Explains my electrical system which is like no other

[GUMPY]

9 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

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

Mine has two one for 12v and one for 230v.

But that is not a surprise to you is it ?

[Bod]

Even with an electrical diagram, I defie anyone to make sense of this in less than a month of blue sundays!

 

Bod.

[Alan de Enfield]

46 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

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. 

 

 

It may not be a BSS requirement but (on my pet subject) it is a requirement of the RCD that a simple wiring diagram, location of switches, wiring of appliances and boat associated wiring (Engines etc) is provided.

There are several such diagrams in my owners manual, with similar diagrams for the 'gas system' the 'water system' the 'steering system' etc. Obviously unless they are kept up to date by the owner (unlikely) any modifications would not be shown.- a couple of examples

 

 

 

[Tony Brooks]

52 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

 

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?

 

It such a diagram were available to LadyG then much confusion on her, her electricians, and my part may well have been avoided and in light of what I think we have learned she would have been able to manager her batteries better. The fact there was not one is not her fault, but in my view it was the fault of whoever produced such a non-standard system and apparently fitted batteries in contravention of the BMEA codes of practice.

 

As far as the Luddite comment goes, I get fed up hearing about BSS examiners doing their own thing and causing boat owners unnecessary expense "rectifying" alleged faults that were in fact outside the scope of the BSS or were not a failure point. Resisting BSS creep is in the interest of all boaters. The BSS can produce more than enough creep  without the examiners being allowed/encouraged to do it as well.

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

9 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

I get fed up hearing about BSS examiners doing their own thing and causing boat owners unnecessary expense "rectifying" alleged faults that were in fact outside the scope of the BSS or were not a failure point. Resisting BSS creep is in the interest of all boaters. The BSS can produce more than enough creep  without the examiners being allowed/encouraged to do it as well.

 

Having been subject to 'interpretation' on a number of times, I have repeated  Tony's post to add emphasis to this important matter.

[Alan de Enfield]

19 hours ago, sueb said:

Be kind. Is it so hard?

 

You can try and try but sometimes something is posted that you just cannot let lie :

 

Lady G post of 28/5/2020 : (kindly found by Joe Bourke)

 

 

 

I can assure you that in spite of your doubts, i know more than most folks in this marina. The electricians have actually commented on it, but obviously I am asking on here about things I don't understand!

The batteries are very difficult to access, some of them i just cannot reach, they are under the well deck.

 

 

 

I can imagine the comments the electricians made !! and, it seems she was aware of these 'hidden batteries' a year ago.

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2021 by Alan de Enfield

[Debby]

The batteries in the bow referred to in that post were the two batteries that used to be for the bow thruster. LadyG found those difficult to access, which is why she needed help to replace them. Having found those batteries in the bow, I don't think anyone would have expected to find two more tucked away in an even more inaccessible place.

[ditchcrawler]

7 hours ago, Bod said:

Even with an electrical diagram, I defie anyone to make sense of this in less than a month of blue sundays!

 

Bod.

When did you get on our boat?

[George and Dragon]

8 hours ago, Bod said:

Even with an electrical diagram, I defie anyone to make sense of this in less than a month of blue sundays!

 

Bod.

Hardly surprising since the picture has been reversed

 

[Ex Brummie]

8 hours ago, Murflynn said:

 

 Do you suggest that luddites should set the standards for BSS checks?

Trying to help a friend out with a problem to his Mikuni, he had a wiring diagram for the boat, as required by the RCD, but it showed no colours, and appropriate line fuses were detailed, but with no clue as to where to find them. I ducked out as it was obvious that some panelling would to be removed to follow a circuit. To locate the Mikuni fuse , the Morse control had to be removed and then 3 panels around the area of the semi trad cockpit. A very well respected boat builder had fitted out this expensive craft, so Lady G's circumstances are not necessarily an isolated case. I dread to think how much may need to be dismantled should any problems be encountered in the galley, saloon or toilet areas where there is a proliferation of fancy electrical equipment.

[Murflynn]

I would take bets on whether the apparent proliferation of isolation switches (that I believe were mentioned somewhere back in time of this thread) are not all properly labelled as required by the BSS and the locations are not all obvious to the emergency services if they had to isolate all electrical circuits (which I understand to be one of the principal functions of those switches.  (or would they see one label, isolate the power, and then assume the boat was safe?).

[Alan de Enfield]

25 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

I would take bets on whether the apparent proliferation of isolation switches (that I believe were mentioned somewhere back in time of this thread) are not all properly labelled as required by the BSS and the locations are not all obvious to the emergency services if they had to isolate all electrical circuits (which I understand to be one of the principal functions of those switches.  (or would they see one label, isolate the power, and then assume the boat was safe?).

 

Maybe Debby knows ?