Manxcat54
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Posts posted by Manxcat54
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Do you understand go away, this place is full of very odd people
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Can you go away, seems like the forum is full of know it all's , go check another member out
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The fridge is perfect
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Gas leak, jesus it's electric get a life
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Engine is a Peugeot 503
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No it is a specific campervan fridge (forgot the make) it is 12v only, it does have a thermostat, but as any fridge it is on/off all the time and it can disturb my sleep, so I knock it off at night, it never loses any chill and the freezer box is still minus something or other.
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I am really interested in your blog, I have just become the proud owner of this boat, it is 57 ft long with no manufacturer history, some say Teddesley of Penkridge, but not sure, the base plate on my boat is good, there is some pitting on the sides near air and water line, but not really serious, I think a blob or two of crow shit weld will sort that, I saw a boat last week and both sides looked like they were covered in Frog spawn ah ah it was lots of small pool welds, keep up the good work.
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11 hours ago, David Mack said:
To keep it simple:
Lead acid batteries. Tried and tested solution, relatively cheap. Use a VSR to link the systems if you have one alternator; with twin alternators the systems can be completely separate, although a VSR would enable one solar setup/generator/mains charger to keep both batteries topped up.
If you don't keep on top of the charging routine you can wreck LA batteries very quickly.
Lithium batteries. As far as I am aware there are no (affordable) lithium batteries capable of starting a diesel engine, so you need a lead acid starter battery.
Domestic lithium bank can be charged from dedicated alternator, but you very quickly get into complex and expensive kit to do the job properly. £6k installation cost has been quoted here previously.
Hybrid system where the alternator is connected to the LA starter battery which in turn charges the lithium domestic battery can vary from simple DIY lashups to more complex and expensive electronic charging (B2B) systems. Note that the DIY lashups contravene battery manufacturers' advice and emerging technical standards, and may render you uninsured. Doing it by the book will be significantly more expensive.
If you have the mindset and the technical understanding you can implement your own solution, as some on here have done, but don't expect it to be cheap and simple.
To be honest I wish to keep it simple, I have read all the comments and take much of it onboard, I built myself a campervan, I have 2 x 120Ah leisure batteries and 2 x starter batteries (not sure of rating) in the van I have probably as many 12v LED lights as a 55ft narrowboat would need, I also have a 12v fridge, a 12v TV, a water pump and ignition for the cooker, I also have a stack of USB points, and as I described I use a C-TEK unit, I think it was about £385. When on the move the batteries will charge, I have seen probably over 14v displayed, however once the engine stops (only one alternator) the voltage will drop to maybe 13v and shortly afterwards settle around 12.9v they will maintain this for an hour or so, and then drop to 12.7v then a bit later 12.6v. I can run everything until I go to bed still retaining a good voltage (the fridge is the killer) and so I have fitted a switch to turn it off overnight) it's noisy too. When I wake the next morning the batteries are still about 12.5v and following some breakfast I am normally away and the process repeats.
And so with this in mind I ask why should I go overboard on my narrowboat (which I have only just started to fit out) there may well be a few more gadgets on the boat, but there will be 3 x Leisure batteries (I have probably changed my mind and will go with lead acid sealed type) I also have an inverter onboard, it is only a 1800w but I will upgrade that, I also have 230v hook-up which as in my camper I probably won't use, but you never know, I have been watching blog after blog and reading lots, and I have come to my conclusion that having a massive bank of Victron equipment simply is Narrowboat snobbery, and like I have said there is too much to go wrong and if it does I myself won't be able to fix it (just like cars) so I am keen on finding out a little more about the Stirling system, I might also add that my engine on the boat has 2 x alternators and the stirling system accepts two alternators, and figures out what goes where....comments please guys.
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I think I will tackle it myself, you lot are too smart for me.
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I will be using Lithium
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I haven't mentioned which batteries I am using ?
