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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jan 2012 : 07:13:50
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SteveT
I'd love some information on your solar panel. Where do you intend to fit this?
Re the Propex. I don't know where you intend to fit the thermostat but mine is located as far away from the hot air outlet as the cable length allows - at the forward end of the galley. On "Hunky 'B' there is a vertical panel running along the back of the worktop behind which there is a gap sufficient to accommodate two lengths of 20mm conduit. One of these carries the control cable plus some additional low voltage and speaker cables whilst the other carries a 240 volt feed to a 13 amp outlet mounted next to the thermostat. If your boat has a similar arrangement. this is an ideal way of concealing the cable and I only found this gap by accident - certainly worth a look.
Later today I'll be up at the boat so I'll probable post some piccies by the weekend.
Regards, Stan |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2012 : 07:27:22
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Steve T
By the way. when I came to fit the stainless steel exhaust and inlet trunking I found that the jubilee clips supplied were not man enough to tighten the trunking to the heater - the screw gear tended to "slip". The owner of the Nauticus nearby who had also fitted a Propex had exactly the same problem. Luckily our marine sells stainless clips so I was able to resolve the problem easily.
One other change I made was when installing the hull fitting. I wanted to use mastic tape rather than sealant and Propex confirmed that this was fine. It does allow the fitting to be "stuck" in position so that the four holes for the self-tappers to be drilled in the right locations. Being of a pessimistic frame of mind. I threaded a piece of wire through the two spigots and my wife held this from the inside of the boat to ensure that the fitting did not disappear into the cut while I leant over the side of the boat and drilled the holes.
Regards. Stan |
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2012 : 21:03:54
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Thanks for the heads-up on the hull fitting and the length(or lack of) the thermostst control cable.
I was hoping to fit the PV panel on the cabin roof and try to feed the cabling between the inner head lining moulding and the deck until I could get it to run inside a cupboard/heads down to the battery via the cockpit floor void. Hmmm! Let's see.
I am off to the boat tomorrow morning to see if all the bits have arrived yet, so will get the details of the panel.
Cheers
Steve |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2012 : 12:47:11
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Nice pictures, Stan.
As usual, work has interrupted my progress somewhat, but I am starting next Tuesday on the installation.
I will post up some pictures too, will be interesting to complare how they differ in the end.
I have gone for the whole set up, so additional battery, intelligent charger complete with solar PV panel when off shore power, new breakers etc., etc.
Total cost of parts and materials about £500 or so
This doesn't include the heater itself, which I got a silly deal on, and that is what started all this in the first place.
My "man-that-can" is charging a couple of hundred quid to fit it all, and I will be "pointing-and-taking-the-blame", which is basically what I do for a living.
Come to think of it, I do that at home too, but with less pointing!
Steve |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2012 : 15:22:43
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Steve T
I'm glad to see that your domestic arrangements are similar to my own - obviously I'm not just paranoid.
I've also just acquired a charger as an early birthday present to myself. Having borrowed Graham's for a few days and been most impressed with it I've gone for the same model, a Ring Smartcharge 16 which is 7 stage with switchable charge current up to 16A, although I'll probably never go about 8A. Will enable me to keep the battery charged up nicely via the shoreline.
I'm interested as to what you're doing with regards to a solar panel. When we acquired our little boat there was one of those tiny chargers in the rear cabin but I've disconnected it as it is so small that I can not see it making any difference whatsoever. What kind of charger panel have you gone for and where did you get it?
Please do post some piccies for your install. |
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2012 : 11:47:08
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Hi Stan
I have managed to get whole day off Tuesday, so will be on the boat early, and will try to juggle the camera around the installer to get some shots.
I will note all the details of the panel, charger etc and post on here so you all have the details.
If it all works and looks good, that maybe a help.
If it falls apart, flattens the batteries and feels like a candle, then forum readers will know what to avoid!
Have also booked the following long weekend off, so if all goes well we will get to trial it all for 72 hours pretty shortly.
Watch this space.... |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 09:10:12
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Steve T
Best of luck and looking forward to the details
Regards, Stan
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2012 : 17:25:13
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Steve T
Went the day well?
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2012 : 20:35:34
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Hi Stan
Well, good and bad.
The heater, gas line, hull fitting and ductwork all in OK, just a bit more exhaust pipe insulation to add and that bit's done.
