) can make quite a difference. (ie 2a per panel could become 4a). Perhaps good if you are a narrow boat and permanently moored in one position? To give you an idea of what to expect, with 600w, MOST summers days I have enough for basic requirements (even on cloudy but "bright" days but not on very dark cloudy days). Though I'm just adding another 500w now to counter that and extend usefulness. If you have a lot of solar you can settle for a small petrol genny for occasional use, otherwise go for a built in - plenty on ebay under 2k. But it is great not having to burn diesel.
  2. Luckily no pinch points on the K&A...
  3. I really don't think there is any misconception about electricity production - certainly not by boaters at any rate. Anyone who winters on the cut will be only too aware how much goes into its generation. At least removing the ICE's from the "front line" enables people to have cleaner more peaceful environments, it's a start. Then the problem is one step further removed - still to be tackled but at least perhaps in a more cohesive "centralised" sort of way. (And this is surely, precisely what governments should be here for?). I think electricity is the perfect medium for small vehicles, even boats and maybe in time the larger stuff such as lorries and tankers. Motors are simple and seem well suited to these tasks. I don't see electric for heating. 1kwh wouldn't blow your hat off.
  4. Interesting - I hadn't realised they were actually a copy of a proper switch. Though at a tenner, I'm tempted. Especially thanks to dor's positive experience thus far.
  5. Just as per title, these seem to be the latest bit of Chinese tat doing the rounds on ebay, wondered if they were actually usable? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Motorcycle-Knob-Marine-Boat-Battery-Isolator-Cut-Off-Kill-Switch-12V-600A-UK/202746499756?epid=25030168132&hash=item2f34a212ac:g:jSMAAOSwO2pcgOFW
  6. ok then drill through to Australia and suck their warm air up - they've got too much of it anyway.
  7. That feels a lot better, it just so happened I was chosen this month for the crt survey. Had to mention the lack of bins, lack of recycling, lack of anywhere to moor, insufficient water points, poorley dredged/cleared waterways etc etc Ahhhhh...... As I write tied on precariously against the weeds with no space on the coveted vm's :( Not moaning like.
  8. I disagree - we already have a full gas infastructure which could be used for hydrogen.
  9. When I got mine, they told me it would work in the shop. Infact a couple of the staff were doing it (using phone sims in mifis).
  10. I'm using mine in a 4g router (a Huwaei) with no problems - and all the advantages of a "full size" router ie wlan and usb connections and so on - oh and a telephone socket which works a treat with a bog standard land line type phone! Go for it!
  11. Name it how and when it suits you. Superstition is nonsense by it's very nature.
  12. Well done Peterboat. Do keep us posted on how it continues to work out and never mind the nay sayers. What a great system - on the days it's actually nice enough to enjoy a cruise - that's when you have the most power available! And twice as enjoyable no doubt thanks to near silence, no stink and no need to service at the end! I think heating is really another issue - it's going to affect land dwellers just as much as boaters if fossil fuels can't be used, so whatever they use on land (prolly hydrogen?) for heating, we can too. I'm a massive fan of electric for propulsion, but it is not suitable for heating.
  13. I knew someone would get me on the old a/h's. So should I have said 0.6-1.2a/h per hour??? In which case I've added to the already confusing array of ways the figures are being expressed. It seems that the fridges are roughly falling into two categories, around 30a/h a day and high 40's. I'm still unclear who has fridge freezers and who has just fridges. So - the compressors are capable of variable running speeds? (I thought I read this further back but cannot find it now). I thought they were either on or off. The former being the case would account for the wide variance of figures. The later being the case it makes no difference what insulation, temperature setting or fridge/freezer configuration (assuming all the compressors are the same one... the Danfoss BD35F , are they?). They would just draw what they draw, when running.
  14. Ok, I don't mean to pick on anyone but a few things that confuse me are... Bengo: "The fridge itself uses about 2 Amps, only when the compressor is running, and it will typically run 30-60% of the time." So that would equate to about 0.6-1.2amps per hour, quite low! Neil2: "We have a Shoreline, I turn it up when we're running and down to "2" when moored and it seems to draw around 2 amps for about 20 minutes an hour." It's open to interpretation but I took that to mean the fridge was drawing 2amps while running, equating to around 15amps a day. Dr Bob agrees with me and sais "2amps for 20 mins an hour is circa 16Ahr per 24 hours. Sounds very low." Dor: "Our normal sized Shoreline fridge, with a 4* freezer compartment, uses 3.0 amps when the compressor is running." That sounds very low for a running fridge/freezer, but good luck to ya. Interestingly MTBM confirms this!? And AndrewIC! Is there some disparity going on between models or is this fridge vs fridge freezer in some cases? Ivan&Alice: "Thanks for all the figures. I'm working on the fridge running 1/3 of the time (8 hours per day) drawing an average of 6A, resulting in a 48Ah consumption per day." If it's drawing an average of 6a, then it would be (6x24) = 150a per day To top it all off, just look at the variation in these figures... @Alan de Enfield - 45Ah @BEngo - 50Ah @Keeping Up - 35Ah (with bilge fans) @Neil2 - 16Ah @dor - 30Ah (3A*(25/60)*24h) @Mike the Boilerman - 36Ah Apologies for being such a pedant, but the figures we are getting seem to be all over the place, not helped by people expressing them differently. A thought occurs - could it be that those who are using very little power, don't have their fridges very cold? Surely it is meaningless without knowing the temperature we are achieving? Setting no 2 doesn't mean too much.
  15. Sorry, I just can't quite envision it - you have more than one chimney? Doesn't matter anyway.
  16. Johny London