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MtB
Thanks I already have an understanding of the charging systems and the stages of charge, a lot came from my motorcycle knowledge and using optimate chargers etc. What I would dearly like to know is, what would be the best way to keep my batteries in shape without getting too complex, I see all Vitron equipment and I just feel it is overkill, someone told me to look at the Mastervolt Alpha Pro, which seems straightforward enough, I am all for the simple life, and a believer in the fact that too much technology can mean more to go wrong, so has anyone used any systems that have proven to work well. Thanks for your input (no Pun)
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20 minutes ago, MtB said:
Start by reading and understanding the "Battery Charging Primer" here:
Thank you for this, just another point worth mentioning, my boat has 2 alternators, so how do they work? does one do the leisure and one the starter battery, and if so how the hell do I wire those up.
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I am at the beginning of my old narrowboat refurb, and one of the first things I wish to tackle are the old electrics (still not worked out what goes where) especially the battery charging system, I must admit I have googled charging systems, but nothing is clear. I built my own campervan a few years ago, and I fitted a C-TEK split charger, it wasn't the cheapest I could have used ! over the last 3 years it has worked perfectly, I have 2 Leisure batteries, and 2 starter batteries, and the C-TEK keeps them in perfect health, it also has an input for solar. Ok so why should I not use this on my narrowboat? I see all these fancy expensive Victron systems, which is all good and well, but I was at a well known boatyard recently and brought the subject up, the Engineer said "keep it all simple" now I am fairly new to narrowboats, well the technical side of them, so please tell me what you all think, I have noticed there are some Electronics experts on the forum, so without dazzling me with the technicality's please explain what I should go for, I am planning 3 leisure batteries and a starter battery, and probably solar. Thank you all. Malc.
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Hi
Does anyone know of or heard of any boats built by the then Teddesley Boat Company, Penkridge, They were taken over by Bourne boats, but I would love to see any Pictures of boats built by Teddesley, Thanks in anticipation. Malc
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6 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:
Can the water pump be easily reached? They do break down and need access. If you live aboard, they can be considered a consumable and need replacement every four, or five years. For a leisure boat, it is still a consideration, as any pre-pump mesh filters need access for cleaning.
It looks impossible to reach, I think I shall move it, and I am sure you should have an expansion tank in line with it plus other items such as stops and filters, it's probably going in the skip.
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Would it be OK to spray foam the whole of the boat, leaving wiring inside flexible conduit, or do you have to re-wire the lot after spray foam? also whilst on here, at the bow end under the steps at the door, there is a space where the water pump sits, and the water tank is somewhere up there, I for one am sure that my large frame isn't going to fit up that hole for cleaning/painting, has anyone else been confronted with this, or should I try to find a chimney sweeps help and shove him up there?
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This is the boat I have purchased, it took me flippin ages to post this picture, and now I have forgotten how i did it ah ah, so does anyone have any information on this boat, it is named Curly Cats and was at Mancetter not too long ago maybe 12 months, thanks for any assistance, Malc
Wow 2 pictures now, this is the engine, I was told it is Ford, can anyone help with the model and any other help concerning getting it to run again.
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I still cannot post pictures on the forum, all my photos are over 2.93 kb how do i go about it. thanks for your help
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I am new to narrow boating, however I built a campervan a few years back, and I use a MAXVIEW system, it's the basic one. I travel all over and it has never failed, Oh beg your pardon, when I go to The TT races on The Isle Of Man it sometimes does, but I stay in some odd spots, and I was told by some brain wave, that signals can sometimes not manage to get around objects, I thought it was all from a satellite? But I think the one I have would be good on a boat.
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How do I insert a picture as an avatar on my profile, I'm new on here and useless with computers
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I will post pictures soon, I have been told that the engine is a 2 litre Ford Diesel and there is a fluid drive? my Engine guru is coming to play with it soon.
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I would like to find some history of the boat which I have just purchased, it's name is Curly Cats, and on the CRT register the number is 48798, however, that is all I know, and I do not know how to go about finding any further history, I would love to know who built the hull, it is good steel, the base plate when checked by the surveyor was 8.3mm at it's worst, which I found amazing, but folk at local boat builders say in those days we had good steel, before we sold out to China. I would love for somebody to throw some light on this old boat, it does have a brass River Avon plate if that means it may have been down that way on, Thanks, Malc
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Sorry predictive on phone
Battery charging systems
in Boat Building & Maintenance
Posted
Thanks truckcab79