5 THINGS YOU MUST THINK ABOUT Before Installing Solar On Your Narrowboat
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- If you are planning on installing solar on your narrowboat but don't know where to start, this is the video for you. I take you through 5 essential things that you must think about BEFORE you get started with your installation.
These are:
1. Power usage
2. Which solar panels to buy
3. How to attach them
4. How to connect everything together
5. The essential tools to do the installation
Love Cats and Narrowboats or Steam Trains? Get a quirky shirt of your very own: annamaries.art/narrowboat-shirt
Awesome Steam Train and Narrowboat watercolour: artbyannamarie.com/shop/narro...
Video Links
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Never Enough Cruising Solar Setup Video: • #39 Narrowboat Vlog -...
Minimal List Winter Solar Video: • HOW WELL HAS OUR NEW S...
Cruising The Cut Winter Sun: • 76. Is solar power suf...
Gone With The Wynns Series vs Parallel + Shading: • Sailboat Solar Power -...
RV with Tito - Series or Parallel?: • How To Connect RV Sola...
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Below are links to everything referenced in this video. All Amazon links are affiliates links - this means that if you purchase anything from Amazon using these links, we will receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.
Solar
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Solar Panels: www.bimblesolar.com/LG-360W-s...
Mounting Brackets: amzn.to/3dAiYZn
Washers (I used M8): amzn.to/359Ya79
Spring Washers (I used M8): amzn.to/3dCbk0U
Nyloc Nuts: amzn.to/3lSmt0n
Feet I bought: www.bpfonline.co.uk/show_prod...
Feet I could have bought: www.bpfonline.co.uk/show_prod...
Other feet: sunworks.co.uk/product/fittin...
Sikaflex: amzn.to/37eo7Fx
Butyl Tape: amzn.to/2T2nnuN (not the one featured in the video but another roll I own!)
MPPT Charge Controller: amzn.to/3454n51
PV Cable: www.bimblesolar.com/extras/ca...
Cable from MTTP to battery: midsummerenergy.co.uk/buy/cab...
Tools
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Titanium Coated Drill bit (I used 6.8mm): amzn.to/37h10Kq
Oil: amzn.to/3j4kJiF
Tap and Die set in the video: amzn.to/2T55ZFE
Tap set I wish I had bought: amzn.to/3lUxVZb
Fish tape: amzn.to/2T56dwu
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6:24 nice to see all 3 cats in one shot.
So glad I can sit and watch you worry about all the ins and outs of narrowboats, you are a great teacher Cat, and Anna Marie is a gifted artist, love your experiences happy wintering wherever you may be, we are coming into summer here in Cape Town.
Was going to pay someone to fit ours but you have inspired me to DIY, seeing you have done all the hard work of the research (god bless you!). Think I am going to go with a Make Sky Blue MPPT, gets the thumbs up from ''12 Volt Boating group" and the sainted Phil Brooke-Little.
Thanks very much for this video. It has helped me understand how to proceed with getting solar power for my narrow boat 👍
I know next to zero about installing solar panels so I would probably go for a professional installation. You did a wonderful job of installing the panels
Thank you Kath, can't wait for the next two videos 😊😊
Kath splaining everything to do with solar panels.👍👍
Had to be done!
🙈 I was going to say that you missed the cat obstruction part out when you spoke about the tree's, cloud's and shades in the UK effects the output of the solar earlier one the video and you slipped it in at the end 😄
Fantastic video kath 👌very informative. Also adding other UA-camrs with certain aspects that they've touched up on.
Keep this up, sharing your experience and how-do's 👍🏻
I'm sure that when Alice wants us to go outside she sits on the flat panel to see how long it takes for me to pop my head out!
so cat like flat panel for setting and fix panel for lying. Looks like you did a great job Kath one the best installing job seen on youtube .
Very informative and I loved the way the cats found their way into the filming! Good shimmying skills along the side of the boat too!
The cats like to be involved where they can ;-)
Everyone should have a Kath!
You’re amazing with what you can do on your boat.
Thanks Brenda
Cath, you have DIY in your DNA !
You did an awesome job on this video Kath, there is a lot to be understood when installing Solar, and you've done very well !
Love the two 'assistants'. Well done. :)
As an electronics engineer far to often see people talking up specs and best case scenarios etc... I applaud you for breaking it down to reality and just explaining the basics and what is needed to know. You did such a great job of keeping it simple and explaining what people need to know. I like how you mentioned around 70% output compared to spec. So many people just talk about spec and never take the real world output into account. again, great job!
