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Good boat electrical service in the north


MyLady

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Hi all,

 

Way back last October we had Milady surveyed and bought her from Whilton Marina...

 

1. The survey recommended that the wiring, while OK for the BSS, would benefit from being, "simplified and tidied."

 

2. The 12V Lec fridge was noted in the survey report as "not working" but when we switched it on at the fridge AND the main distribution panel, it worked, but blew a 35A fuse after about a day and a half.

 

(During the Winter, we left it off, but come spring we wanted it in operation.)

 

3. Matty40S installed 330W of solar panels, with a Tracer MPPT controller. Electrically, this seemed to work fine, and we could keep the fridge running - seemingly, the blown fuse was just down to a TED (Temporary Electrical Defect).

 

4. One day, shortly afterwards, we set off with the sun shining, and the controller voltmeter read over 13V, but after 6 hours cruising the voltage was shown as only 12.5V (see http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=67490&hl= for more details. Thanks, nicknorman, Richard10002 and Paul C for help)

 

It seemed that the alternator was regulated to too low a voltage to do much good AND there was too much voltage drop in the charging connection.

 

5. Rodley Boat Centre was doing some work for us (making the weed hatch accessible) so we asked them to rectify the issue (replacing the 65A alternator with a 110A version, with higher voltage regulation, as well as more amps - so we could manage on a couple of hours cruising, and even take a day or two off, either to avoid the rain, or to laze in the sun). After describing the problem, they, like Matt before, said that the batteries were likely to be duff. "OK," we said, "can you give us a detailed diagnosis and fix the problems?" The response was to say they didn't have a load-tester and they were very busy, so couldn't give us a date to do the job. I interpreted that to mean they didn't really want the job.

 

6. I've found Lancashire Marine Electrical Services on the web, who apparently specialise in this kind of work and are near the Leeds Liverpool...

 

Now cash isn't a problem, but sorting this out myself is (polymyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, DVTs and more - let's just say, "too old") so what I'm asking for is a recommendation for a contractor who I can trust to do a good job, on a reasonably predictable schedule, so we can go cruising for the Summer, knowing when to turn up for the work to be done, without getting ripped off.

 

So:

 

i) does anyone know if Lancashire Marine fits this description, or

ii) has anyone any recommendation for any other firm within reach, or

iii) anything else to contribute?

 

Right now we don't have big problems, but we're past midsummer's eve, so the nights are drawing in and we want to face next Winter with confidence.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Roger

 

PS I think that a larger alternator and a zero-volt charge splitter, plus solar PV will give us security of electricity supply throughout the year, leaving us free to enjoy our cruising. Our electricity usage isn't high - LED lighting, water pumps and phone/laptop charging, no TV or other 230V gear - but with my eyes, I do want lots of light to read my books, without worrying about flattening the battery bank, ditto using the laptop (charger draws 10A) and fridge (2-3A average, I believe).

 

Other relevant facts:

 

The domestic bank is 4x110Ah and I want them to last a long time, possibly after replacement.

 

We are CCers, but not live-aboards - so far we spend 1/3 to 1/2 the time, 'at home' in bricks-and-mortar (actually a stone built, victorian terrace house), with periods up to a month aboard and up to a fortnight (14 day mooring limit) at home.

 

R

 

Edited to add: We went back to the boat today to reconnect the solar panels, talk to RBC, etc. We found the battery bank voltage at 12.7 - after 2 weeks with no draw or input. This suggests to me that the batteries are, at least, adequate: they seem to hold their charge OK.

 

After connecting the solar, the controller was giving only 0.5A charge (granted under clouds) which supports my opinion that the batteries are good and close to fully charged - am I wrong to deduce this?

 

If I'm right, the issue (for short days in Winter) is the alternator - regulated voltage plus voltage drop in the wiring - it ought to provide enough charging voltage (and current) to do more for the battery SOC than it is doing. THAT's the problem that I think needs tackling.

 

We cruised up from Whilton in a few months, taking time off for Christmas and stoppages, so I'll widen my query to ask for any recommendations for electrical experts almost anywhere on the system to tackle our rewiring (splitter plus other wiring problems) and alternator issues.

