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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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
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
🙈 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 👍🏻
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!
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.
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
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.
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 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 🤗
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 💜💜💐🥂🌹🌹🌈👩🔧♥️
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.
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.
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 😎
We had ours fitted by Onboard Solar and one of the things he pointed out on his site, that doesn't get mentioned often, was this :-"Importantly, these panels are rated at 165W with an output of 18V giving an output of 9.5 amps. Many suppliers use "domestic" spec panels. These are much bulkier and output typically 250W (which sounds much higher doesn't it?). However, they output at a much higher voltage - typically 48V so their actual current output is 5.2 amps. Be aware that in 12V or low voltage applications, AMPS are key not watts and AMPS are arrived at by taking WATTS and dividing by VOLTS.". These smaller panels leave plenty of space to walk on the roof. He now does 215W panels. He did the whole job in under 2 hours and came to us out on the cut. Highly
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.
Hi, nice vlog. And you explain it well, When determining how many solar panels you would need . I first loocked at the space on the roof. The more solar panels are overrated and daylicht is not always ideal especially in winter. Oke, in the summer you have too much energy , but in the winter it also nice if you can manage with the panels. Greatings, Sjoerd from Amsterdam.
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.
In wintertime the sun altitude is low, that means you will tilt the panels almost vertical to get a little power.During winter you have sometimes a huge gale. Be careful during these windy days. Never underestimate the wind force on your vertical placed panels.
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.
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.
Almost the same stuff as me 😁4*neon 2 all black 320w, option 2 of your three types of brackets, and a 150/100 Victron. I used self drilling and tapping fittings and sikaflex. 24 holes !! I get make power (1280w) about twice a year. Watch out for shading from cats!!
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 🇦🇺
There’s a reason they raise up much more slanted than CruisingTheCut’s panels, for instance. If they’re slanted at 55 degrees the cats aren’t gonna be laying on them.
When we were planning our boat, we visited Crick Show several times. There was a woman there showing her boat and she said not to even tink about installing solar panels on our boat - "because no one will talk to you on the canals because they are not traditional." So we installed four panels - big ones. And we get loads of people talking to us.
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
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
I have no reason to watch this video, don't care about the subject but I turned it on anyway and watched the whole thing and enjoyed it and found it very interesting.
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.
Well done on getting extra solar. Personally, I would go for the third solar panel as well to help cover your power needs through the darker months from October to January. The next step is Lithium-ion batteries 8--)
Having spent a while checking power output, I'm still not sure that the 3rd panel was a worthwhile investment just for 2 - 3 months a year. We've had plenty of power the whole of October (so far). Only time will tell and the great thing is I can still add one later if needs be.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience Yes, October has been good. I find it's when you get two or three dull days in a row that you need all the solar you can fit. You can, of course, always run the engine, but I really like the silence of solar. If you look in the files section of the '12 volts boating' group on Facebook ( 12 volts plural is important as there are two groups with similar names) there's an excellent chart and explanation of how much solar you need to provide a given amount of Amp hours of power during each month of the year here in the UK.
Finances permitting I have to agree. The only things that should limit the size of a solar install are available space and budget as solar (or battery storage) is one of those things you can't have too much of. No rush tho, the charge controller is large enough for more panels so if they find they need them they can get one then. As for Lithium batteries the jury is still out on those for house battery use in boats and RVs, a lot of RV owners have been very disappointed in the new Li packs and have gone back to AGMs. I'd be more inclined to go for a pair of 100 amp hour brand name AGMs for 1/3rd of the price.
Nice work! Oh BTW the amount of power you use in a day is expressed in amp hours not amps. An amp hour is one amp of current being drawn for one hour. You also need to consider the rate of draw, a battery will be rated at xx amp hours at a rate of xx amps. The higher the draw the less you will get out of the battery. Mind you I suspect you already know most of this.
Yes I do already know this. I was just using 100a as an easy example of how to calculate watts. This wasn’t a video about battery life, only about making sure your solar would be enough to recharge them. The assumption being that you already had a battery back with the capacity to meet your usage needs.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience Cool, it's just that you used the term "we use about 100 amps a day" or the like which jarred my "get it right" nerve. Don't mind me, nothing to see here :)
An electrically conductive connection between stainless steel and aluminum will corrode when left out in the open. Nylon washers will be useful, as may some elecrical tape. At teh very leaset keep an eye on the steel bolts and especially the holes they go through.