Thank you ladies and cats, that was very interesting. Living in Adelaide, SA, we put solar onto our house in 2011 and it immediately cut our house consumption by 1/2 so we are committed solar owners. Having heard about the pale summers you go through and seen the tree-lined banks that you cruise through it is probably not that surprising that solar is struggling to gain acceptance among the canal crowd. I think it will eventually become common, who doesn't like free power from the sun. Maybe in time the price and technology will improve to the point that a lot more find it a viable alternative source of energy fo their boat. I appreciate the clarity and straight-forwardness of your presentation and am looking forward to seeing the next 2 in the series. Stay safe and well.
You always impress me Kath. Such confidence, without bravado. You do your research, assemble the necessary and then get on with it. I wish I was so organised. I know not one in a hundred men wouldn't just blaze away at a steel roof with a drill and never consider a drop of cutting fluid or even oil. Never mind a tap set! Respec'. I have to say I would be very wary of drilling the roof and would be tempted to 'go over the edge' by some method and then go through the wall, to reduce the possibility of leaks. (But what do I know, I only hire narrowboats.)
One thing you didn't make clear though, is the very real risk of getting a very severe 'belt' off such systems. There is a tendency, it seems to me, to consider boat electrical systems to revolve around 12VDC. Ordinarily, this voltage is quite safe to work on - even 'live' - but the risk of fire or even explosion if one or more of the domestic batteries are shorted by, say, dropping a spanner! And the voltages you quote for your array - 80to 90 volts - are getting high enough to really give you a jab.
Once more, well done for a very professional amateur job!
Great work Cath. Very clearly explained. Very sensible advice. Just what I've come to expect from TNE. Loved seeing so much of the cats as well. Thanks for another good one.
Thanks
Wow! I'm impressed as math was never my strong point. You ladies are certainly self-sufficient. I loved the way your black cat slept through it all. Great vlog.
John, Ontario, Canada
Thanks. I was surprised the cats managed to be quite - usually they have so much to say!
Thanks Kath. I enjoed your infomative vlog and look forward to the next one. Always enjoy watching you ladies on Lazy days.
Your cat was making a good job of keeping the panels clean
As a retired approved electrician I will only comment on the bits of the installation I could see, and towards the end of the video it looks like the wires are entering the roof via the mushroom dome of the ventilator, my point is that those cables without proper fixing and without extra mechanical protection (some kind of silicone or rubber grommet) these cables may rub through the cable insolation on the sharp edges and short circuit, (not good) because as far as I know there is no fuses on the panels to protect them. this may possibly cause a fire. If I have misunderstood please accept my apologies. PS keep up the good work and stay safe.
Many thanks. Sharing your experience and the careful research you put in before you made your choices is very helpful.
love this video!! thanks!
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
Loved it. Thank you.
That was really useful. Thanks
Very thorough - thanks!
I think Munchie has inspected the work done passed it and found that it has the extra benefit of being warm and comfortable, as always Kath explains everything in an understandable way and the work done looks professional, big thumbs up.
Thanks
Cant wait for the next video.
Great video Kath. I have just added the same size panels as yourself, but just made them flat. They have replaced two 200W panels at the front of my boat that were mounted with triangles. I hated the triangles. The knob threads were not stainless and rusted tight. The panels kept slipping down the slots and getting shade from the triangle supports, it was a nightmare. Now the 200Ws are off, I have managed to use WD40 and tools to take 3 triangles off but the last ones plastic knob has shattered so I will have to hacksaw it off. The 200W ones are going on my side wall, water side. I often turn my boat round to moor up (45ft easy). Re sizing for use, I would just advise to get as much as you can afford and fit on a boat. The more you have the longer solar summer lasts. By next year I intend to have 1.45KW and will be almost maxed-out, in terms of available space. You do realise we have just done this in time for the leaves:-) M
Hi Kath, I just watched the video on how you installed the solar panels, I think you two ladies are very impressive. You to have put all that together so meticulously and of cause maryanne's art work. Chris from Sydney, Australia.
Kath, so proud of you, not just for the way you rise to the challenges life presents, but the effort and dedication you put into collating a package so that others can benefit from your skills and knowledge, just brilliant. Annamarie & the cat are great also.
Looking forward to seeing the installation.
Awesome presentation.
Outstanding
Good information and well presented. Thank you.
Very nice and quite useful. Thanks you!
Thank you very much - very helpful.
Wow they look really good sure they will be a good investment. I've been really pleased with the one I put on the Swamp duck it made a huge difference. Take care guys. Alan x
Brilliant work & well explained Cath....stay safe.....thanks for sharing
Wow. Very Good! As an electrician and field service engineer, I feel I can say that you nailed it nearly perfectly.
