Explains my electrical system which is like no other

[haggis]

On kelpie the bit below the front deck holds the water tank but on Copperkins, it was  a sort of storage area for things you didn't need very often. To get to it, it was a down on your hands and knees job and try to reach inside and if what you wanted was well back, it was a wriggle into the gap job. I, being of a similar age to Lady G and Tony, would have great difficulty now seeing what was in there, never mind trying to get it out. Seems odd to put 4 batteries in there but if that is what happened I am not surprised that they weren't found till now?

 

haggis

[Jerra]

1 hour ago, PD1964 said:

. Your telling me that the nine previous electricians never stuck their head in to investigate? I find that hard to fathom.

If I am remembering the thread correctly the current electrician (no pun intended) managed to remove two batteries and replace them without spotting the extra two.

[haggis]

2 minutes ago, Jerra said:

If I am remembering the thread correctly the current electrician (no pun intended) managed to remove two batteries and replace them without spotting the extra two.

They were perhaps at the other side of the under deck bow locker ie, several feet apart. 

 

haggis

[Tony Brooks]

36 minutes ago, Jerra said:

If I am remembering the thread correctly the current electrician (no pun intended) managed to remove two batteries and replace them without spotting the extra two.

 

As I said we can't really comment unless we have seen the setup for ourselves but I could well imagine a setup that would make them difficult to spot if you did not know they were there.

[PD1964]

2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

 

Who said anything about the batteries being in lockers. More likely behind a panel. I don't now the boat so from your comment I assume that you know it in detail, so I would be interested in seeing a sketch that shows why you have no sympathy with those other electricians. You will note I said "some sympathy". Its not a lot but I do have some.

 

Its all too easy for people not fully aware of all the aspects of something to be critical.

I don’t know it in detail, if these were the original bow thruster batteries I imagine they would be next to the Bow thruster, in a compartment just behind the gas locker, or if extra in one of the well deck lockers for ventilation and easy access and not hidden behind a panel inside or outside the boat, it’s common sense and quite puzzling why they have not been found by all the electricians, people do not hide batteries behind panels so they can’t be found or more importantly can’t be easily maintained. 

 The other thing she says is that they were Sulphating so the smell would quite noticeable to anyone near them.

 The previous owners friend has asked LadyG  for more detail to where they were found all she says is bow. 
  It all makes little sense??????

Edited May 21, 2021 by PD1964

[Debby]

49 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

I don’t know it in detail, if these were the original bow thruster batteries I imagine they would be next to the Bow thruster, in a compartment just behind the gas locker, or if extra in one of the well deck lockers for ventilation and easy access and not hidden behind a panel inside or outside the boat, it’s common sense and quite puzzling why they have not been found by all the electricians, people do not hide batteries behind panels so they can’t be found or more importantly can’t be easily maintained. 

 The other thing she says is that they were Sulphating so the smell would quite noticeable to anyone near them.

 The previous owners friend has asked LadyG  for more detail to where they were found all she says is bow. 
  It all makes little sense??????

It makes sense to LadyG. That's all that matters. The batteries, which were not the original bow thruster batteries, have been completely disconnected now, but are remaining in place as ballast.

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, Debby said:

It makes sense to LadyG. That's all that matters.

 

 

Unfortunately a lot of things that make sense to LadyG have been proven to be downright wrong and occasionally dangerous.

When it comes to technical subjects Lady G is just not prepared to listen to more experienced or more knowlegeable boaters than herself - in her mind she can do no wrong.

[Debby]

3 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

Unfortunately a lot of things that make sense to LadyG have been proven to be downright wrong and occasionally dangerous.

When it comes to technical subjects Lady G is just not prepared to listen to more experienced or more knowlegeable boaters than herself - in her mind she can do no wrong.

In this case she is listening to her electrician. He found these batteries, he has disconnected them from the system, he is happy to leave them in place as ballast. Her business, not anyone else's.

[PD1964]

27 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

Unfortunately a lot of things that make sense to LadyG have been proven to be downright wrong and occasionally dangerous.

When it comes to technical subjects Lady G is just not prepared to listen to more experienced or more knowlegeable boaters than herself - in her mind she can do no wrong.

And we are all “eedjits” in her words, but fortunately we have common sense and have lived and traveled on the canals for many years quite easily, without the help of strangers or family members. Unlike some.

Edited May 21, 2021 by PD1964

[Chagall]

3 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

He may well but there would seem to be much simpler and more conventional way of doing things.

 

It fine for NC to say that, she is not the wrong side of 70 judging by when they passed me at speed on the Trent and I doubt she has much in the way of health and/or movement difficulties. Both Lady G and myself seem to be of a similar age so I can emphasise with her and understand why she did not feel able to get into the front compartment.

 

Who said anything about the batteries being in lockers. More likely behind a panel. I don't now the boat so from your comment I assume that you know it in detail, so I would be interested in seeing a sketch that shows why you have no sympathy with those other electricians. You will note I said "some sympathy". Its not a lot but I do have some.

