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I'm in the process of taking over maintenance of a lovely narrow boat that my dad's getting too old for unfortunately. I'm very much a newbie and the kindness of local boat people has got me pretty far. However, while I've managed to install a new leisure battery and so have power, I need to do some maintenance that means plugging in a drill, but none of the 240v sockets work. I've tried flipping the switch on this control, but it had no effect. With each setting I continue to get power from the battery, but never via the sockets. Am I warm, or barking up completely the wrong tree?

Hi there, I'm about to buy a boat which has been fitted out (electrics-wise) for shore power, with loads of 240v plug sockets everywhere, TVs, Kettles etc, but we don't anticipate or want to be hooked up at all. What I was wondering was if anyone has had experience in changing this sort of setup over to a 12v, battery-based setup, and what challenges they faced whilst doing so. Is it just a case of removing the external hookup point, connecting the internal wiring to the existing 12v loop (which runs the cabin lights etc) and replacing the 240v sockets with 12v ones? Maybe keep one or two and run through a separate, inverter-containing loop from the battery bank? I don't expect it to be that easy but hopefully it won't mean ripping the walls apart! Cheers, Alistair

Hi everyone, ive had my narrowboat for about four months and have been happily living off the leisure batteries. However I now have the opportunity to access shorepower and would like to have access to a few luxuries from time to time (like tv, or the ability to charge my laptop onboard). I have no idea what to do though. My boat has no power sockets whatsoever. As far as I know the only things that run off 12v are the lights and water pumps (shower, oven, fridge etc works off gas). there is no external socket for shorepower. I assume that in order to access shorepower I need quite a bit of work done on the boat. Can anyone explain - slowly - what I need to do? Many thanks for reading.

What is the best make and model of chop saw ? Of course one might say how long is a piece of string, so it’s all about compromises between cost and practicality. The saw will be used for jobs such as cutting oak skirting, pine studding, floor boards, as well as fine work such as picture frame cutting. What experiences do fellow members have please. Saw must : cut more than 150mm wide be 240v do accurate mitres be long lasting good spares availability Many thanks in advance

Hi I noticed, when I took my boat out on t' cut this weekend, that my inverter beeped every now and then. It stopped too quickly for me to see what the issue was but I'm guessing it might be my 240v counter-top freezer. I'm assuming that when the freezer kicks in there is a surge of power being drawn. I've tried to find out what the wattage rating is for my freezer, but even the manufacturer's website doesn't reveal this. I've attached a photo of the label on the back of my freezer and I'm hoping that someone marvellous on this forum with better electrical knowledge than me could shed some light - what do you reckon? Cheers Adam

I'm in the market for a generator. Some may remember I'm the proud owner of a nearly new / nearly knackered set of (4x110ah) batteries. Before I replace the batteries I feel that having a 240v feed to the Victron Inverter charger would be a good way of looking after them (both as a daily bulk charge and weekly extra absorbtion charge - see I'm learning!). I know that some of you like travel power but to me that is still using the engine, and I think the engine is too expensive to wear out just charging batteries. So, I believe the only affordable option would be a suitcase generator that runs on petrol. But, I'm not that keen on messing about with jerry cans, storing petrol, paying pump prices etc. Then I saw suitcase generators that come ready lpg'd! Bingo I'm thinking. I've only scratched the surface - one company that supplies all the favourite gennies (Honda, Hyundai etc) with the lpg gizmo hooked up already. But a quick google for lpg generators brings up a lot more besides. As far as I can tell, the gas works out cheaper, you don't have to store petrol, and lpg can be picked up off the passing fuel boat or many other convenient places. The large cylinder lasts quite(?) a while. Doubtless there will be plenty of detractors. I'm very interested to hear about affordable diesel generators, or anything else really (but lets leave solar and wind to another thread). I'm wanting to spend up to 1k. I await your thoughts, experiences and musings, gentlemen (and ladies!).

Fridge compressors are available as 240V ac. or 12/24V dc. so ............... can a 240V ac. fridge compressor be readily adapted to run on 12V dc? I'm told many 240V ac. electrical contraptions such as TV's can be made to run on 12v dc. hence the reason for the question. I suspect the answer is no but I'm purely clockwork and the electrickery stuff I leave to others.

I have been successfully using my Victron 3000 multiplus inverter for nearly a year now, but have a couple of questions. I'm unclear about the earthing arrangement - the manual seems to say that it has a relay that takes care of things (my words) but I notice from the previous owner there is a snipped off earth wire and I'm wondering if I should be attaching it somewhere. I have mains hook up, incoming to the unit (only been used once) then the output 230v goes to a consumer unit and onto the ring. My recent concern comes as as I consider connecting a generator via the ac hook up. (And wondering about its earthing). Also - I can't find it in the manual but is there a special means for connecting an immersion heater in such a way that it is only supplied with ac if the hook up is active (ie so as not to kill the batteries in five minutes flat!). I intend to use the genny to heat water via 230v as well as charge batteries, to further save engine run time - I don't know how effective it will be with a 1kw element in an 85litre cylinder though. thank you

Hi all, We currently have 3 x 125ah leisure batteries powering the fridge, lighting (mostly LED) and water/waste pumps. The bank is charged by a single solar panel through an EPSolar MPPT charge controller. This was fine during the summer but with winter fast approaching we are finding that come the morning there isn't enough juice to power the pumps for a shower. We are mostly marina based so would like to add in a mains charger to top up the batteries once night falls. Electricity is metered so would only want to charge from shore power when necessary. Currently we achieve this by attaching a car battery charger using crocodile clips - it works but isn't a viable long term solution. The charger only has trickle or fast charge and is manually selected. I was also a little wary that I might be sending current to the solar panel instead of away from it, but it hasn't blown up yet So, my questions are: Is there such a device available that I can connect both the solar and a 240V charger to and it automatically selects which input to charge the batteries with, prioritising the solar? Maybe even with automatic health programming to allow the batteries to discharge periodically to keep them healthy? Failing that, if I just get a decent 240V charger that automatically switches charge mode, will there be any problems permanently connecting that directly to the batteries in addition to the solar, and just turn it on when required? Or should I connect them via, say, a rocker switch to manually change from solar charging or 240V charging? What fuses would be required? Can someone recommend a decent multistage 240V charger? I'm sure I'll think of something else as soon as I've posted this, but it will do for starters :-) Thanks in advance.