Thanks
Excellent explanation Kath well done!
Very beautiful.
Excellent !!
Many thanks!
Very well done, Kath. Viewing from Ohio.
Awesome video with Great information !!!!!
Thank You so much !!!!
Great job on this, Kath! Can't wait to see the followups with the installation and then the useful power results, especially as we get into autumn/winter.
Thanks. Am gathering data as we speak!
Excellent video. Well done and thankyou. I will definitely pay attention to this when I get my narrowboat
Glad it was helpful!
Another awesome and very informative video. Well done and thanks for all the helpful info. Stay safe and well.
Thanks
very good video !!
Can't fool me. Munchie did all the hard work. :)
Solar powered cats, that’s new.
Cats lay in the sun to collect "cat gravity"; they then lay in your lap to deposit the "cat gravity" to ensure you can't get out of the chair and they have a warm place to snooze 😎
@@paca_bill4863 Brilliant! Now I know more about my cat 🐱 useage. Thank you.
Thank you
Hats off to you my sister for doing a good job. This is an important video. Thanks.
well done Cath, you nailed it!
Great video, answered many question I have had. Keep them coming :-)
I admire you both in running your boat so independently. No hanging around waiting for installers!
I like to give things a go if I feel it's possible. Then if it doesn't work, there is only one person to blame!
Thanks Cath yes I think the panels look great on the roof and I will be looking forward to seeing the future vlogs and for the both of you keep safe and happy and safe boating cheers Barry Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
Well done Kath. A good introduction to solar power, well explained
Thank you!
Thanks Carhy for that information very informative. You did a great job. Very impressed.
Well done !! Thank You !! : )
thank you
Thanks 🙏
Great job on your video.
Thank you!
Very instructive and well-presented 👍🏻
Outstanding episode.
Thanks
Excellent video Kath well explained details easily understood .Waiting for the next instalment already . Happy cruising George .
Thanks
Well done Kath!
Thank you!!
You have done a fantastic job they look really good and very practical with the ability to tilt then is especially good in winter when the sun is low down in the sky to get the most from them. An overall great video for anybody thinking about buying and installing solar. You did have the solar cat expert to help, stay safe.
Couldn't have done it without the support of the cats...
Very informative
Thanks
Been watching the cats during your excellent review on the panels, very informative information.
Wow very interesting cath, nice job
Great episode Kath, love the explanations and look forward to the next episodes. Love the solar on our caravan in Aus, we very rarely stay in a park.
Solar is the best!
Very informative and interesting video. Thank you. Xxxx
Thank you Kath, very well explained
Glad you enjoyed it!
Clever work
Thanks
Well done Cath
Thanks I'm looking at a boat and you two ladies are teaching me a lot
Good luck with the boat buying.
Great video, thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Very clear explanation of the thinking behind choosing and installing the right solar panels. Thanks Kath.
Thanks
EXCELLENT! VERY CALM AND CLEAR. ACTUALLY THE 1ST TIME I GOT THE AMPS X VOLTS = WATTS FORMULA! MOST FOLKS ARE TOO TECHNICAL AND TALK WAY TOO FAST TO UNDERSTAND.
I asked for a mechanical segment, and voila! Nicely done Kath.
Very interesting. Stay safe until the next one. Greetings from Germany.
You explained everything brilliantly 😎👍
thanks
We’ve got the same ones ! Xxx good on ya girls.
Well structured video and well planned!
I have been using solar for quite a while and the costs have really fallen and may well get cheaper.
I have recorded all my Solar input and output for quite a while and consistently have found:
1. During the summer months I do not have to manage power (within reason) and I find I have more than enough power. However during the, what I call Dark Months (Nov-mid Jan), I have to manage my power and may find that Solar simply does not provide enough energy. From mid January things improve quite rapidly with some management required until end of March approx.
2. No one ever complains about having too much Solar, especially through the Dark Months! You cannot have too much!
3. Do not think that having a very large battery bank will help. The larger the battery bank the bigger the Solar input required. Do not forget that if you use conventional batteries (lead acid, AGM etc) you have to keep them charged above 50% or you will damage them. 50% of a large battery bank will obviously need more Solar to charge them.
4. A dual Solar Controller enables me to charge either my Starter Battery or a 2nd Battery Bank simultaneously. The second battery bank can be of a different size or age to the main battery bank. This enables you to add additional batteries at a later stage and of a different storage capacity or use older batteries that are not 100% efficient but still have some life in them after you have upgraded your main battery bank.
Just some thoughts.
