Posts

Posted on

Solar Controller – Victron SmartSolar MTTP 100|50

Having used the Victron MPPT sizing calculator with the correct configuration for my 2 X 415W solar panels it recommended I use their SmartSolar MPPT 100/50, if you follow the link above you should see the calculation.

Victron SmartSolar 100|50
Victron SmartSolar 100|50

So I was now on the hunt for the best price I could find; I tried all the normal boating solar companies, but the prices are all very similar when I found on eBay for just £220.00

Midsummer Energy£357.00*
Dragons Breath Solar£285.61*
Midland Chandlers£339.16*
Sunshine Solar£300.85*
Nomadic Conversions (eBay Shop)£220.00*
*Prices Include VAT and where checked at the time of writing 07/06/2023

So the order was placed. Things got a little odd when I got a message from DPD, and it seemed they had been booked for delivery, but had not got the package, even after a few days this status did not change. I messaged the supplier via eBay with no response, but then an email from Royal Mail with shipping details arrived and a few days later it was here.

I must admit I was starting to get a little worried that it was too cheap to be true, but I have it, it is new and sealed in the box ready to be fitted in a few weeks. Now I need to find a similar bargain for the Solar Panels!

NOTE: In the package came a leaflet from Nomadic Leisure, the company that run the Nomadic Conversions eBay shop their main market seems to be Campervans and surprisingly on their online shop the SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 is £302.40

So it seems it is a good idea to shop around and try alternative sources like eBay. You may, like me, get a bargain.

Posted on

2023 Our First Crick Boat Show

Show Crick Boat 2023Last time our plans got all messed up by Covid, now we have finally made it to the Crick Boat Show and WOW, what a well organised event. We arrived early, about ½ an hour before opening, we expected it to be very busy, lots of people had already arrived, many staying over in tents and caravans. Parking was very well organised, and we soon found ourselves queuing in a long queue for tickets, it was already getting hot, but the queues moved very quickly and just five minutes after opening we were in with our yellow wrist bands attached.

Very fast moving queues at Crick Boat Show 2023

We had no plan of what we wanted to see, I was still looking for a bit to use in our solar setup, but otherwise we just wandered about.

While we are very happy at Droitwich Spa Marina and would recommend it to anyone, we are starting to plan moving on so that we can explore some other parts of the network. We found a few smaller/Independent marina’s that we will be going to visit in the next few months including:-

Some Marina marketing seems to often lack even the most basic information, if you are putting together a website or flyer, make sure you have done the basics, like tell us which Canal you are on, I am sure you know, but I don’t. This was the first question we asked them all?

We also visited our paint supplier, Symphony Narrowboat Paints, as we had some problems identifying the correct yellow that was used on our roof. They have at least 5 possible candidates, but I am almost sure it was Cream after looking at samples on their stand.

What else did we buy…

We liked the Midland Chandlers tent, purchased some Oxford Mint Narrowboat Wash and a Cannon Tools Water Flow Brush that fits to our hose, that will be used tomorrow.

We also found a special tool for clearing weed from the propeller called a Prop-Mate from Brass Mate who also make Brolly Mate which we may order once we know which size we need.

From LifeAfloatMyNarrowboat we finally purchased our first bit of canal decorated Canal ware, a metal teapot and two tin mugs

Canal ware from LifeAfloatMyNarrowboat

Unfortunately we don’t have a link we can post for this small business, but I will update this if we find one.

Sonia found some Kingfisher earrings on one of the stalls and a rainbow hat on another that we added to our haul

Just before we left, we came across Youtubers who’s channel Minimalist we follow selling their excellent Maps, Mugs, Earrings and Jigsaws, I am sure I bored Michael talking about programming and Node-Red

Well we really enjoyed our visit to the show, I am sure we will attend again.

Posted on

Planning for Solar Panels part 6 – Panels in Serial or Parallel

We need to look at the wiring options for fitting the our Solar Panels, they can be wired in multiple ways, each with it advantages and dis-advantages. With our current plan for a two large 415W panels we have two main options we can wire them in Series or in Parallel. If we fit more smaller 200W panels to get to our 800W target we can also use a hybrid wiring option.

Panels in Series or Serial Wiring

In the example below I have wired the panels in series so that the output of one panel goes to the input of the next panel.

