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Post by ianali on Feb 23, 2019 20:00:58 GMT
Ashby is pleasant but I would suggest a bit of boating to get to somewhere with locks. Locks are always good specially in this ridiculously nice weather. Assuming its nice up there. Has been amazing down in Londonland we even managed a trip to Sarfend on sea on the train today. Glorious sunshine (to quote dogless) and tomorrow more Glorious sunshine predicted so I will be having a little cruise down the Thames through 10 of its locks. Yes we like locks as well. Have winter moored here so kinda killing time until we can escape. Broken bridge needs mending first. Weather here is gorgeous. BBQ gorgeous in fact.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 20:06:36 GMT
Glorious weather here on the Stort. Day started with 2 Pain o Chocolate from the Chilien Baker on the boat moored in front of me (Alfredo, interesting chap - 5 star food rating...) then got better from that point.
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Post by JohnV on Feb 23, 2019 20:09:50 GMT
used to be a good bakers in Sawbridgeworth called Dorringtons
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 20:13:46 GMT
Might check them out on Monday morning.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 20:15:35 GMT
I think the relevant test will be once the domestic battery has been depleted a bit and you want to recharge it. Indeed. As it happens I did run the TV off it without running the engine for a couple of hours today. I then had the engine running for over 2 hours (for hot water). Just before I switched the engine off the charging voltage (with all loads switched off) was 13.9v. and the current at the battery (usung the clamp meter) was taking about 0.4 amps. TBH I think after 2 hours it should be reading about 14.4v by now so I’m not convinced myself anymore. The new isolator switch won’t be here for a few days but I am tempted to remove the alternator and get it serviced. I suppose after 5-6 years (from new) the brushes might be a bit worn by now. The engine has done about 3500 hours since then. I think the belt tension seems about right but I might give it a tweak before I remove the alternator just to see if it makes any difference. Any other ideas greatfully received.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 21:54:07 GMT
I think the relevant test will be once the domestic battery has been depleted a bit and you want to recharge it. Indeed. As it happens I did run the TV off it without running the engine for a couple of hours today. I then had the engine running for over 2 hours (for hot water). Just before I switched the engine off the charging voltage (with all loads switched off) was 13.9v. and the current at the battery (usung the clamp meter) was taking about 0.4 amps. TBH I think after 2 hours it should be reading about 14.4v by now so I’m not convinced myself anymore. The new isolator switch won’t be here for a few days but I am tempted to remove the alternator and get it serviced. I suppose after 5-6 years (from new) the brushes might be a bit worn by now. The engine has done about 3500 hours since then. I think the belt tension seems about right but I might give it a tweak before I remove the alternator just to see if it makes any difference. Any other ideas greatfully received. Connect the load side cable of the isolator to the supply stud from the battery bridging out the potential high resistance connection, takes minutes with a 17mm spanner to join them together on one stud - then measure b+ to alt case and report back 👍🔨🔨🔨🍻
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2019 9:24:59 GMT
Indeed. As it happens I did run the TV off it without running the engine for a couple of hours today. I then had the engine running for over 2 hours (for hot water). Just before I switched the engine off the charging voltage (with all loads switched off) was 13.9v. and the current at the battery (usung the clamp meter) was taking about 0.4 amps. TBH I think after 2 hours it should be reading about 14.4v by now so I’m not convinced myself anymore. The new isolator switch won’t be here for a few days but I am tempted to remove the alternator and get it serviced. I suppose after 5-6 years (from new) the brushes might be a bit worn by now. The engine has done about 3500 hours since then. I think the belt tension seems about right but I might give it a tweak before I remove the alternator just to see if it makes any difference. Any other ideas greatfully received. Connect the load side cable of the isolator to the supply stud from the battery bridging out the potential high resistance connection, takes minutes with a 17mm spanner to join them together on one stud - then measure b+ to alt case and report back 👍🔨🔨🔨🍻 Thanks Gazza, just done this and also took the opportunity to tighten the alternator belt a bit too. After running the engine for 30 mins so far I’m getting 14.0v between b+ and the case, and the clamp meter tells me the battery is taking about 4 amps charge ATM. I ran my domestics off the new battery for about 4.5 hours last night. I estimate I would have used about 10 amps in that time. When I woke up this morning the voltage at the new battery was 12.6v. In comparison, the dodgy one I took out would have been reading about 11.7v !! So definitely on it’s way out. I’m going to change the isolator switch anyway but not sure whether the alternator needs a refurb yet. I’m wondering that as the old battery had lost most of its capacity that it got charged up much quicker than the new one, which may explain why I was seeing 14.4v after just 2 hours. Maybe if I left the engine running for several hours I’d see the same charging voltage eventually. In fact when I put it in fully charged yesterday it did reach this voltage.
