[Pressure relief valve, calorifier]

Hello all, I need to replace the pressure relief valve on my  Surecal horizontal calorifier as it's constantly dribbling. I cannot get into the engine bay  to have a look at the moment as my back is playing up.

Please does anyone know what size replacement I need so I can order one from somewhere?

Thankyou

[BM showing 6v!]

I've now found out via the Victron community the this 'fault' is not uncommon with the battery protect. It is sometimes caused by a faulty installation where a reverse charge can occur by, for instance, incorrect solar installation. However, I was aware of this having followed the Victron installation instructions to the letter. I have been told how to try reprogramming the unit but also advised to return to them under warranty. I'm going to return to them but only once I have fully charged the batteries using the Gennie and checking their voltages after resting, for peace of mind as I have heard some frightening tales of battery banks being severely damaged after this fault.

I know this has not happened to me as I personally checked each individual Trojan battery within hours of the fault occurring and there was nowhere for the  volts/amps to escape to, but imagine if we had been away from the boat for an extended period !

[BM showing 6v!]

I think it's solved. The Victron Battery Protect has developed a fault. The symptoms started to repeat but this time showing 8.7volts I bridged across the 2 pos terminals on the Battery Protect with a spanner &, hey presto back to normal, So having a cuppa then back to double checking all connections and removing the BP.

Why the Battery protect seems to restrict the volts I have no idea but it was getting pretty warm.

[BM showing 6v!]

Strange one

My set-up is as follows, 6 Trojan (3 12v bank) SmartSolar MPPT 150/35, NASA BM-2, Phoenix 12/250, Centaur 12v100amp mains charger, Victron Battery Protect. I use a gennie to charge as required. No shore power.

At 3am this morning all was normal the BM showed 13.9v.

At 7am the domestic bank was off, the BM showed 6v!

I immediately checked the individual battery voltages, each bank of 2 showed 13.1. I checked all fuses, all ok, I checked the master switch. Turned on the engine expecting to see a largish charge, but nothing to write home about the 80amp alternator was putting in the usual small amount one expects when the batteries are in 'float'.

I climbed back out of the engine bay only to find all is back to normal.

Any ideas what the fault would be that would cause the BM to read 6v? The battery protection is set to cut out at 12.5v.

Obviously, I'll check all the 'joins' etc, but I'm getting too old for this kind of excitement.

[Diesel rationing ?.... 😳]

Fuel boat Bargus on the north Shroppie has no problem with fuel Red is £1.59.

[Boat Mail Recommendations]

We use Boatmail, which I don' hesitate to recommend. The Doctors here in Nantwich were quite happy to accept our CRT mooring as our 'address'. If we need to visit the Dr we just get a taxi etc if we're away from the mooring, Otherwise it's all online for repeat prescriptions etc.

[Biodiesel warning]

Thanks for the info Tony, good research is hard to find. The agricultural sector also are waking up to the problem. 

[Biodiesel warning]

The Yachting! Monthly is running this warning about Biodiesel-Warning .it seems similar to Diesel Bug but different!

[Fitting a galvanic isolator Earth Bonding]

Thanks everyone,

To reply to Tony about not spending money I don't need to, and god knows things are getting tighter. I cannot foresee us ever staying any period of time in a marina on pontoon moorings etc, but, as we get older it's possible we may have to escape the mud during the worst of the winter months & seek refuge in a boat-park & it makes sense to future-proof.

Alan. thanks for the diagram, I just used it to explain to my son exactly what the potential problem could arise.

[Fitting a galvanic isolator Earth Bonding]

Quick question, WE don't have shore power but I'm fitting a galvanic isolater & at the moment there is only a DC bond to the hull. I understand best practice is to add a bolt within a couple couple of inches from the existing bond my question is is there a BSS standard size 230v earth cable, or what size cable is recommended?

Thanks.

 

[Another new toy to play with.]

We used to have a very similar set-up years ago, saved our bacon on at least 2 occasions, thankfully in warmer waters.

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

Finally, solved. My 6 Trojan batts, wired for 12v are in 3 purpose made battery boxes. The domestic neg goes to a shunt & then busbar. I moved the batteries out to clean etc and found a battery cable from the neg side of the shunt leading to the starter battery (neg) but instead of being connected it was coiled and tucked away out of site. The only route to the hull/ engine bond was though an 'earth' lead from a cheap Chinese inverter which was installed at the same time. Needless to say all has been rectified now. Surprising enough the cheap inverter still works but has been replaced.

Thank you to everyone who commented.

[Charity committed to improving London's waterways for boaters]

There's no mention here of urine disposal. We have been composting our waste both onboard & on our smallholding for the last 30 years. It can be done properly but this recent craze, mainly in London it seems, has resulted in the disgusting bag and bin  fiasco & now this. Asking boat dwelling friends who reside in the capital it seems that most piss goes over the side. As the water authority seems to get away with it I quess it's just accepted.

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

To reply to Tony, There is definitely NO continuity between the domestic negative & the hull. There will be in the morning mind you. 