 

Its all too easy for people not fully aware of all the aspects of something to be critical.

Very recently I sent an email to a good friend explaining various things regarding my boat and thoughts on other stuff.  Im not going into the details here (wisely!)  but suffice to say when I read it back to myself I realised I did sound very similar to LG, it made me think and resolve to try and be kinder. I cant promise but I will try. ?

 

 

[Tracy D'arth]

2 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

That is why she sacked them

 They are not still in there and she has not noticed them?

[Chris John]

24 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

And we are all “eedjits” in her words, but fortunately we have common sense and have lived and traveled on the canals for many years quite easily, without the help of strangers or family members. Unlike some.

And the obsession continues! 

[PD1964]

3 minutes ago, Chris John said:

And the obsession continues! 

Not really, I just find her a complete “eedjit” as she calls them. 

[Chagall]

7 minutes ago, Chris John said:

And the obsession continues! 

Why, what are you obsessed with?  

 

Its a conversation forum, its the way it goes. 

[PD1964]

removed

Edited May 21, 2021 by PD1964

[Chagall]

3 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

When someone slags off people you know and is boating in your area it’s not hard to ask people what that person is like in real life, so getting the other side of the story and the actual facts if you do that apparently you are obsessed.  So obviously better to believe everything they write on here then seek the truth from friends that have actually met the person

 So Chris John if you believe everything this woman says more fool you, this is a forum people can write what they want and often it’s not fact.

PD1964  I would rather you had quoted Chris John with that reply than use mine, I dont endorse your comments. 

[PD1964]

18 minutes ago, Chagall said:

PD1964  I would rather you had quoted Chris John with that reply than use mine, I dont endorse your comments. 

Comments removed?

[Chris John]

2 hours ago, PD1964 said:

Comments removed?

I think you’ll find people can’t write what they want!

[sueb]

Be kind. Is it so hard?

[Chagall]

29 minutes ago, sueb said:

Be kind. Is it so hard?

Sometimes it is, and just sometimes kindness is mistaken and abused.   To say "be kind. Is it so hard" with its air of reproof sets teeth on edge. Kindness has been shown and ignored but still given, here and elsewhere.  Perhaps you haven't seen that. 

 

Edit to add that whatever the comments are now, it doesn't much matter since it seems LG has had quite a few of the problems sorted by hero Kevin. That has to be good news. 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2021 by Chagall
really trying very hard!

[Murflynn]

makes one wonder whether the BSS certificate for her ladyship's boat should be invalidated if the presence of hidden batteries was not declared, not known, and therefore not inspected.

 

my boat was certified a week ago and the availability of a wiring diagram and particularly evidence of how the isolation switch was wired up was critical.

[ditchcrawler]

31 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

makes one wonder whether the BSS certificate for her ladyship's boat should be invalidated if the presence of hidden batteries was not declared, not known, and therefore not inspected.

 

my boat was certified a week ago and the availability of a wiring diagram and particularly evidence of how the isolation switch was wired up was critical.

I wonder what percentage of Narrowboats have a wiring diagram available for a BSS inspection

[alias]

16 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I wonder what percentage of Narrowboats have a wiring diagram available for a BSS inspection

 

Mine has always passed without such a diagram. How would the inspector know that the diagram accurately corresponded to what has been installed?

[Chewbacka]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

I wonder what percentage of Narrowboats have a wiring diagram available for a BSS inspection

Nowhere in the BSS does it say design drawings need to be a available.  Sounds like the examiner was outside the scope of the checks.

[Murflynn]

8 hours ago, Chewbacka said:

Nowhere in the BSS does it say design drawings need to be a available.  Sounds like the examiner was outside the scope of the checks.

 

nowhere did I say design drawings need to be available.  

 

And by the way - a wiring drawing is not a "design drawing" on an existing boat - it is actually an "as-built drawing" in the case that the owner has any technical knowledge and understanding of its importance.  If they do not have such knowledge then one wonders how on earth they are going to manage their boat as they cruise on the waterways miles from any help if things get difficult. 

 

The wiring diagram is no more than an aid to checking the system - any serious deficiencies in the wiring diagram should soon become evident when a few random checks are made, whilst any deficiencies in the wiring of a system that has not been documented will probably not be identified by the examiner among the mass of unmarked wires on most boats. 

 

Having spent a lifetime in the oil and gas construction industry I can assure you that it would be unthinkable not to have a wiring diagram for any installation, whether it be for a remotely or automatically operated valve, a cathodic protection system, or a full-blown pumping or compressor station - and one that was kept up-to-date with as-built revisions - to allow fault finding and safety checks.

 

Her honourable ladyship would have had no problems had proper professional standards been applied by the highly paid specialists who have dicked around with her boat's system from time to time.

 

Saying that the opportunity to refer to a wiring diagram is "outside the scope of the checks" is the viewpoint of a luddite IMHO.  Do you suggest that luddites should set the standards for BSS checks?