Finances permitting I have to agree. The only things that should limit the size of a solar install are available space and budget as solar (or battery storage) is one of those things you can't have too much of.
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.
You say when things break down you do it with a smile. So when the weather is over cast .just get kath and Annamarie to smile at the solar panels instant power lol stay safe girls
Energy is Wattsxhours or Power x time. It is the energy usage you need to calculate. A kettle draws 2200watts but that isn’t telling you how long you use it for. Your Solar Panels are not providing your Power usage, your batteries do that. Your solar panels are replacing your consumption of power over time. Volts equate to a height of Electricity, Amps relate to the amount of electricity flowing Volts x Current (I in amps) = VI = W (watts). K means 1000 as in kilo so Kw is Kilowatts Energy is Watts x time or KiloWatts times Hours. kWh A 100w panel will produce 20W at dawn and dusk, 70w flat on your boat at midday, if you have full sunlight. If you track the sun you will improve these figures, but use energy doing so..... You will therefore need 7 panels to get 350watts over 10hrs or 3500wh or 3.5kWh.. Now you need batteries to store this in. 3500/12 is the AmpHours assuming you can use the whole capacity of your batteries. Or double that to account for the fact you can only discharge your batteries to 50% so 7000/12 or 583ampH batteries. If hot water is one of your requirements, you can pump excess energy into your Calorifier directly, and just produce electricity from your batteries. A Hot fill washing machine for example, will use much less energy and you could replace some solar panels with thermal panels instead, produce less electricity, but hot water. Solar panels work most effectively at 25C, so you could save 2.4% per degree loss in hot weather, by water cooling the underside of your panels and recovering the heat into your hot water tank.
Good job . I see the panels can only tilt one way so if the sun is on the other side and the panels left flat you won't get the maximum energy ? Good planning and research girls and of course great DIY installation :-)
Great vlog! With the low levels of solar light during the winter (just recently realized that Great Britain is further north than Seattle!), I can see why long-term and winter moorers supplement with small wind turbines to augment to solar.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience agreed. Lots of YT reviews out there on various brands, but narrowboat life would add certain qualifiers over some fixed homeowner adding one. Sounds like more research needed ;-)
Brilliant vid Kath and well done on such a professional installation. I always wondered if your original single 'sticker' solar panel actually provided enough energy.
Lovely job on the installation. One thingy to remember is electric current is like water and follows the path of least resistance. With dc current it's better to use the bigger power line, you will have better performance with the charging and overall performance of the panel. Good luck and stay safe you and your lovely kitty's.
Great vlog thanks Kath. Very informative and waiting for the follow up. An unrelated question please if you don’t mind, we’ve just come back from our annual hiring, never been this late in the year before, and we had a lot of condensation in the mornings. Do you suffer from this with your diesel heater? I know David CC uses a window vacuum to suck up the water on his boat, but he has a multi fuel stove. TIA
Hi Sally, if we have the refleks on all night we don’t really have condensation in the area with the stove in the morning when we wake up. There might be some in the workroom but not a lot at the moment. if we cook or dry clothes during the day there might be some but not enough for the vacuum at the moment. When we were running the radiator heating we had condensation everywhere. We also have a window vac.
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.
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 .
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!
Thanks very much for this video. It has helped me understand how to proceed with getting solar power for my narrow boat 👍
Wow. Very Good! As an electrician and field service engineer, I feel I can say that you nailed it nearly perfectly.
Thanks
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.
Everyone should have a Kath!
You’re amazing with what you can do on your boat.
Thanks Brenda
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.
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
Kath splaining everything to do with solar panels.👍👍
Had to be done!
Very clear explanation of the thinking behind choosing and installing the right solar panels. Thanks Kath.
Thanks
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
Thank you Kath, can't wait for the next two videos 😊😊
6:24 nice to see all 3 cats in one shot.
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
🙈 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!
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.
Many thanks. Sharing your experience and the careful research you put in before you made your choices is very helpful.
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!
Love the two 'assistants'. Well done. :)
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 ;-)
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!
Cath, you have DIY in your DNA !
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.
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!
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 !
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
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.
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 🤗
Been watching the cats during your excellent review on the panels, very informative information.
