Lady_Why

That makes perfect sense, thanks. Since it's been below 12 every day that I've charged, I am guessing even an alternator input of 13.4 will have the greater pull. I didn't know that it is good to wait an hour or so, so thanks for that too. I am going to look for a new multi-reader after leaving the cafe, then go back and do a new reading. If situation is unchanged, I'll still charge 8 hrs and then disconnect as per Tony's earlier advice to check if they all discharge at the same rate. I'm slowly adjusting to that fact that I may have lost £400.... But I still need to know how it happened, if that is the case. Thank you for bringing up my learning curve.

I'll look into it - thanks! I learnt something new this morning by plugging the 12v socket reader in again - the jumpy reading was probably not the loose cable. I realised that any form of load makes the reading jump. In short, to read from a 12v socket everything has to be switched off on the boat. I feel a little bit embarrassed as I probably should have thought of this when plugging it in after charging (in the evening when all my lights were on)... but I'd rather confess to it so others can learn from the thread! Anyway, this made me realise I have another thing to rule out: the multi-meter itself. The current logic has been that my 12v socket reader is a dodgy gadget from China; but the possibility is that it might actually be right and it is my multi-meter that's had it. I live in desperate hope!! Because the 12v socket picks up a 12.80 charge while the multi meter is giving me 11.50. IF the multi-meter is right, then it seems that the depletion of my batteries slows down after a certain point. It went down very fast from 12.50 to 11.50, but is now creeping down to 11.30 (this morning). I am not sure if that is normal? Before anyone asks (and it would be perfectly normal to ask) I've double checked the multi-meter is wired right (red in V, black in Com). *I'll upload the promised photos shortly. I just wanted to share these thoughts first.

I had a hunch that was the case. And I appreciate the unease that comes from it. Write up is no problem at all! Let me also check with the other guy on FB, because if the case is that I have to take my boat into a marina temporarily to charge her up, he might come to help instead which would save you the journey. I clearly need to make some choices fairly fast - I'm just flailing a bit as to the direction to go. If it is a go ahead, then Thursday is doable for me (working on Friday).

I have not been able to find a new marina (currently winter moored only). Need to be able to train down to Canterbury for lecturing work every second week, so that has limited my range, In Stort they only want non-residential; on Grand union I was turned down at Bridgewater and I wasn't fast enough to get winter mooring at Packet boat marina. So genny may be the best solution if I can find the money before time runs out.

This is a lovely offer, Tony. ? I will ask my boat neighbour when she comes back (if you mean that by chaperone?) Let me get all the photos up first so that the help you all give can get more informed - will have them tomorrow.

Yeah I just realised - I edited my last comment when realising. Will go home later and check for sure. And get all photos up for certainty! I am in Rickmansworth (west London), twenty meters from the Aquadrome car park. And I am happy to pay later on - I'm just skint until my next payment comes through! I'm surprised the genny is useless - it was recommended to me on a boaters forum and I've seen people use it on the towpath. Goddamn...

Ok, think it is this one - same high amp (90). Don't think it can be turned down but I will check the manual when I get home. This is depressing. ? http://tasautocraft.com.au/product/sterling-alternator-to-battery-charger-12v-90amp-ab1290/ Actually, ignore that - let me go home and find out for sure rather than guessing.

Gah, well spotted. It was the only pic I found that looked like mine. Clearly I need to source those papers on the boat too. Can't afford having anyone come around currently and wouldn't know who to call either, tbh. There is a knowledgeable guy on FB who has offered to help if I take it to the marina but he would have to find the day for it and I feel a little bad as he's clearly very booked - however, I may have to get on to it as I have nowhere to go with it. Can I charge with clamps? If the output is low (albeit unregulated) it's safe, no?