Solar Panels Series Wiring Diagram

In this example each panels can output up to 38.9 Volts and 10.62 Amps, by putting them in series we combine the voltages (2 X 38.9 = 77.8V), but the Amps will stay the same at 10.62A.

Giving an output of 826 Watts (77.8 Volts X 10.62 Amps = 826.23 Watts).

The main advantage of wiring in series is that we get a higher voltage, this enables us to use a thinner mm2 wire, while carrying the same amount of power (Watts) and also a lower voltage drop in the cable.

In our boat in this configuration with an expected cable run of 12m using our voltage drop calculator we could just use 2.5mm2 cable and still keep the Voltage drop below the 2% target. ( I suspect we would use the 4mm2 as this would give us a larger safety margin at little additional cost).

Also we find the both MPPT and PWM solar controllers are much cheaper if we use a higher voltage/lower amperage versions.

One potential disadvantage is that wired this way the two panels act as one larger panel, so if one is in the shade it will effect the total output of both panels.

Parallel Wiring the panels

In this example below I have wired the panels in parallel so that the positives are connected together as are the negative on each panel.

Solar Panels Parallel Wiring Diagram

Again in this example these panels can output up to 38.9 Volts and 10.62 Amps, by putting them in parallel we combine the current in Amps (2 X 10.62A = 21.24A), but the Voltage stay the same at 38.9V.

Giving an output of 826 Watts (21.24 Amps X 38.9 Volts = 826.23 Watts).

In our boat in this configuration with an expected cable run of 12m using our voltage drop calculator we would need to fit a 10mm2 cable to keep the Voltage drop below the 2% requirement (This could add significant extra cost in cable and fittings).

Hybrid Serial & Parallel Configurations.

In this example we have wired 4 X 200W panels so that they connect is pairs in serial and the two pairs are connected in parallel.

Solar Panels hybrid Series & Parallel Wiring Diagram

So in this example each of these 200W panels can output up to 19.2 Volts and 10.42 Amps, by putting them together in pairs in series and then the two pairs in parallel the calculation is as follows.

We combine the two serial panels together so that we double the voltage of the pair of panels 2 X 19.2V = 38.4V while the Amps stays the same at 10.42 Amp.

Combine both sets of panels together in parallel and the Amps doubles 2 X 10.42 Amps = 20.84 Amps at 38.4V

Therefore 20.84 Amps X 38.4V = 800.25 Watts

In our boat in this configuration with an expected cable run of 12m using our voltage drop calculator we would need to fit a 10mm2 cable to keep the Voltage drop below the 2% requirement.

Things to remember

  • Solar panels wired in series adds there Voltages together.
  • Solar panels wired in parallel adds there Amps together.

Note: the circuit diagrams where drawn using Draw.io

Also see
Planning for Solar Panels – Part 1
Planning for Solar Panels Part 2 – Panel Mounting Options
Planning for Solar Panels Part 3 – Types of Panels
Planning for Solar Panels Part 4 – MPPT vs PWM solar controllers
Planning for Solar Panels part 5 – Cable sizes, lengths and resistance.
Planning for Solar Panels part 6 – Panels in Serial or Parallel
Planning for Solar Panels part 7 – Buying the cable and Circuit breakers
Planning for Solar Panels part 8 – Buying Solar Panels and Mountings
Planning for Solar Panels part 9 – Wiring
Planning for Solar Panels part 10 – Drilling, Tapping and Fitting

Safety Disclaimer

Posted on

Our Boat Specification

I put this information together about our boat just after we collected it from Black Prince and forgot to publish it on the blog, so here it is finally 🙂

Hull

  • Length 18.89m/62’0” 
  • Beam  2.1m/6’10” 
  • Draft: 600 mm/ 2′ 0″
  • Hull manufacturer: Pro-Build Narrowboats Ltd (Closed?)
  • Completed: 19th December 2007
  • Style: Cruiser
  • Hull thickness: Base 10mm, Sides 6mm Roof & Cabin side 4mm.
  • Cabin insulation: Self-extinguishing polystyrene foam.
  • Fitted out by: Black Prince Holidays Ltd
  • Unladen Weight: 14.5 tonnes
  • Max loaded weight: 17.3 tonnes
  • Max load: 905Kg (Max people 600Kg) excludes Water and Diesel.

