Ratkatcher

Thinking Windows 10, I downloaded the anniversary updated ISO from Microsoft when I needed to reinstall 10 to replace the Windows 7 installation on my laptop (it was originally W10 so I spent some time creating an ISO with usb3 support (W7) and found that with this perfectly working and stable installation (it was!) that with the laptop shut down the battery was being flattened - It's a HP and appears to be a common issue) and was unable to activate the restore partition. The updated 10 installed without any problems and has now 'fixed' the restore partition with the new image with the assistance of HP's management software. I didn't really want to have 10 on the laptop, OpenSuse (my favourite Linux distro) didn't like the hybrid graphics much so was ditched - although a newer version has appeared recently... 10 is probably the best version yet, but that is a bit like saying 'the best Lada yet', it is intrusive and leaves the consumer open to the prospect of being charged by Microsoft for their 'Operating System as a Service' should they decide thus. This laptop, in common with many other commercial PC's being sold with Windows installed, makes it difficult to move away from Microsoft as the BIOS setup and options are being tailored to dissuade (or even make impossible) a move away from the pre-installation O/S. (of course Apple have been doing the same for many years without their users making any noise about it!) I enjoyed the OP's rant and sympathised with him, and only a little bit green over his being able to install Mint...

I use Waternav on my phone & tablet, but only to know where I am... (on the Android versions you cannot route plan - but can measure) and to look ahead for moorings / shops / facilities etc. Free to members of RCR or a fiver each if you download them before joining (like I did!). The PC version apparently lets you plan too, so may be on the to buy list. Waternav also keeps North to the top of the screen.

I'll echo Peter's sentiments, he was a great help and very good company - even if I talked on a bit late for him on occasion I think - the journey was very enjoyable and it was lovely to cruise on new canals. Both wife and the dogs (left behind on the outward trip) are joining me on the return trip as this will not have a deadline to arrive and saves all 3 missing me! Now about a 4 week wait to get Tich back - hopefully without a random heating up issue! Thanks a million, Peter, great to have you along.

My first 'fill up' was only 30 litres, but then I didn't know how much (actually little) my engine used when running so was surprised so little when use had been around 40 hours of gentle cruising. The kind lady in the chandlers, recognising a complete newby, explained that the declared split between cruising and domestic should be what I anticipated the delivered fuel use to be, allowing me to choose a sensible split for early April. If I had cruised less than anticipated the 'loss' in tax for me was my fault - likewise a 'benefit' otherwise. Having just cruised from the Shroppie (along with the very helpful PeterX - a million thanks!) to the GU I'm quite glad that my tank should be good for the return trip also, there is quite a diference in the base price hereabouts! The boat is waiting for the tender ministations of Martin Kedion - when done I look forward to doing the return trip and watching the diesel prices drop as we get closer to the home mooring Apparently we passed by Mrsmelly's place on the way down, maybe we'll pop in on the return trip to say hello.

I read the Floater article with some amusement I'm afraid - I could see the point the Marina owner was making (with poor choice of words) but amused more by the remainder of the content of the article. This prompted me to spend an hour or so reading more from the site that only made me chuckle more, apart from an odd bit of editorial of general interest the site seems to have a bias toward any action that lessens the 'freedom' of some boaters to do as they please and slagging the C&RT in general, fascinating!

Tesla made some quite 'interesting' claims about broadcast power, demonstrating the principle using RF energy over short distances to 'recover' energy. Perhaps this is what had came to mind. It was curious that he never lived to create his free power network and that his research material 'disappeared' after his death, oddly coinciding with the growth of the energy industry in the USA... Just another 'contacted by aliens' conspiracy theory,but fun nonetheless

C'mon Brian... Lowestoft is nowhere near the K&A! But it does have (maybe did have?) one of the best KFC's I have ever been in, shame I went West instead of staying in East Anglia, many happy memories of Lowestoft I wonder if the 'poorer boaters' would be able to raise the needed funds to move their 'affordable housing' to a CRT marina that charged commercial (residential) rates anywhere near, let even on, the Thames (or even anywhere near Bath / Bristol / Reading etc. ) I certainly can't justify the expense of a mooring closer to home, but then I'm not exactly a liveaboard - let alone one who considers the South East as a 'must be' region.

I don't see how the comment "forced the poorer older boats..." makes any kind of sense in its present context. The occupiers of said boats must surely have made a considered decision to remain in the area otherwise they would be enjoying 2000+ miles of navigable waterways, surely? Pressures of work, school etc would have to have been considered prior to becoming a liveaboard not on a residential / long term mooring - wouldn't they? A hammer to crack a nut the 'penalty' certainly is, but how else could the underlying issue be resolved?

