jon.h

I'm only catching up now on the responses, sorry I did a poor job of asking for someone to check out the setup. I appreciate the feedback. 1.) So not MPPT to the inverter but instead to the Inline Battery Fuse and then the 2 x 12v batteries in Parallel to charge the batteries directly. I suppose there could be more than one way to do it but I'd rather have the inverter/charger connected to the batteries on a separate circuit, it makes more sense. 2.) @WotEver I didn't quite understand what you meant by alternator cable? I don't have an onboard engine. I have an outboard which is currently hooked up to one of the batteries (which are connected in parallel). There is also a battery isolator on the positive terminal. Would you suggest I connect the alternator to the parallel connection (+ of one and - of the other) or keep it on the one battery? Please correct me if I'm missing something, still learning, trying to learn the theory before the practice to avoid having "my wires crossed"(first time I got to use that phrase in the right context). I have decided to go for an 800w-1000w inverter/charger. Still looking for an affordable but reliable option. This is the one I'm currently looking at: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333177368808 Does anyone know anything about it? Is it a reliable product? I can't seem to find many reviews about it. Also can't seem to understand how to work out how much power will be lost just by using the inverter. Ideally I'd like something efficient. For your reference this is a list of all demand on power: 1.) Lighting circuit (12v): from the MPPT load > 12v mini 7amp fuse > 12v lighting (2-4watt LED bulbs). 2.) Cool box (220v though can connect on 12v too). 3.) 900-1900w electric duct heater. 4.) Pressure king pro - electric pressure cooker (220v but only used 20-30 mins a day) 5.) 240v sockets to charge my laptop when working. 6.) Water pump (auto-on/off) for kitchenette and bathroom taps (not used much). Based on this level of demand, I estimated a 800-1000w inverter/charger would be suitable providing it was efficient. Can anyone confirm that? Most of the time I'll have the shore connection but I'd like to make sure I can use my laptop for work. Also another question that pops into mind is, "Is there a way to put an alarm on the batteries so that when they drop to the minimum level discharge I know that I need to turn it all off?" e.g. 50% discharge. I know there's a million points here, hopefully some of you can advise accordingly. I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks. Many thanks Jonathan

Hi all, I've been working on my boat and thought it a wise decision to touch base to benefit from anyone else's advice. I have the following setup: Shore Connection Socket (Charges batteries from 220v shore ) 3 Pin 220v Shore Connection > 50A Fused Isolator Switch > Automatic Inverter/ Charger > Consumer Unit > the rest of the boat. 220v Solar PV to Leisure Batteries (Powers 12v leisure batteries from solar panel energy) 215w Solar Panel > MPPT Charge Controller > Automatic Inverter/Charger > Inline Battery Fuse > 2 x 12v Batteries in Parallel. 12v Battery Connection (Powers electrics when not plugged into a shore connection): 2 x 12v Batteries in Parallel > Inline Battery Fuse > Automatic Inverter/Charger > Consumer Unit > to the rest of the boat.

No they are registered charities and labelled as charities but that is ultimately all a legal qualifier that is required to define a charity. The old meaning of charity is long gone and in my experience usually exists only prior to registration as community-based activities and initiatives. In such groups there are many good people doing good deeds but registration involves taxes and money and efficiency and that tends to in some cases corrupt their goals. To the best of my knowledge there isn't even a requirement for wages of directors and board members to be capped. Anyhoo, it's a long road.

Unfortunately in our society charities can do whatever they like. Many charities exist that don't even spend 5% of what they collect on the cause they claim to represent. Some give under 1%, I know this as I have ample experience working with 3rd sector organisations, it is quite horrific. To the best of my knowledge last I checked there is no legal requirement to spend x amount on the cause...just to spend something. The salaries many of the charity directors and board members are on are also ridiculous not to mention the industry being riddled with corruption and tit for tat handouts in the form of work being "contracted" . Plus they get the benefit of walking around acting selfless and self-righteous ? Not saying all charities are like that but unfortunately there is a pattern especially in the largest "charities".

You sound like a politician repeating a word in the hope it will fit ?. The "Strong and stable" of the canalworld. You don't work for or are contracted by CRT are you? Maybe a board member?

I know, call me old fashioned but I'm a believer that if people are aware of the boundaries of their rights then they will not tolerate it for long. Confusion exists in many privatised organisations that used to be government bodies to fuel the perception of legitimacy in the mind of Joe Boggs. In the past additional profits went into reducing premiums or at very least offsetting other public services but this is not the case with a private business. I don't mind paying CRT some level of fee and I don't completely oppose the organisation as I will eventually be using the canal system and I understand that some costs are involved in maintaining the network, but when a "charitable organisation" is making a net of £41m a year and still trying to push beyond their territories into forcing private marinas to force their customers who are already paying for their mooring it difficult to justify their actions are in any way beneficial to the collective purpose for which they exist.

