We strung our last few days at Alvecote Marina out to the limit. Even making adaptations to the charging system the day before leaving after 17ish months of building.
The snag I'd found last minute was to do with the alternators coming back online at 13.3v and the lithium batteries gobbling up all they wanted (up to their restricted limit) when in low tickover, say for entering a lock or passing moored boats who don't know how's best to tie up.
The low tickover and the sudden load stalled us once. Not what I want to be happening, especially if Deb's steering and I'm locking as the engine start is a bit further away than LJs 24 inches at about 16 feet.
I messaged the guru (over a shopping trip to IKEA) with settings adjustments that I wanted to try. He patiently explained why each wouldn't work before asking why I wasn't considering an off switch between the BMS 12/200s and the relay that decides when to start and stop charging.
We (Deb) strips the electric cupboard back again to gain access and I wire in a simple off switch. If we're doing a flight or the batteries are nearly charged and we've got a mile of linear moorings to pass, we can simply turn the alternators off, at least from charging the lithium bank temporarily. Guru said he didn't like the idea as I'd forget to turn them back on and the lithium bank could end up dangerously under charged. Little does he know that with the BMV app on my phone I watch (and marvel at the speed) of practically every amp going in.
I haven't messaged Guru yet to tell him two things. Firstly that the tickover I'd set was too low to move any boats when underway so I'd safely be able to add a handful of revs thus lessening the chance of stalling. And secondly that my previous day's test and stall I was sat close to the silt on our mooring which added to the likelihood of stalling. In essence I made a safeguard that we probably won't need.
For the non technical, yes it was a good trip to IKEA in Birmingham. They found our purchase details from Coventry in March and refunded us for the runner that wouldn't fit, and we bought some nifty hanging storage solutions for the shower and galley. Oh and more importantly the canteen that's normally full of less than quiet little angels was sort of table service and ¾ empty… Bliss. We had to book a table and were shown to it at the appropriate time. We were given a moment to browse the menu before one of us was invited to the till to pay and then when the order was all collated they wheeled it all over to us! Covid bonus#3.
Deb had agreed to call Lesley when we were finally due to leave so she could take a few pics of us going. Sean had popped over with a bottle of wine and a card to wish us well on our journey (it's always those with least that give most) and I started warming up the engine at about quarter to two (we weren't in a hurry or planning to go far) and we slipped our mooring (at last) at just after 2.
Warm dappled sun and hardly a breeze helped the reverse across the marina and we left without denting the Armco on the opposite side with our (probably) 25 ton Paul Barber tug style narrowboat.
Deb popped in the engine room to check on the vitals a few times but Ernest didn't miss a beat. Even our first ever downhill lock in a full length boat wasn't too bad, although I crawled into the lock not really used to the length or how well the prop would stop us after a lighter shorter boat and it's square axiom prop.
There were quite a few boats moored just past the Anker aqueduct and we were expecting Fazeley to be busy but only 3 moored where there's space for 20 so we stopped opposite the old CRT offices for our first night of freedom in quite a while.
More boating tomorrow, or maybe the next day.
 |
| Pic snapped by Peter G |
 |
| Plenty of room left |
 |
| And one that really does |
 |
| Fazeley Junction |
 |
| Mooring #1 |
No comments:
Post a Comment