I read the same recently somewhere else about Win 10 on mobiles - I suppose a no response makes sense in a twisted way Same as the desktop Win 10 will disregard the 'metered connection' exclusion for 'essential' updates - could be a nasty surprise if a tethered laptop decided to install the newly released 'feature update', a couple of GB down the drain for no apparent visual difference apart from start menu (right click) changes.

An interesting concept, should they push through this odd idea might we find that a lot of the lower cost moorings (like ours, north of Birmingham) suddenly get snapped up by boats that never moor there? CRT have not appeared to sell off 2 moorings in our block - no longer advertised but certainly never been occupied for the past few months. Thinking about it, the long-term moorings south of Brewood appear to have no boats moored there and are not being advertised - perhaps it is already happening!

In response to the 4GB for £15 comment. I have a SIM only 30 day rolling contract with Virgin, (4G plan) that gives 4GB +2GB bonus (which they can obviously cancel at any time) with last month unused rollover. As mobile data is only used on the boat I normally end up with 10GB at the start of each billing period. Not a huge amount granted but at least reasonalbe and with the option to get out with no penalty if I get a better offer. With a 'fixed' data limit I am free to tether from my mobile phone to laptop / tablet too. Nothing spectacular I admit, but may be an option for others should they wish to take a look at Virgin's tariffs.

Peter beat me to it, but I am pleased to say that he will be joining me for the jaunt - many thanks to him of course and to the others who showed an interest. ETA: and apologies - I didn't receive any notification until Peter messaged me - I think it was my own fault though...

Hello again all, sorry for the long wait but I had to get a date from Martin. We have arranged for the boat to go in for work on 4th September. Canal Plan has given me a nice 10 day route ( only 5 hours a day - plenty long enough) so it is anticipated that I leave my mooring on the Shroppie on 25th August. Would any kind person care to join me on this little jaunt? Thanks in advance David

Job done, the new alternator is fitted and the return cable taken from the case (as indicated in the very helpful sheet included with the alternator) without any problems. The output reached a brief 40A according to the ammeter on the console - the highest I'd ever seen on the boat - then settled down to around 20A or so once the initial rush was over with the feed to the domestic bank showing 20+ to 10 Amps over time so good in my opinion My thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and advice, the help is much appreciated. Next little job is to sort out where all of the charging circuit wires go, then I can get the domestic bank first in the alternator output chain, but that is for next week!

Back on the boat again for a few days, so got on with some of the chores already mentioned. The split charge relay is 120A - not the 60 as previously thought - so I removed it and replaced it with the electronic equivalent. The relay was just connected with the coil being activated when the alternator is busy doing its thing, no diodes or anything else nasty. Nice chunky bolt terminals too, perfect! The aforementioned chunky relay has now been wired into the heater plug circuit (with 6mm cable out) after pulling out the light duty and very fried relay that had also melted the (thermoplastic) base in its enthusiasm to heat up the new super plugs, a couple of happy hours spent there. It is interesting that the heater circuit uses 2 relays, the first of which only appears to connect the negative feed to the engine block, (as well as providing a negative feed to the second relay) is this common practise? This preamble brings me around to the replacement alternator - the current is a Lucas Marine A127 (50A) with insulated return - the new one is common return with the case providing the negative connection. Am I correct in assuming that I shouldn't put this on as a replacement due to no insulated return? Any advice much appreciated. So as it stands the original alternator remains in circuit - it would only take me an hour or so to fit the new one (now knowing the way to get it off / on without dropping the spacer into the oily bilge again! ) should anyone advise it could be done without messing things up. (Guess I am thinking of Tony in the first instance, not excluding anyone else who has contributed equally intelligently) Thanks in advance to all.

