MtB
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Posts posted by MtB
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I think you're right.
12.5hp at 1800rpm according to realdiesels.co.uk
Not a great choice for a narrowboat.
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42 minutes ago, dmr said:
It could be that the fuse is also there to protect the BMS as a short circuit disconnect might destroy the BMS, and a fuse is cheaper than a new battery, but fuses take a little while to blow so again my guess is the BMS would disconnect before the fuse blew.
Also, I've an idea DC MCBs disconnect one helluvalot quicker than fuses blow.
Albeit probably still not quick enough to save the BMS!
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Curious. What model of Ruston is it?
Looks air-cooled to me and a bit on the small side. Interesting gearbox too which I've also never seen before.
Or maybe that's not a gearbox at all on the tail of it, and that chain arrangement is a raised hand-start. Especially given what looks like an alternator drive belt hanging loose.I initially took the chain for the gear-change mechanism like on a Kelvin.
I expect Bengo will be along shortly to explain all!
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59 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
An update for those interested. I have not charged the battery since I top balanced it by removing about 15% of capacity from cell 4. The SoC is now 3% according to the Fogstar App, and 6% according to the BMV712. Looking at the cell voltage (12.7v) would say the BMV is closer. And so it hasn’t started going “down the knee” yet, but it’s getting close. Anyway the point is that the cell voltages split is currently 4mV. So whilst the cells might (probably will) go further out of balance as the knee is descended, there is nothing grossly wrong. In fact cells 2,3 and 4 have identical voltage with cell 1 being 4mV high. Previously it was cell 4 that was the odd one out, big time.
So the battery is still good, the reason for the high cell 4 remains a mystery.
Edit: now down to 12.2v so going down the knee, 100Ah extracted. Imbalance increasing but still only 25mV with cell 1 highest and cell 2 lowest. All in all, as expected and no problem. I’m going to charge it now.
Also, ber in mind the lower knee is much gentler and less sharp than the upper knee. It's more like a bum than a knee.
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On 05/11/2025 at 17:49, Certa Cito said:
I hate this time of year so much, if it were just one night I could cope with that but its not, it goes on for weeks where I live, then its back for new year and again several times during the year.
My dog who is now 6 also hates it, she shakes terribly and gets so stressed she usually vomits and its awful to see her suffer needlessly like this.
I wish they were banned from public sale and kept to organised displays only. They are afterall explosives.Would your dog be ok if the displays were all "organised" then?
How would it know?
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33 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
Had them do an alternator, 24V ex truck
And?!
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1 hour ago, alan_fincher said:
I doubt they bought it at Halfords
Indeed!
Like all "Billy big-balls" battery installations, its the charging that's conveniently swerved.
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1 minute ago, IanD said:
I imagine it'll be quite substantial, charging a 40MWh battery in 40mins needs 60MW...
So it won't be running off a Honda EU20...?
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12 minutes ago, IanD said:
40MWh of batteries weighing 250 tonnes... 🙂
Can we have a look at the battery charger please?
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17 hours ago, blackrose said:
I have a friend at my mooring who charges his lithium batteries direct from his alternator without any ill effects and he thinks we're all overcomplicating it.
Of course it will work fine, probably for long periods.
Then one day his battery will get full and the BMS will disconnect the alternator while charging at full chat. Even then he might get away with it. And on another day he might not.
A kind of Russian roulette, really.
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2 hours ago, nealeST said:
I’m going to Hillmorton after breakfast to find a gadget to remove the excess of coolant I stupidly put into the Alde boiler last night
Otherwise known as a "hose pipe"...
Just syphon the excess out!
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13 hours ago, wakey_wake said:
(Anyone know why disposable fuses are so expensive?)
Is there any other type of fuse?!
Aren't all fuses "disposable"?
Just curious really...
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There is also Electro Start Ltd in Daventry.
Not used them myself but I've heard people speak highly of them.
But before shelling out £400 on another starter you may not need, best to describe the fault on here for confirmation it isn't something simple you're overlooking.
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1 hour ago, nealeST said:
I’ve read on other threads in the winter you can get 10% of capacity
My own experience is it's closer to 2% or 3%.
