Installing Solar Panel

Installing the solar panel the first step is to select a location and then temporarily run the cables to make sure they are long enough. The picture below left shows the covered solar panel in the preferred location, just past the plank & pole bracket.


I am also installing a fan in the saloon roof vent, to run from the 'load' connections of the charge controller. The cable for this can be seen in the picture on the right going into the roof vent.




After finalising the  position for the Solar Panel I attached the cables to charge the batteries (domestic bank & starter battery) and the battery temperature sensing wire. I then 'ran' them through to the electric cupboard





The picture to the left shows the approximate location of the battery & temperature sensing wires in the electric cupboard.



The picture to the right shows the Solar Panel & fan cables hanging down from the roof. Which clearly shows that there will be sufficient length to reach the charge controller in the electric cupboard.

After making sure the cables were long enough the next stage is to drill holes in the roof for the Fan & Solar Panel Cables.

Cables being fed through holes.

Followed by feeding the cables through the holes

View from inside the roof.

Cables being fed along roof space and
down into electric cupboard.

               








The cables were then fed along the roof space and down to the electric cupboard. Its the two thicker black cables (solar panel) and the red & black thinner cables (Saloon Fan)

Cables as they emerge from
roof space into electric cupboard.

The next stage is to site the charge controller. The picture to the left shows the first position and the various wires. From left to right these are 1) Temperature sensing wire, 2) Positive & Negative cables from the Solar Panel, 3) Positive & Negative charging cables for the domestic battery bank, 4) Positive & Negative charging cables for the starter battery & 5) The Positive & Negative cables for the fan.


I thought placing the charge controller in this position would be a bit unsightly with all the cables running up to it.













The charge controller in its final position

The box to the left is the BlueTooth which enable me to view the various statistics on my phone.

A fuse was inserted into the positive cable for the fan. The shuts down automatically if the battery level falls below 12.5 volts and is not switched on again until the battery reaches 13 volts. This fuse, with a switch means that I can also manually swith the fan on or off.

The final job was to cover the wires on the roof with some plastic conduit and stick down the entry gland.

New Cratch & Dogger

Solar Panel

About to a fit a 150W solar panel and MPPT Dual Battery Controller.

WRM15 dualB/dualB is an MPPT charge controller for PV applications with two batteries automatic charge management, with Bluetooth connection and Android/iOS APPs to manage and monitor the PV system.

Solar Panel Specs.

Anchor Bracket

We are due to have a cratch cover fitted which means that the anchor currently stored in the bow well has to be moved. 

Spoke to Oxley Marine about fitting a bracket to the stern and this is is the result.

End Of Year Stats 2017

Miles, Hours, Locks L/Ms per hour etc for first year of Hamwih

(July 24th to December 31st 2017)

Beta 38 Engine

Beta AC Panel

Total engine hours 196
Total distance 324 miles
Total locks 158

Average speed 2.46 Lock/Miles per hour.

Total litres used 278.7, this includes the stove running for 50 hours at half-a-litre per hour.
The engine therefore used 253.7 litres which equals 1.29 litres per hour.
(This was the Beta 38 engine, which we upgraded to a Beta 43 engine before we did any hours in 2018)

The diesel cost £213.49 which works out at £1.09p per hour the engine was running.

Water gauge & filter

When replacing the pump diaphragm I 've also decided to fit a water gauge and new filter.

New diaphragm and filter

Water Gauge

Easter trip photos

Notices next to Tyrley top lock

High Bridge on the SUC

Tyrley Wharf

Goldstone Wharf

Wharf Inn at Goldstone

NOTOS at Goldstone Wharf

2nd Day.

Quick walk round Brewood,  before setting off at 10:45, stopped for lunch just passed Norwood junction. Stopped at B42 (Anchor Inn) for the evening at 5:05. Cruising for a total of 5 hours. Unfortunately the Anchor wasn't open,  not completely unexpected as it only tends to open at weekends during the Winter. 

13 miles & 1 lock equals an average of 2.8 lock miles an hour.

Easter 2016 Shropshire Union to Audlem & return.

Water seeping from join in pump

First day,  started off badly. Water in cabin bilge to be mopped up and a  replacement

Nappies & towel to mop up water

coolie hat to be bought.

Water first spotted in bilge on Sunday when 90 liters was pumped out. The source is the fresh water pump, which is 'weeping' water from the join (see photo). An internet search indicates that the diaphragm needs to be replaced.

The coolie hat disappeared in a high wind about two weeks ago. Replacement cost £12 from the shop at Autherley Junction.

Left Hatherton at 1:15 arrived at Brewood at 5:20. Stopped at Autherley for water and bought new collie hat (£12). 12 miles &  1 lock in 4hrs & 5mins an average of 3.2 lock miles an hour.

At Last

After ordering self adhesive names for the boat several months ago I have at long last got round to fixing them. I'd finally run out of excuses, on previous occasions when intending to fix/stick the names to the boat either the weather wasn't right or there was something else more important/urgent that needed to be done.

Name added to boat.

Today however the weather was sunny and almost perfect, it was a bit too windy and after I'd started fixing the lettering realised it was in fact a bit too hot (the plastic stretched slightly as I pulled the backing off). Although there were other jobs that could have been done (there is always something to do on a boat) none of them, on this occasion, were more important or urgent.