nashworth

Hello! I've been trying to top up my antifreeze to prep for the very cold weeks due shortly. I'm still very much a novice when it comes to my engine (Nanni Diesel 4.150 HE) ( http://extranet.nannidiesel.com:8081/Joomla/images/Documentation/FT/FT_EN_4.150HE.pdf ) I need to take a sample of what's currently in the coolant mix, to make sure I don't put the wrong antifreeze in. But when I open the coolant cap, i'm faced with a metal ledge, that wont allow me to put anything into the tank to take a sample... Am I missing something? Do I need a certain tool to remove the coolant mix, or remove this ledge? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks

I haven't seen it no! I'll give it a read now. Thank you, very much appreciate all of the help !

Hmm... Maybe i'm still entirely lost then! I haven't inputted the capacity myself. I'm going off what has already been written into the system by the previous owner. I wouldn't know where to begin, I'm finding this all like a foreign language to be honest! Thanks, Naomi

Thank you for recognising this! I had no idea... I've now managed to read the status of my batteries & charge them fully. Thanks again!

Yes, I understand now. Thanks for checking!

P.s my fridge is a shoreline 12V, should this have run the batteries out so quickly? Or was it because I thought I needed the inverter on in order to power the fridge? Thanks! Naomi x

Hi there, I'm doing well thank you, I ran my engine for an hour last night while I still could have had it on from 9am this morning until about 3pm. My battery monitor seems to be reading above what it should. I'm going to look into getting a generator asap, I had a recommendation from a friend who uses a gas fuelled generator for their campervan, has anyone experienced one of these? Regarding somebody walking me through everything on the boat, I bought it over a year ago with the intention to move on straight away, I was given some loose indications on how to run things and made notes at the time. But due to the discovery terminal illness in the family I moved home and I put off living on the boat, and of course lost all of my notes and memory of what was said... I would love some advice, i'm currently moored near bridge 136 a little north of Cowroast Marina (near Tring) Thanks for your response! Naomi

Hi Howard, Thanks for your response, I have a cassette toilet and am aware of how to empty it into the elsans dotted around. I think you're probably right about finding someone near by to come and talk me through some of the things I can't quite get my head around! Thanks again, Naomi

Hi everyone, Thank you all so much for the advice - The engine is running and has been for an hour or so now. I will turn the fridge and inverter off tonight, and look into all of your other suggestion. Thank you so much again for the fast and in-depth responses - Once I can get to a coffee shop or something to charge my laptop tomorrow I will have a further look into your suggestions, and get back to you with info on the fridge etc! Enjoy your evenings! Naomi

Hello out there! I've just moved on board my narrowboat, and am very much a novice looking for some advice regarding electricity. I have 4 leisure batteries along with a Victron inverter. I have had the inverter on constantly for the past two days (without running the engine) in order to power the waterpump, fridge and occasional phone/laptop charging. My inverter is now reading that is has low battery, from what I can see via other forums, about 1.5 - 2 days running from the inverter is normal. But i'm wondering now, how best to charge the batteries again? Do I just run the engine, and if so how long for? Does anyone have any tips for low energy consumption for things like laptop/phone chargers (has anyone used a solar or dinamo powered energy bank?)? Can you suggest any alternatives to running the engine? Are solar panels / generators a good idea? Also on another note, I seem to have no hot water - yet when I have been moving the boat prior to moving aboard I have always had quite a generous amount - I have a twin coil calorifier 'heated by the engine & Eberspacher' - I suppose this means I have to run the engine in order to get hot water - does anybody know if so, how long for? Very much appreciate any ideas you might have... Thanks! Naomi ✌️

Thank you so much, very observant! I will do

Thanks so much for all of the responses! Some useful, and some very interested info... Much appreciated. I have attached some photos of the toilet, It seems to be that the electrics aren't responding, I had a guest over who managed to push the entire electric unit into the back part of the toilet, It hasn't been submerged in water, but I can't get it to respond now. I also had the unfortunate discovery that one of the cassettes is leaking, any one know a good way of patching them up?

I'm just about to move onto my boat full time, after spending the last year on and off the canal. I have two captains chairs and a stool which I don't need and am just wondering if anyone knows of a place to sell them? I'm currently just north of Hemel Hampstead. I also have an issue with my toilet - the flush electrics don't seem to be working - does anyone know who I could contact for help/advice/or to hire to fix? Thanks for any advice in advance! Naomi x