Djuwenda

thank you everybody, some useful advice. I wasn't aware of bimble solar and it looks like I will now use them for my panels. Similarly, I can now see the cut price chinese MPPT controllers are most likely not genuine and should be avoided. I think I will for now get 2 x 275 mono panels, and the 60a controller quoted above by Asia_Off_Grid.

interesting arguments made thank you. Does anybody have any examples of 60a MPPT controllers at decent prices?

comments duly noted about my MPPT controler choice. Buying from the UK pushes the price up somehwat. Starting at £400

Hello, After many years using a set of cheap AGM batteries, an 80w monocrystal panel and a 10a MPPT power charger, the time has now come to change the batteries. I guess the lesson I have learnt is that some solar input can do absolute wonders for the health and longevity of a set of batteries. Whilst I live aboard and CC, I am very often away for 5 days at a time. When before solar I would have to religiously charge my batteries before leaving, I can now forget about it and let the sun trickle charge for me. My work requirements have now changed. If I am not travelling, I am working from home. So I will need a good bit more power than I did. I would also like to run a 12v fridge, which I never bothered with before. Hence I am thinking about spending a (good) bit more this time, which should make investing in some good quality batteries a safer bet. my understanding of electrickery is limited, please feel free to point out if you think i am mismatching and that these components would not be well suited to each other https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0779F3T4P/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A246YAYJCIS7NJ the only problem with going with three of these panels is I then have to get quite a meaty MPPT controller, an 80a unit such as: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/173018303294?chn=ps&adgroupid=50138193029&rlsatarget=pla-398785780940&abcId=1130076&adtype=pla&merchantid=101717088&poi=&googleloc=9041125&device=c&campaignid=1030309342&crdt=0 the battery bank will be made of 5 of these https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leoch-200ah-agm-leisure-battery/

I am often prone to bouts of what I consider to be outside the box thinking. My friends just say I am an idiot. I have been skimping on care and maintenance lately and I am trying to think of the most efficient way to bring the roof of my 50ft narrowboat back to bare metal before painting again. A few other areas will also require work to get back to bare metal, the whole front deck, back deck, pigeon box and hatch cover. I know from previous experience that sanding down paint, especially roof paint which is non slip will prove a great pain the backside, not to mention the fact that sanding pads will get torn the shred very quickly. which brings me to the point. Does anyone on here have any experience of running a compressor on their boat? I would want to run sanding and needle guns attachments from it. If possible perhaps a shot/sand blaster attachment too, I am sure I have see these around? from my research I understand that I can choose between electric and petrol compressors. I also assume that sanding is likely to require a fairly cfmn rate and I imagine blasters, if available, will do too? I only have 1kw of pure sine wave electricity available, which might limit my electric options somewhat? Any experience or input gratefully received.

to be fair to him, he keeps putting the same point forward which systematically gets ignored... a sure way to clear this would be to address said point.

Does he really? I think he makes an interesting point and cant see a problem with the way he makes it.

There used to be a "sloake hunt" moored in Warwick...

dont get mad, just breast up...

a few things that may help... I found the main difficulties with the job were -drying the tank sufficiently to be able scrap the rust off -removing the rust/dust -the application of edible bitumen, depending on the shape of the tank can be nightmarish, not much fun if you are claustrophobic -the drying problem again when it comes to allowing the bitumen enough time to dry... (remember its got to be dry before the evening due to condensation) I will be doing this job this summer, but will first source an aqua vac or similar and a portable drier/heather airblower thing. Also you dont really want to start the job unless you know you have a few days of sunny weather ahead.

I have noticed these large groups, cycling, often at nights with very powerful led lights. Personnaly i'd hate to be in a group like that and really dont see the point, however, I am happy to see people being healthy and enjoying the outdoors. The state of the towpath does not really bother me... thats what wellies are for.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16942781 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3414065.ece http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/should-cyclists-in-the-uk-be-allowed-to-go-through-certain-red-lights/ your point about Holland's infrastructure is valid, however there is case for red light jumping, and it is being made...

you're choosing to comment on the article that looks at the Dutch situation... Thank you kindly for your geographical expertise.

as explained here Are you suggesting a great part of the dutch population is "completely arrogant, utterly complacent, simply don't give a shit, or are just plain foolish"? .the argument is broken down here as well as in the link I posted about the situation in Paris Now, you might not agree with it, but the issue does exists. Another thing, I am not preaching for my own church here, I havent ridden a bike in a urban environment since I left Holland in 2010. Can you now make sense of my thinking?

so isnt that a good thing? as it fits your earlier point (the need to be predictable)? I am not really sure what your point is anymore, maybe time for me to get back to work...

Nonsense, its perfectly legal to filter through stationnary or slow moving traffic. If you were to travel through busy capital cities, you would realise this quite quickly.

who is "we" then? motorists? cyclists? or are you now referring to brits?

to avoid getting trapped into an argument about differing perception of our gallic neighbours. The point I was originally making is its iften safer for cycists to jump the lights. Mostly in cities. A lot of factors come into it, mostly the fact that you are better getting ahead of the traffic as you are slower getting to speed when the lights go green and become more visible to drivers when you do that. being on a bike, you are out in the open and looking above car roofs, in a better position to hear cars and also more exposed, all of which combine to give you a better judgement than a car driver sat in his box, windows shut with music blaring, possibly passengers talking etc. You dont need a driving license to ride a bike, so you dont tend to worry about possible points etc, just do what feels safest and most efficient, because you are also producing the power thats moving you! I honestly struggle to see what problems car drivers have with this concept. Well I think people are only upset because they cant do it, like drivers who try to prevent motorbikes from filtering through stationnary traffic.

ah France, this hotbed of self discipline of respect for the rules... http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3311182.ece

thats a nice run... I make that 12kph, or 5mn/km? you should be tickling the sub 3hours30mn over the full length at this rate I have been pounding the threadmill in the gym throughout the winter. but find it impossibly boring and hard to sustain for more than 30mn no idea what sort of times and pace I will find myself running outside. Bets I did on threadmill was 12.3k in 60mn and 6.7km in 30mn