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Post by JohnV on Feb 24, 2019 10:58:34 GMT
Just a little pointer, you were saying that you couldn't read the battery voltage at the battery from inside the cabin, only your load voltage. If you lengthen the meter leads so that they extend from the battery into the cabin your reading will be as near as a nats cock, the battery voltage. You will get virtually zilch volt drop along the meter leads as the current is so tiny, that will enable you to read battery voltage in comfort (advisable to take the positive lead via a small inline fuse as this stops catastrophic escape of amps with much hissing and melting of insulation, if you should accidentally short it to earth.)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2019 12:09:07 GMT
Just a little pointer, you were saying that you couldn't read the battery voltage at the battery from inside the cabin, only your load voltage. If you lengthen the meter leads so that they extend from the battery into the cabin your reading will be as near as a nats cock, the battery voltage. You will get virtually zilch volt drop along the meter leads as the current is so tiny, that will enable you to read battery voltage in comfort (advisable to take the positive lead via a small inline fuse as this stops catastrophic escape of amps with much hissing and melting of insulation, if you should accidentally short it to earth.) I’m guessing you can also get bluetooth/wireless voltmeters so you can get a reading at source on your smart phone?
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philjw
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Post by philjw on Feb 24, 2019 12:48:12 GMT
I’m guessing you can also get bluetooth/wireless voltmeters so you can get a reading at source on your smart phone?
My Victron MPPT controler fitted with a bluetooth dongle give both solar panel and battery voltage.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2019 13:40:02 GMT
Glorious weather here on the Stort. Day started with 2 Pain o Chocolate from the Chilien Baker on the boat moored in front of me (Alfredo, interesting chap - 5 star food rating...) then got better from that point. Glorious on the Thames in Windsor as well. Actually its amazing. I met a couple of Americans on the train who showed me a photo of snow on the beach in California. Apparently this is not normal. So they have come to Englandland to get some warm weather. In February. Hmmm Its like June. Plebs wandering about in shorts. Weird shit.
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Post by patty on Feb 25, 2019 7:12:00 GMT
Absolutely beautiful day yesterday spent driving to see son.. horrendous traffic, of course I’d forgot the It was end of English half term and beginning of Welsh... what a day to drive . Took over 6 hours to do 4 hour trip.
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Post by JohnV on Feb 25, 2019 8:25:20 GMT
(snip).. horrendous traffic, of course I’d forgot the It was end of English half term and beginning of Welsh... what a day to drive . Took over 6 hours to do 4 hour trip. Aaaah !!! went shopping yesterday ...... wondered why the hell so much traffic ....... must have taken me nearly 10 minutes to do a 5 minute drive
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Post by patty on Feb 26, 2019 6:51:26 GMT
Back on the road tomorrow Dover to Tebay plan via Kettering then up to Glasgow
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Post by phil70 on Feb 26, 2019 7:17:23 GMT
Back on the road tomorrow Dover to Tebay plan via Kettering then up to Glasgow Cor you don't half get around Patty. Phil
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