But you only need enough to counter the self-discharge effect.
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On 05/11/2025 at 19:40, Sid Charles said:
Yes it's the title Kennet and Avon, it seems overflowing with hippie types who hardly move
I wonder if you could expand on how you know they "hardly move", please.
Unless of course you are moored amongst them and "hardly move" yourself, also.
Much obliged.
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4 hours ago, thematt said:
I have a wakespeed reg and have set to d-rate the alternator output to 80amps and additionally drate to 10 amps until ~1100 RPM. I may change this to 1400 rpm based on MtB's post.
Don't attach too much importance to my comments. I'm not expert, I'm just posting my opinions based on info in the thread for you to evaluate and see if anything helps.
And here's another observation or three. Firstly, you already have a 'cogged belt' as suggested upthread. Secondly, I don't think your pulleys are matched. Your cogged belt nestles deeply into the alternator and crank pulleys, but is sitting proud on the water pump pulley. I think this is the root of your problem - the water pump pulley is for a narrower belt than you are using but a narrower belt would 'bottom out' in the other pulleys so I think your wter pump pulley needs changing to match the others.
Finally I'm impressed with the 'new engine' photo. Lots of engine rebuilders spray absolutely everything with paint including the V belts, alternator, rubber hoses and plastic bits like the filler caps.
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5 hours ago, stagedamager said:
i'm enjoying the start of at least 2 years off after that......🤣
You're gonna build a butty for the NORWAY after two years?!!!
YAY!!!!
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10 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:
The RYA were inirially give the 'Poisoned Chalice' but after many years of the UK boating industry (although not the big boys who export) totally ignoring the legislation they told the Government they were "resigning" and to find someone else to do it.
At least the BMF have had contact with the EU/RCD/RSG and have had several questions answered** - non of which have been welcomed by the inland boating world but thats unfortunately what happens.
** eg
Definition of DIY build (Sailaways)
Define when a PCA is required
Define the '5-year' 'exception'.
Mind you, you forgot to include "Consequences of ignoring the regulations: none". Which pleases the 'inland boating world' you mention, enormously.
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On 04/11/2025 at 10:16, BigBird32 said:
Hello, this is my boat and is coming out of the water Friday for a surgery. I’m not sure if the OP is the buyer but I am the seller. Will let everyone know how it gets on. Has been a liveaboard for two years though and dry as a bone !
I'm not entirely sure there is much to worry about with an out-of-the-water survey on a fibreglass boat. Other than that no major accident damage gets revealed.
Steel boats on the other hand....
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2 hours ago, Sid Charles said:
Why is this canal full of weirdo's
And how would you know this?
Lemme guess... you are on the Kennet and Avon... 🤣🤣🤣
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4 hours ago, cheesegas said:
My alternator regulator derates the output as engine RPM decreases, reducing the tension in the belt.
And if the OP's alternator controller doesn't do this and he is possibly drawing that 70-80A at say 1,400rpm, I'm not particularly surprised he is wearing out a belt in 50 hours.
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4 minutes ago, Roy Masters said:
According to the paperwork that came with the boat the engine is stated as 4.108. I don't think there are any planetary gears fitted.
Frankly, "the paperwork" is probably someone's best guess just from looking at it. What paperwork do you have, exactly, that says its a 4108?
I think there is bound to be a way to differentiate a 4108 from a 4107, but these are not common engines in a narrowboat so there may not be a great deal of expertise here.
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16 minutes ago, David Mack said:
How realistic is it to pull 80A on a single A-section V belt?
I was just thinking that too. 80A at 13.6 Volts is over a kW of power transfer, and must be right at the upper end of the power a single V belt can deliver.
Also, the lower the engine revs when charging at 80A the higher the drive tension in the belt, and more probable slippage of the belt in the alternator pulley becomes.
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12 minutes ago, IanD said:
Really -- in 1973? 😉
(going by the photo data...)
Not entirely sure we had JPG photo files either back in 1973!
Multifuel stove dilemma
in Boat Equipment
Posted
Only if the OP is happy with a 20% reduction in heat output.
The Boatman is significantly smaller than a Squirrel.