    Gear Box Oil

    Why on earth don't the manufacturers provide a little dipping tool like that!
  17. I think what one or two of you have said about fridge consumption is wrong. And this was queried back on the first page - but my two pene'rth... When the fridge is running it may take 6-8a. It may run for approximately 30% of the time, giving rise to an average figure of 2ah per hour. Around the 40 or so a day. (a/h pedants have I said that right?). Some shoreline fridges (I'm thinking of my fridge/freezer) have the heat dissipation at the sides rather than the back, though of course there will be heat from the compressor too. Something to think about when positioning. In the hot weather I find that mine runs quite a lot though the consumption does seem to be a couple amps an hour on average and I have it set to three or four on the stat. It's typically 7c inside. Once the other week I thought I saw the led come on (low voltage) so I need to investigate - but as the led is positioned inside the fridge, behind the salad basket (which is always full of salad) it can't normally be seen. Another great design. Out of sight, out of mind.
  18. Johny London

    Gear Box Oil

    Wait till you try and get the level right - trying to see clean oil on a silver dip stick (that has to be screwed fully in before each reading and don't forget not to lose the special washer). Use a bit of tissue or paper but be quick before the oil on the dipstick moves. I seem to remember that the smaller prm gearboxes use a special hydraulic type oil/fluid whereas 150 and up, "same as engine" as everyone else agrees.
  19. I don't quite get what you are saying there? Also, with my flue, the twin wall is within the standard size of the pipe, not extra to - so it doesn't look any different to a single wall. Surely going twin wall would make the installation easier in as much as being able to position closer to combustible surfaces?
  20. Morso do a twin wall flue kit - there is nothing ridiculous looking about it - except the price. I used one (it's got two angles in it) as although very pricey, a lot simpler than trying to get a bunch of individual parts to all line up just so (the morso kit is adjustable) and actually all the individual twin wall bits were not that cheap anyway. You could recoup the flue over spend by picking up a good used stove and refurbing it yourself (they always need glass/ firebricks/grate etc). Cutting the roof hole is a doddle - jigsaw, take it nice and slow, still only takes a few minutes really - just make sure it's in the right place! Get yer skates on - soon be winter!
  21. Surely Transgender is Teapot upturned? Just to get back on track for a moment - just received my Boaters Update newsletter from crt. Actually, it's from Damien, and he calls me John. Never met the guy and we are on first name terms - I find it all rather patronising and never bother to read the nonsense.
  22. Well, clearly I'm not in. I suspect this is a wind up, but it's a rainy day so I'll play along. So, spout to towpath = guy who wants to party, spout to canal, lady who wants to party? What's spout astern?!
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