Good points for people new to living off grid so thanks for taking the time to share.
Afternoon Ladies,what a video to watch most interesting,Kath you are such a clever young woman to research and work out what you needed to fit your solar panels I really like the tilt design that way you get the best possible energy available, you sure show a lot of men up lol thank you for sharing this with us all really loved it ,take care keep safe have a good week,John 💜💜💐🥂🌹🌹🌈👩🔧♥️
Thanks. Stay safe.
Great informative video Kath. I think you have covered just about everything.
A couple of tips though. With Lead Acid type batteries, (automotive and AGM types, don't use them below about 11.5 volts. This is around the 50% capacity point, otherwise you will reduce the prospective life of the batteries. If you have any panels connected in parallel, put a schottky diode in line with the output of each panel. This will reduce losses when one of the panels is either partly shaded, or in full shade.
Again a great video
Thanks for the tip about the diode. I already know about the battery limitations. I was just using 100a as an easy example of how to calculate watts. This wasn’t a video about battery life or capacity so I didn’t mention it. The assumption being that you would already have a battery bank sized appropriately to meet your needs.
Ya' did pretty good!
Nice vblog, enjoyed it, thank you. Also enjoyed seeing the mooring where Mrs Mouse, Smoky and I used to moor. Amazing views and great walks. I was worried that Smoky would leap over the wall though. Glad you made it down to the G&S, I wanted you to share its lovelyness. Looking forward to next week.
Munchy has made it over the wall. Lots of brambles, so Annamarie went out with the scissors to cut him a hole to get out of!
@@TheNarrowboatExperience wow
Well done Kath your so talented, you both are tbh.
Thanks
Great video. Good to see you had proper supervision, both in the cabin and on the roof 😺😺
Wrong emoji, sorry
Great job Kath. I am amazed. This wasn't a job I could have done. I have a house and I call someone to get things done when needed. 💕💕
I believe anyone can do anything if they have the time to plan and take a careful approach. Same applies to calling people - I'm sure you research who is good value when you are getting people in.
Hi Kath and Annamarie, Great video, just a couple of comments, hope you don't mind! Sorry Kath! The Amp hour of the battery is the amount of amps the battery can deliver from a fully charged position. If your battery was 100 amp hours it will deliver 1 amp for 100 hours, or alternatively you could draw 100 amps for 1 hour, it has no relation to your current draw. When you want to know the amps a product draws and that is expressed in watts (like your kettle, electric heater etc) you take the wattage rating and divide it by the applied voltage, so a kettle that draws 2400 watts when plugged into the wall with an applied voltage of 240 volts will operate at 10 amps. 2400 watts divide by 240 volts = 10 amps (240 volts A.C. is the household voltage here in Aus). Cable size...Sorry again Kath! The cable install from the solar panels to the Voltage convertor charger thingy. The larger the better, larger cable sizes will prevent voltage drop over longer runs and hence ensure the maximum voltage is available to the charger thingy so it can convert it to a more useable voltage to charge your batteries up and ensure you girls are well sorted for power.
I love your videos on such matters as you both seem to do a stack of research into whatever topic you are both getting into. You are then able to articulate the intricacies of your endeavors in very easy speak, so they can be easily understood by us noobies that have never experienced canal life or the challenges this brings.
By the way, I am subscribed and have rung the bell, but I do not seem to get notified any more when you post new youtube videos, not sure what is going on there. A great video Kath and as usual very well explained. Say Hi to Annamarie ( Oh, I have already done that!) Regards A fan from Aus.
A really good interesting vlog
Well Kath I think you are so clever! I dearly want solar on my caravan
Thanks. I recommend solar !
New subscriber here! We finally took the time to subscribe. Had to say job well done on your install of solar panels! We really enjoy watching all you guys and gals in England on your narrowboats. Living in Florida we have canals but unlike in England the canals and waterways aren't like yours. What a lovely way to explore your beautiful country! I've been for a visit way back in 1977 when in High School at 17 years old I loved spending a week seeing lots of sites with a school group. Anyway keep up the good work and stay healthy and safe. Cheers John and Dean
Thanks for subscribing!
Wow. Very informative. It looks really good. That is cool you watch Gone with the Wynn's as well.
Well done Kath.. Really enjoy the mechanics of your narrowboat, plus everything else of course.. 😊👋. Cheers from Kathy in Canada
Really interesting thank you for posting enjoy your time in the shire 👍👍👍
It's a lovely place.
I was going to get our panels fitted by the supplier but I think I will give it a go myself. I feel all confident now I've watched your video.... What could go wrong 🤔 thanks you 🤗