 

Can anyone help with advice about a yard or handyman who'll do a good job and solve our problems? We aren't afraid of paying for good work.

 

Roger

Edited by MyLady
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Please, any recommendations or advice? Has anyone had dealings with Lancashire Marine Electrical Services, or any other boatyard or similar that can deal with fairly basic electrics on the Leeds Liverpool or near? Or almost anywhere within reach?

 

85 91 views but no advice...

 

R

 

Edited to add and widen my plea.

Edited by MyLady
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I was under the impression that Rodley were replacing the Alternator for you after I lost all the pictures I took of your alternator setup when my phone(s) destroyed themselves. From your subsequent postings, I would have thought the existing alternator is compromising your charging regime.

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I was under the impression that Rodley were replacing the Alternator for you after I lost all the pictures I took of your alternator setup when my phone(s) destroyed themselves. From your subsequent postings, I would have thought the existing alternator is compromising your charging regime.

 

I was under the same impression, but, like you (in both cases, I believe, for genuine reasons), they haven't come through with actual work.

 

That's why I was asking for help to find someone who doesn't have a reason to fail me in sorting out my problem with an alternator that, as you say, doesn't do as much as it ought to.

 

Roger

 

Edited to add: Rodley BC did arrange for modified access to our weed-hatch: at last I can get at it to keep the prop clean. We went to see the results of this work on Wednesday and have now paid in full.

 

R

Edited by MyLady
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So far so extremely good. John rang me this (Saturday) morning and provisionally confirmed my/your diagnosis. He actually offered to come out to Milady to fix the problem! The problem isn't that urgent - the solar is doing enough to cope on its own at this time of year - so I'm on my way to Hawks House Bridge for him to sort the problem, without him having to travel.

 

I'm getting excited: not only does this problem look like it will be fixed soon, but CanvasMan is going to install our new pram hood next Thursday! That will only leave the stove to be replaced (with a back boiler, so we aren't relying on the engine for hot water) and we'll be all set for next winter! ...

 

Cue: "the Esso sign means happy motoring" (rewritten from road-based to cruising afloat).

 

Yippee!

 

Roger

 

PS Has anyone got a recommendation for a stove fitter?

 

Edited to add thanks to all the folk on these forms who've helped me - you're wonderful! <Hugs>

Edited by MyLady
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  • 4 weeks later...

Great. John Rushton started with 3 hours of diagnostic tests the announced: "It's all working, but your surveyor was right that the wiring is messy. The main reason that the alternator is doing next to nothing is that there's next to nothing for it to do, the solar panels are kee[ping the batteries fully charged. The internal regulator is perhaps set too low, but I can remove it and take it to a mate of mine who is an alternator specialist; he has a full test bed and can give a definitive answer."

 

I asked him to do that...

 

Just over an hour later, he arrived back and reported: "we put it on the test bed and in 3 successive tests under load it gave 3 different voltages" (he told me what they were, but I've forgotten), "It seems to have an intermittent fault, probably temperature related, so I've got you a refurbished unit."

 

By the end of the fifth hour, the new unit was refitted and gave a measured performance that made sense: at just above tick-over, it charged a bit; at 1000 rpm it charged more and at 1100 and up, it was charging lots!

 

So, an entirely satisfactory outcome: we don't need a fancy external controller for the alternator, new batteries, a different drive pulley, or anything else other than the refurbished unit - and we can look forward to next winter with confidence!

 

We're going to add an extra 165W panel to help with the short, Winter days, (Bimble's supply of these is limited so we thought we'd get a 3rd while stocks last) but that's just to add stronger belt-and-braces.

 

I can certainly recommend him.

 

Lancashire Marine Electrical Services John Rushton 18 Landless St Brierfield Lancashire BB9 5LA

Phone 07767 375450

Email john@lancsmarine.co.uk

Web http://www.lancsmarine.co.uk/contact-form

 

Roger

 

Edited to rationalise layout resulting from copy-n-paste

Edited by MyLady
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