New battery and box, intelligent charger and electrics tomorrow.
Biggest issue is trying to fish the PV panel wiring between the preferred position on the cabin roof, and the battery.
There does appear to be a 10 - 12mm void between the deck and internal mouldings, but the ideal route for the wire crosses a bearer batten between the two.
Much head scratching and some colourful language later, and it was decided that if we can't get through in one go, we may need to fit an access port to the inner lining and pull the cable in 2 goes.
With all the conversation, tea and swearing I forgot to get the details of the PV panel, but it is BIG
It is a 50W panel, which we think will provide 4 - 6Amps of trickle charging under most conditions, so hopefully this will be great once wired!
Three guys, a dozen boxes of parts and four trunks full of tools on a 23 foot boat did not allow for any decent pictures today, but will get these on here as soon as I can.
Watch this space.
Cheers
Steve |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2012 : 06:06:22
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Steve T
It does sound to have been a productive day and you've obviously broken the back of the installation.
Our own little boat has padded vinyl-covered plywood panels attached to the underside of the roof in both cabins and these unscrew so it is easy to get to the wiring void - I have read elsewhere that these were an added cost option at build and described as the "luxury headlining" which did strike me at the time a somewhat massive overstatement. It sounds like your own vessel was not fitted with these and they would provide a solution in your own case, albeit at the cost of some 3.6mm ply, some thin foam, some vinyl and a few dozen staples. On our boat they are screwed to the cabin roof with short stainless c/s screws in plastic screw caps. At the cost of the materials plus a few hours work you would then have a solution (you'd also only lose about 10mm of headround), gain some added insulation and a useful cable space for any additional wiring you might want to fit in the future. Of course, it's easy for me to suggest as I don't have to do the work but it may be worth considering, especially as it could be done when you have the time.
Best of luck for the rest of your install.
Regards, Stan |
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2012 : 21:46:48
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Update.
Popped down to the boat today to hear the comforting sound of heating combustion!
There seems to have been an issue with the intelligent charger, which is being replaced Friday morning, other than that just the PV panel to mount and wire, and we are there.
We may be a bit previous, but are planning a weekend on it this coming Friday, so hopefully it will all be done and I can get a decent set of piccies to upload.
Can anyone explain why just as I finish spending £1000 on this, the forecast is suddeny showing 15 or 16 degrees? |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2012 : 05:51:27
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Steve T
Great new indeed! The correlation between the temperature rise and your new heater is due to the same law as firing up the barbie and the heavens opening - surely you expected this? I am, however, grateful that you have been prepared to invest your cash in bringing all of us some fine weather.
By the way, have you considered fitting a Gas Detector? Now our own little boat has a lot more gas piping to three appliances, my Gas Engineer Graham has suggested this would be a worthwhile investment. I can certainly see why as I intend that the propex will sometimes be on overnight to combat frostbite and I do want to be in a position to wake up the next morning - just a thought. I'm looking at the NASA detector/alarm from Force4.
Like yourself we intend to have a pootle at the weekend - go for it and have a great time!
Regards, Stan |
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Stan the Man
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2012 : 05:52:05
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Steve T
How was you outing last weekend and how did you find you new heater?
My Gas Detector gizmo has now arrived from Force4 and I'll be fitting this next week. It consists of a detector which will go in the cockpit bold and the noisy bit which I'll fit in the front cabin. The unit comes with a 4m cable to connect the two (terminated in 3-pin Din Plug) and I'll shorten this and solder on a new plug from Maplins. A twin core power lead is is also supplied with an in-line fuse but I'll be removing the fuse and wiring directly into the positive battery busbar in the helm moulding via a panel fuse mounted on the side of the moulding.
Regards, Stan
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Steve T
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2012 : 16:27:47
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Hi Stan
..the best laid plans...
the outboard failed four feet from our pub lunch, drifted in the stronge breeze into the reed beds opposite the pub, and then sat there for two hours trying to fix the engine without any luck.
Some lovely first-timers on the Broads towed us to the pub so we could at least eat while we waited for our tow back to moorings.
Boat now disabled while we get the carb fixed and have a good service.
Now no cruising for another 2 weeks
Oh! the heater is lovely!!
Piccies and full details of the parts to come - but probably in a couple of weeks time now.
Cheers
Steve |
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Topic |
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Experience fitting a Propex?
