nb Innisfree

Giffgaff give unlimited internet but with the proviso that tethering isn't allowed. So called abusers are tethering which allows them to download massive amounts of data on a regular basis, this makes the cheap £10 'goodybag' monthly package, which includes unlimited data, unprofitable. A case of some greedy users breaking the rules and spoiling what is a good deal for everyone else. A bit like boaters overstaying on visitor moorings at the expense of others. ETA: You have unlimited data with three because its not a dedicated data dongle, they and other networks don't do unlimited data only sims, I guess that is so that they can give a better service with the data only sim by throttling back, if neccessary, on download speeds with phone sims.

I think that gg are trying to avoid biting the bullet of abandoning unlimited internet and setting up a data limit throughout their goodybag range, they are trying to tiptoe between transparency and the realistic business world of profit, IMO gg is a genuine experiment by O2 to explore an alternative way of providing a mobile network service and their customers are part of that experiment, they can't afford to stick by rigid principles any more than people can, if sticking rigidly to principles isn't working then those principles have to be readjusted. The problem they have is trying not to lose the doubting Thomas's while implementing unpopular but necessary changes.

I foresee a situation where the abusers will carry on with the higher priced goodybag and the networks simply can't cope with such a high level of traffic, as I see it data has to be charged at a rate that makes abuse impractical.

I always used to get the wrong one so instead of starting from the south and scanning left I now start from the east and scan to the right, much less chance of getting the wrong one.

Stop it, I'm feeling all unfulfilled.

I think Gibbo uses 45% of capacity charger and I suspect he applies the 1% rule by adjusting the alternator output. Be interesting if he comments on this.

Batterie can safely be charged by the 1% rule, that is for every 1% DoD of battery capacity it can be charged at 1 amp, e.g. If a 400ah battery is at 40% DoD then it can be charged at 160amp, when it reaches 39% DoD then it can be charged at 156 amps.- and so on. So to say it should be limited to C5 has no meaning, no more meaning than saying charge rate should be 10% of batt capacity. ETA: on the other hand restricting charge to C5 means that the 1% rule will never be exceeded because when batts reach 80% SoC they will automatically reduce the charge. So Arthur is right but for a different reason.

Why?

When batteries finish bulk charge and enter absorption they will automatically reduce the charge so that loss of 45 amps is only significant while in bulk charge. Say you are charging from 50% state of charge batteries will take all that alternators can produce until about 80% SoC, that will happen quite quickly but as you say will take a bit longer due to loss of 45A alt, but from 80% to 100% will take many more hours at a lower charge rate and represents the majority of your charge sequence. So large charging capacity is then rendered useless. If you practice partial state of charging i.e.only do a bulk charge with an occasional long full charge then the loss of 45 amps will be significant, but if you do most of your charging in absorption stage then that loss will be less significant. ETA: Now nip over to the VP and get me a pint in.

Multimetrix VT35 eBay item #: 261092904200

Be careful, the earth/neutral loop is there to enable your RCD to work, don't test your RCD with the built in test button, best to plug in a proper tester. Some earlier model inverters such as our Victron don't have auto connect/disconnect E/N bonding, if earth and neutral haven't been seperated when connected to shore power then that shore power RCD will trip. Instead of getting Victron to install auto E/N bonding I just fixed up a 10A 230v light switch so that I can switch E/N bonding on or off depending on whether we are on SP or not. There must be lots of boaters out there who think their RCD is working because they have pressed the test button instead of using a plug in tester. Ignorant bliss? Just to add, use a plug in tester with SP disconnected or you will just be testing SP RCD. The idea is to test the boat RCD. I use one of These

If your TV has no freeview box then you won't be able to receive digital TV which is the only sort available now analogue has been switched off. Free satellite TV is called Freesat and needs an appropriate box.

Unless you spend a lot of time in bulk charge the loss of 45 amps from 220 amps won't make much difference. You don't really know if Beta's figures are true, the only way to find out for sure is to wait until batts are nearing the end of the charge and check the alternator voltage.

Ours is a steel cruiser stern narrowboat and tumblehomes are just right so from the inside of 4" wide decks they each are 3' high and slope in 5.5" from the vertical making the roof 5' 1" wide. That makes the side decks 6' 8" at their widest point and slope out from there down to the widest point at the rubbing strakes which are 6' 10" wide. The most important measurements are overall width, roof width and bottom plate to top of roof curve which is 7' Those are pretty standard dimensions for a NB to get round the system.(comfortably)

BT batts are subject to high loads for short periods followed by a full recharge so for me that means starter batteries, sealed type if they are inaccessible.