As I already mentioned, surprisingly I have had no problems to speak of since I had the batteries and Cyrix installed. The only reason I didn't do the job myself is due to my disability, at the time I was physically unable to carry out the work. I didn't specify the details as I assumed the boatyard was competent. At the same time I had the Trojan Hydrolink system installed & it was the first time they had come across that bit of kit, I wonder if they simply forgot as there is an empty stud on the negative busbar just waiting for an appropriate connection.

I'm reluctant to name and shame as they were doing me a favour and it was a 'Cash in hand' job. I guess you get what you pay for. Thankfully there's no real harm done as I'm certain there has been no domestic short as until recently there has been no domestic circuits due to fitting out.

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

4 minutes ago, springy said:

I presume that's the negative terminal on the starter battery, rather than a negative terminal on the starter body ?

 

Are there any other sizeable negative connections on the engine - for example on the alternator ?

 

springy

Yes the starter battery & no there are no other negative connections.

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

1is from the engine block to the earthing point then on to the starter negative.

Looking at the workshop manual for my Bukh DV36 the aforementioned attachment on the engine block next to the Jabsco water pump is the neg for the Starter Motor. So the neg from the starter motor runs from the battery to the hull then on to the starter.

 

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

I understand about the need for the switch to be between the starter + & the starter battery+. The boatyard that fitted the batteries did not do this and I am in the process of changing  things. As I mentioned it's gone though 2 BSS without this. However the negative Busbar on my domestic side of things definitely does not show any continuity when I connect to the hull bonding point as shown in the photo. The batteries do charge OK. I've never really thought about  it as obviously we do not use the hull as negative as in autos & the basic circuits were installed professionally & it is only now I'm able to really go into it. Just lately I have questioned weather the Cyrix VSR is working ok, but that largely was due to the starter battery being 9 years old😁

Should I add a negative lead from the domestic busbar to the hull bonding point? It will be very easy to do & I'm in the process of re-jigging my engine bay anyway.

I must say that I'm quite disappointed at the quality of the work that didn't come cheap, but, at the time my disability stopped me from accessing the engine bay. As they say if you want a job done properly do it yourself.

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

1 hour ago, springy said:

The requirement is to be able to isolate ALL the batteries, this can be done with a single switch in the (common) negative, but more usually there would be two, one on the domestic bank, the other on the starter. Don't be tempted by the cheaper ones with red removable keys - particularly for the starter as it has to carry a high current when cranking.

 

springy

Can I ask about the 'common negative'?. My engine is bonded to the hull as shown in the picture, but my domestic side of things is not. There is no continuity between my Domestic busbar and the negative in the picture. Should there be?

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

Does this switch have to be on the wire between the starter and the battery? I have a single alternator and do have battery cutoff switch but not one on the cable in question. I actually have 2 cut off switches 1 for the domestice and the other is between the vsr and the starter battery, It's been that way for the last 2 BSS with no problems.

 

[Starter Battery, cut off switch? Help]

Every mooring seems to have an 'expert' who dosn't hesitate to venture their opinion & guidance. Our 'expert' has just informed me that unless I insert a cut-off/ isolation switch between the starter and the starter battery it's now a "certain BSS fail"

Is this true? given the plethora of ridiculous rules and regulations I don't know what to believe but I don't fancy adding any more connections than necessary.

TBH the guy has a nice new shiney boat but, whilst he may be an engineer I don't really think he's much of a boater, more of a caravan on the water type.

[8mm to 10mm copper fuel pipe]

Thanks everyone, my main reason for asking is that I'm re-jigging my engine bay and the fittings on my 'Fuelguard' are 10mm my original fuelpipes are 8mm & I have a spare coil of 10mm copper left over from fitting 2nd fuel tank for the Heritage Uno.

 

[8mm to 10mm copper fuel pipe]

Thanks Tony, fortunately It's not the pipes at the injectors or pump end, it's more the supply from the fuel cut-off tap to the first filter & the return pipe.

 

[8mm to 10mm copper fuel pipe]

Another quick question. The fuel pipe for my Bukh DV36 is a combination of 8mm copper and rubber pipe to the injectors. Will I cause any problems replacing the 8mm copper with 10mm copper. Logic says no but I'd appreciate advice.

Thanks

[Fix ply to steel in engine bay in cold conditons]

On 10/01/2022 at 09:40, Flyboy said:

On 09/01/2022 at 14:47, Clodi said:

I do intend to get some brackets welded on when she's out for blacking, hopefully in 3 months time.

Anything glued to the hull will only be as good as the paint bond on the hull.  I doubt if a glued on fuel filter would meet the BSS requirements.

 

[Solar Heating Dump Kit 12v & 240v immersion Heater]

Has anyone fitted the Solar Heating Dump Kit - With 12V And 240V Twin Immersion Heater - 2 1/4" BSP from Bimble solar? it's more the 12V And 240V Twin Immersion Heater - 2 1/4" BSP I'm interested in. I'm in the process of moving my horizontal calorifier to the engine bay and pondering fitting one of these whilst it's easy to get to.