Alan - Right, now you definitely have me at the novice end of things! I only know that my engine is a RN DM3 - I have no clue what the rpm/revs are at tick over but the indicator lights don't turn off unless I rev it past tick over (which I've been told is one indicator that nothing is charging as of yet). I have no clue how to find out the pulley ration either (unless it is in the manual somewhere?). She very much feels like a slow thumper though. I had no clue there may be an issue between the battery charger/genny (the electrician who advised me to plug it into the mains didn't mention it) - so thanks for bringing that up! I'm in the cafe currently, but I believe this is the charger I've got: https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/sterlingpower-ab2480.html I am guessing that the 'charge current' (A) is the amps... in which case it is 80. Should I charge directly with clamps then? It doesn't seem the alternator can do the job, so genny is my nearest solution currently as far as charging up goes (yet to determine reason for depletion). Without that, I'll be pretty lost what to do. Tony - the thin wires up to my battery-charger are actually intertwined red and black. I will get a photo of the 'box' (it's definitely part of the Sterling set up) and the alternator! And I will chase potential wires from the shunt. Thank you for keeping up the help. I'm sorry some of it still goes over my head.

...I am little offended though at the rampant distrust of my diagram! - and yes, I also reacted, when checking and drawing, that there seemed to be a negative going to the battery charger from the starter's positive (I'd never really looked closer before as the set up was done by someone supposedly reputable & I trusted it). I am not at a confidence level of changing things around thought. Photos added to silence the doubters. ? I should add these are old pics; the terminals are properly cleaned up currently. Got this one. First one I've had so will be learning it tomorrow. https://www.screwfix.com/p/impax-im800i-700w-inverter-generator-230v/15760 - and yes, planning to plug it in my mains plug so it goes via the battery.

Back at the cafe and on the web - bear with me as I address all your input! And thanks for continued effort to help me. Mansplaining wasn't needed, but I wasn't offended: since I am 'learning as I go along' there is no way anyone can gauge my knowledge level (it's currently more practical than in depth). Firstly: I've solved the jumpy reading at the 12v socket. I found that one of the cables to the inverter had been pulled loose and fixed it. My charge still reads higher at the 12v socket than it does at the battery bank though, which confounds me. Secondly: I would guess any ingoing charge is a good thing! I'm also guessing having a bank of 4 leisures (it's always had 4 so I've kept that up) and an alternator that doesn't go above 13.40 (revving & regular checking makes no difference) may explain the slowness in charging. I will contact the R&N forum to find out if that is normal for a vintage engine or whether the alternator is getting knackered. Meanwhile I will get the genny going for a full 10hr charge tomorrow (had to source the correct oil for it first). My boat isn't a new purchase (I've had her 10 years!) but I've spent most of it in a marina (on mains) until the fees forced me out. So I am now learning the 'real thing' so to speak. Which I dont' mind... except for the current stress. My questions regarding a survey on the other thread was because an insurance survey was new to me (my boat just turned 31); I did a valuation survey before the purchase 10 years ago. That is all sorted now though. My boat has no solar panels (yet) and no fancy gadgets - it really is just the lights, the water pump and the very-turned-off fridge. The only immersion heater is sealed in the calorifier. Neither do I have any solar panels (yet). Although I top up the starter with a small clip on one. The shunt does look indeed like a shunt! But since I'm away from the boat I'll have to go back and see if there are any mystery wires leading to some mysteriously hidden ammeter (it really would have to be very cleverly hidden, so don't hold your breaths!). I realised however that I may have something that is a boat perk: a switchboard for all my loads (e.g. lights etc). I assume these are reliable and that I could check how the batteries discharge without any load on them by switching all off. And then I can exclude a mystery load, yes? Unless there are some sneaky ways a load can bypass... So... my current plan is: 1. Get the genny going for 10hrs tomorrow. 2. After 10hrs, measure with multi-meter and then switch all switches on the board to remove load overnight. Disconnecting them sounds like a good idea too (thanks, Tony!) 3. Measure again in the morning to deduce if the drop is the same (in which case I may indeed have shot my batteries...) (unless sneaky bypassing load) 4. I've also remembered seeing a hydrometer, which I believe test for sulfation (yes?). I've found a dodgy youtube video to guide me. Well, I hope it guides me. I am, of course, hoping here that the inverter cable caused the drop somehow, but I can't see how.