Why do you have to be so rude in the way your write? It really is quite unfortunate. I don't know if sarcasm and slinging about horrible labels makes you somehow feel superior but in my book how someone conducts themselves with what knowledge they have is 9/10ths of its value. I admit I am a newbie to boating and maybe I am rocking the boat a little but I do find it quite unfortunate that I can't question it from a legal standpoint without being labelled "ignorant". Also ironically after labelling me ignorant you also admitted that boat owners can't be prosecuted for keeping their boats in private marine's without a licence. It also makes me wonder what contracts the poor marina owners have signed and whether everyone has signed them and what legal requirement they had to do so in the first place. Ignorance around the rights of private individuals and small organisations is often common.

As I said to you by message, kindly educate me. I may not have the right terminology but I'm rarely wrong in concept although I would be happy to be shown the error of my judgement. Quite simply, am I the only ignorant individual who questions the legitimacy of statutory regulations being transferred to private bodies? Am I the only ignorant person who recognises that charity in its linguistic meaning is wholly different from what many modern day "registered charities" do? Some of the biggest businesses in Britain are charities. Charity is an act of goodwill for the benefit of others without asking for any return. Forgive my skeptical nature but when someone talks of taxing individuals hundreds if not thousands of pounds every year when they have already paid to keep their boats on private domains off the CRT system I find it very difficult to see the element of charity in it.

The CRT are a private company and not a public sector body (see https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07807276) Many don't realise this, it may claim charitable status but it is a private company nonetheless and is not a not-for-profit in the real sense. Income reported in 2018/2019 was £210 million. The trust is a privately owned interest group who bought the rights to the network from the government. Like all businesses they are subject to competition laws, where is their competition? They own a monopoly over "the market" and thus they are actually required to be broken up by all good measure of the law by the government. I have caught them out a number of times when one of their staff mentions "...is illegal" and then they have to backtrack and admit that technically not "illegal". Their rules are not enforceable by law, only those who have subscribed to enter into contract with them by law can be held accountable to the private contract they entered. This has absolutely nothing to do with insurance. I am insured but I do not have a licence because I am not using the canals while my boat is not in use. Simple. Anyone saying a boat owner has to pay them money other than a private marina whose private domain is being used is just trying to pull the wool over their eyes. If someone uses a marina, they have paid for the use of a private domain. The water that the canal system use falls free from the sky and is not owned by the network. If a boat is not using a canal system no-one has the legal right to say they have to pay for it. It is daylight robbery and doesn't make any legal sense for a private company to have a right to enforce anything on a customer of other private domains which are is beyond their reach. Neither the water nor the private domain belong to them, the network of canals belongs to them. When you use it you should pay a licence and that's it! As long as your vessel is insured and kept off their network in a private domain no-one can force you to pay them hundreds of pounds otherwise maybe we should start charging an air tax for vessels using the network of oxygen that flows around the boats too? They are a private organisation and not a government body. I would like to see CRT try to sue someone moored up on a private marina when they are not using the network. Like many organisations that used to be public bodies, they are legally in limbo and live only on the fear and claims that they are legally in the right...it is only a matter of time when someone with the slightest know how refuses to fall for the company line when it will become aparent.

Hi folks, I am fitting two 330w panels to my boat and would appreciate the advice of any experts in the field. The model of the panels are SRP-330-BMB, specs are here: https://www.seraphim-energy.com/wp-content/uploads/download/SRP-(320-335)-BMB-DG_Frame_158.75_EN_2019V2.0.pdf What MPPT charge controller would you recommend for this? I'd really like to keep the cost down. I seem to work out that Max V = 91v and Max A = 54a. The specs are tested at 25 degrees C so their max is not necessarily accurate when cold. When I've calculated it based on a lowest possible temperature of -5 degrees C it increases to potentially 54a. I want to be sure the charge controller is not overloaded. Am I looking too much into it? Can someone point out where I'm going wrong plz, if I am. All the Victron MPPTs aside from being pricey seem to have such low amperage.

Ah ok, well that's good to know. I will apply for insurance today. I have had quotes of £57 per year or up to £95 for Third Party. For fully comprehensive it would cost around £120-£141. Also I don't know how to explain to them in the quote forms that the trailer is a custom trailer and thus if lost or damaged it would be like losing the boat because to replace it would be very hard and to sell th boat without it would mean the boat was devalued. I think I'll just have to find a broker to talk to about it.

Thanks, everything seems to move so slowly. I'm trying to get insured straight away and get the CRT to register the boat, and get the BSS certification and pay the marina and everything is so much slower than I'm used to. It may help me calm down from the intense work life I've had for the last few years and take a rest.

Ahhh, well that shows how little I know. Thank you for that clarification

Yeah I think that's just for show because from what I read online they only ever made 33 of these. I don't know how true that is but that's what I've read.

Yes the space inside is amazing, it was one of the deciding factors as to why I chose it. Being on water is new for me so I didn't want to put myself in new environment and have an issue where I felt claustrophobic in a tight sailing boat all at once. I had the idea of a second boat in the back of my head so that makes sense. After all the comments I won't even attempt to take it to sea...not that I would have for a long time hehe. Still got so much learning to do. Thanks Howard, advice taken, she's staying away from salty water. It's really nice seeing there's a community here to talk to about the experience. Thanks to everyone again for all your comments.