I like the tip for connecting the alternator output to the leisure bank, thanks, that makes good sense. I ordered a sensing split charge relay today so should see it arrive early next week. So it will be a case of change both devices over and see if anything good happens... Like Tony, it must be more than 20 years since I saw a relay in ceramic (or Paxolin) as a mount, thermoplastic - with all its inherent drawbacks - is cheaper to produce and more attractive to those doing fit out. (not only in auto / boats but also in radio transceivers)

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, they are always appreciated. I have bought a 'remanufactured' A127 75A Alternator (from Ebay) which arrived yesterday as it makes sense to start with the simplest bit to replace. I also have a couple of lengths of 25mm cable to uprate the current wiring as it is both old and not particularly heavy duty. The connections on the existing alternator were removed, cleaned and re-made while I was on the boat but made no difference to the charging output. The split charge relay appears to be of the Lucas type that switches from the charge indicator so I don't believe it contains a lossy diode, although I am seriously considering replacing it with a voltage sensing version - as suggested in the last response. (there is a strong likelyhood that the Lucas relay is only in the region of 60A so may prove unsuitable with the new alternator) As it will be a few days until I return to the boat I won't be in a position to post an update on progress until then so fingers crossed. All that remains in the immediate electrical fun is to find the wiring to / from the relay that controls the heater plugs as the new (higher current draw) plugs caused a wisp of smoke from the relay and no longer functioning heater plugs - these things are sent to try us!

As promised, a few photos... With apologies for being 'not brilliant' but the engine was running at the time. The little meter is displaying battery voltage (showing low - I have to calibrate it yet which will be done today) and charging current. The batteries were fully charged when I got to the boat last night - 200w of solar doing their job even in the poor weather we have had. The only current drawn in darkness has been the fridge and a little for the led lights, pump etc. The radio draws around 0.6 A and was on until bed time According to the little meter, with only the radio on discarge is shown as hovering around 0.6 A so probably reasonably accurate. Charging current is only being shown as in the region of 6 A - when deliberately increasing the load (turning the fridge up!) charge current drops by the couple of amps the fridge draws but alternator output as displayed on the panel does not increase. At the time the photos were taken solar was only providing 400 mA to the batteries so can be discounted (the sun shining brightly in the sky but the panels shaded by the big tree across the canal). I set the MPPT controller for solar at 13.8v (which was the battery state yesterday) increasing it when the batteries are shown as charged and the panels are generating a reasonable output sees a corresponding increase in battery voltage so I believe the batteries may not be stuffed quite yet. An A127 recon alternator can be purchased from Flea Bay for not a lot of pennies so replacing it may not be too painful (and if this shows an improvement a good - non Chinese - one could be purchased and the cheap one kept as a 'spare' ) Thanks to everyone who has been replying even without any pictures - you are all being very helpful.

No black casing on the back, just a large voltage regulator at the top (black, almost quadrant shape) and the legend 12 as a sticker on the middle of the rear casing. Cables are attached to bolt on terminals and not the 3 pin Lucas connector (which I think was common around that era) rev counter probably coming from it too. I'll post a picture Sunday when I am back on the boat. Thanks.

Sorry to be picking your collective brains once more but... The 'user manual' (can't remember the exact name and it is on the boat) for my Thorneycroft 90 (BMC 1.5) shows the wiring diagram associated with the marinised engine with the original alternator number crossed through and A133 written beside it. The thing is that the alternator looks nothing like all of the photos of the A133 I have looked at - more like an A127 - as it has a voltage regulator block at the top of the alternator. From my reading the A133 output is 70'ish amps (or more) but this baby only delivers around 30 Amps on startup rapidly dropping to 20 or lower after a very short time - even when the domestic batteries (2x110 AH - only weeks old) are quite low (60% or less remaining) and voltage sits around 13.1 volts for a very long time before gradually creeping up to around 13.6 after four or five hours at the tiller. I'll clean it up a bit and take a photo to post on Sunday for comments if anyone could help identify it - also perhaps advise on if I should replace it with something else... That said - if anyone with more technical experience of matters electrical than me (that wouldn't be hard!) just happen to be on the Shroppie from Sunday I'll be heading off in the direction of Norbury Junction and would apreciate trading knowledge for an ice cold Guinness (or JD & Cola) and be an attentive student too! Thanks to you all in advance. That reminds me - I read a thread from someone asking if they had the same manual - if they read this before I find it please PM me and I'll hapily scan the manual and send it to them.

As promised... Oil pressure when hot and at idle is around 15 PSI. When cruising at around 900 RPM it is around 20 PSI when hot. It is an electrical pressure gauge. Oh, and I lied about the new oil filter - it isn't Crossland, a mild senior moment as there is a Crossland sticker stuck onto the control console which I have yet to scrape off, sorry!

Is the top photo on the Shropshire Union? We passed on just like it on the way to Norbury Junction. I'll post it as soon as I can nick Trudi's phone for the pictures Ignore that... Just checked on the Canal map and it was Grub Street..

Bridge 14 on the Shroppie (Brewood) might be a challenge for you (unless you mean the sides!)