Propulsion

  • Engine: Isuzu 42 4-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine.
  • Power: 42 hp/31.31 Kw @ 3000 pm.
  • Cooling: Water cooled via welded skin tank in hull.
  • Gearbox: PRM 150 manual marine gearbox with a 2:1 reduction.
  • Prop: 3 blade right-hand bronze propeller, 432mm (17″) diameter, pitch of 305mm (12″).
  • Max speed: Approx. 7.4 knots

Electrics

  • Alternators: 2 X 80 Amp
  • Leisure Batteries: 4 X Leoch Adventurer SFL-110
  • Starter Battery: 1 X Leoch Adventurer SFL-110
  • Inverter/Charger: 3500W (Sterling PCS123500)

Heating & Water

  • Calorifier: 54L/12 Gallon vertical twin-coil
  • Water Heating: Eberspacher D4W Hydronic diesel heater and the engine
  • Heating: Radiators via Eberspacher D4W Hydronic diesel heater

Tanks & Gas & Toilet

  • Fresh Water: 640-litres/140-gallons
  • Fuel Tank: 350-litres/77-gallons
  • Toilet Tank: 550-litres/120-gallons
  • Toilet: Tecma macerator type toilet (1 removed in redesign)
  • Gas: 2 X 13kg Calor propane bottles
Posted on

Tug Boats at the Black Country Living Museum

Last year we had planned to visit the Black Country Living Museum while on our summer trip, but due to time constraints we had to motor past. Well this weekend we were on our mooring checking the boat over and decided we could make the trip, but this time by car.

From Droitwich Spa Marina it is just 22 miles by road up the M5 to BCLM, so after a slow start off we went, we arrived at approx 11am and found the overflow carpark, which with luck had a row of PodPoint electric chargers, so we plugged in and wandered in.

At £22.50 Per Adult it is not cheap, but as we found, there is a lot to see, with lots of work going on with new displays being built. I suspect this kind of museum is never finished, as you can see from the map below lots of areas for development.

Map of the current museum (There is lots in development)

I was not feeling 100% so this was going to a slow walk around, we also could not stay late as we had left Obi, our Sprollie dog, looking after the boat.

There is lots to see all arranged in areas around streets, we started will a look around Jerushah Cottage, inside the lady of the house was working on a Rag rug, cutting the material into lengths, she told us some of the fascinating history of the building and the how the family lived.

We then moved on to the The Workers’ Institute and Cafe for a well needed coffee in a tin mug, while Sonia had tea and a slice of Victoria Sponge.

A. Hartill Motorcycles

Then past the Elephant and Castle Pub popping in to A. Preedy & Son Tobacconists and the A. Hartill Motorcycles for a nose around, in which we found a early Seagull outboard motor, which was manufactured in the Sunbeamland Factory in Wolverhampton.

A. Preedy & Son Tobacconists

Then it was down to the canal for the main reason for out trip to see the old working boats that had come for a special weekend visit. We had a few chats to the owners and keepers of these fantastic old beasts, mostly tug boats used for pulling barges AKA ‘joeys’ around the local canals. We stopped and had a good look at Bitten a 1934 example which I was surprised to see had a draft probably 12″, 30cm, deeper that our modern boat.

Canal Tug boats and Joeys on the quay side

We walked around the quay side, had a quick look at a nail making demonstration, but it was hard to see as it was drawing quite a crowd. The on for a look around the Bottle and Glass Inn, then we could smell the fish and chips cooking just up the road at The Village Fried Fish Shop, unfortunately due to my diet, only Sonia could sample there wares, I did steal the odd chip and very good it was too.

The queue for the chip shop

All that had taken over 3 hours, and I would think we had still a good 60% left to see and sample including cakes and pasties from Veal’s Baker’s Shop and sweets from T. Cook’s Sweet Shop, all of which seemed very popular to the bank holiday visitors.

Due to out time constraints we started walking back to the entrance and the obligatory browse in the gift shop, not forgetting to buy a parking token so we could get our car out of the carpark.

With our entrance we got a full 12 months access to the Museum, but I suspect we will be back again in the not to distant future.

Back to top