No, I don't have an ammeter unless it is very secretly located - if I had any form of wall-mounted measures about I would make sure I knew what they are for! Multi-meter is all I've got.

It might - I'm heading back to the boat soon to look (charging laptop currently in cafe). Not sure what you mean by current meter though? (you mean I can place the multi meter on it for a reading?)

Thank you for asking for me! ?

I suspect I have to get someone coming in and find the money for it somehow. ? Thank you guys for trying to help me out.

Just for clarification though: a heavily sulphated battery would be fizzing, no?

*notably though: if there was a poor connection, shouldn't the reading jump also when I run the engine? Sorry, I should have added that I've also measured input charge at the battery post regularly and it's been around 13.40 when the multi reader settles down. I'll see if I can get my boat neighbour to help me.

I wasn't varying the load though (same lights on, no water pump going) and the reading is jumping pretty manically nonstop the moment I switch off the engine. I've cleaned and checked all the connections on the batteries but I'd be a little lost if there's a connection issue elsewhere. The charger box is next to my Sterling battery charger and looks very much as part of the Sterling set up although I have no clue what it does. I think I may need an electrician to come at this point as the situation is indeed deteriorating - does anyone have a recommendation for west London electrician?

It reads steadily thought when I run the engine and only jumps when I'm not charging. 10 days or so. The lowest they've been is 11.40 when I discovered the issue - this is me relying on a multi meter though which no one rates as very exact.

No, they're completely new - hence why I am panic charging every day. Unless new batteries can get heavily sulphated very fast & I should still consider your suggestion? [ I haven't had the fridge on since realising the issue]

I am currently on the 12v group on FB about this problem but I thought I'd also ask here. To make a long story short my batteries are hardly charging from the engine and depleting overnight, placing me in a vicious cycle of having to run the engine 6hrs+ every day just to keep them from dying (they're new). I haven't been able to afford a monitor yet, but my multi-meter shows me bringing the starter up to 12.50 and leisures at 12.20, but then they go below 11.7 overnight despite me having the fridge switched off and only using lights/water-pump. Now, yesterday I remembered that I have a 12v socket reader, so using that I noticed that the charge was 14.1 while running the engine indicating the alternator input was fine (yes?). However, once I switched the engine off the readings were all over the place and would not settle (i.e. jumping between 11.5-14.1). Someone has suggested that my wiring is wrong, and I wonder if a jumpy reading like this would be a confirmation of that? Adding a pic of my current wiring.

Hello! Sincere apologies to everyone who responded - for some reasons the responses did not go through to my email account so I thought I'd had no further replies! Turns out that my insurance company just wanted a hull survey (I made sure to get that in writing) and they were fine by the one offered by P&S marina for £400+. I am a little miffed with the person who quoted me as he probably knew that a hull survey only was needed, but quoted me a full on one. When I have the time I'm gonna go back and double check the email he sent me. The £250 one sounds good - where was that? Which insurer are you with? The hull survey came out fine so I'd be a little loath doing one in a few years time since it is unlikely that it has deteriorated that much more.

No, it doesn't. The craning will set me back another £400. :-/

What are people's experience of cost of insurance surveys? I recently realised my boat is 30+ and that my insurers require an out of water survey. I'm not sure why insurance surveys are charged differently, but I've been quoted £820 for my 63ft narrowboat. Is that steep or what I should have anticipated? It's Tony Tucker and he came recommended on FB forums. He seems good, but not sure if I should shop around.

Flyboy - I put London in the heading, but if it needs to be more specific then Central London, Kings cross. :-) rusty69 - I have been told that it is a bad idea to attempt repairs as the water pressure will be too strong within the calorifier. The old one is a twin-coil so I suspect wiring is required (which I'm not good at). I emptied out all water through the taps, but done no other draining. Thank you btw for trying to help me out. :-)