Kath your a mine of useful information, you really should consider publishing a narrow boaters handbook.
Can't fool me. Munchie did all the hard work. :)
Hats off to you my sister for doing a good job. This is an important video. Thanks.
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.
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.
Well done Kath. A good introduction to solar power, well explained
Thank you!
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.
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.
We had ours fitted by Onboard Solar and one of the things he pointed out on his site, that doesn't get mentioned often, was this :-"Importantly, these panels are rated at 165W with an output of 18V giving an output of 9.5 amps. Many suppliers use "domestic" spec panels. These are much bulkier and output typically 250W (which sounds much higher doesn't it?). However, they output at a much higher voltage - typically 48V so their actual current output is 5.2 amps. Be aware that in 12V or low voltage applications, AMPS are key not watts and AMPS are arrived at by taking WATTS and dividing by VOLTS.".
These smaller panels leave plenty of space to walk on the roof. He now does 215W panels. He did the whole job in under 2 hours and came to us out on the cut. Highly
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
Hi, nice vlog. And you explain it well, When determining how many solar panels you would need . I first loocked at the space on the roof. The more solar panels are overrated and daylicht is not always ideal especially in winter. Oke, in the summer you have too much energy , but in the winter it also nice if you can manage with the panels. Greatings, Sjoerd from Amsterdam.
Brilliant work & well explained Cath....stay safe.....thanks for sharing
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.
Kath is a genius! Ask me something medical but to install solar panels,? Negatory!!🏆🏆
In wintertime the sun altitude is low, that means you will tilt the panels almost vertical to get a little power.During winter you have sometimes a huge gale. Be careful during these windy days. Never underestimate the wind force on your vertical placed panels.
Excellent explanation Kath well done!
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
Not just for walking on, cat scratching as well, they should put that in the ads for those flexible panels😂😂
Very well done, Kath. Viewing from Ohio.
Well Kath I think you are so clever! I dearly want solar on my caravan
Thanks. I recommend solar !
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.
Almost the same stuff as me 😁4*neon 2 all black 320w, option 2 of your three types of brackets, and a 150/100 Victron. I used self drilling and tapping fittings and sikaflex. 24 holes !! I get make power (1280w) about twice a year. Watch out for shading from cats!!
Thats a lot of holes!
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 🇦🇺
Excellent video. Well done and thankyou. I will definitely pay attention to this when I get my narrowboat
Glad it was helpful!
Did you take into account Cat occultation when sizing your panels?
There’s a reason they raise up much more slanted than CruisingTheCut’s panels, for instance. If they’re slanted at 55 degrees the cats aren’t gonna be laying on them.
Probably when shooting last part of the video.
Like dam! Didn't take inconsidoration the cat occlips 😜
Well done Kath.. Really enjoy the mechanics of your narrowboat, plus everything else of course.. 😊👋. Cheers from Kathy in Canada
Another awesome and very informative video. Well done and thanks for all the helpful info. Stay safe and well.
Thanks
When we were planning our boat, we visited Crick Show several times. There was a woman there showing her boat and she said not to even tink about installing solar panels on our boat - "because no one will talk to you on the canals because they are not traditional."
So we installed four panels - big ones. And we get loads of people talking to us.
People have funny ideas!
She will be one of the 'traditional boaters' with the engine or a generator running all day and night, if they ever came off shore power.🤣
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
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!
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
I have no reason to watch this video, don't care about the subject but I turned it on anyway and watched the whole thing and enjoyed it and found it very interesting.
Thanks!
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...
Well done on getting extra solar. Personally, I would go for the third solar panel as well to help cover your power needs through the darker months from October to January. The next step is Lithium-ion batteries 8--)
Having spent a while checking power output, I'm still not sure that the 3rd panel was a worthwhile investment just for 2 - 3 months a year. We've had plenty of power the whole of October (so far). Only time will tell and the great thing is I can still add one later if needs be.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience Yes, October has been good. I find it's when you get two or three dull days in a row that you need all the solar you can fit. You can, of course, always run the engine, but I really like the silence of solar. If you look in the files section of the '12 volts boating' group on Facebook ( 12 volts plural is important as there are two groups with similar names) there's an excellent chart and explanation of how much solar you need to provide a given amount of Amp hours of power during each month of the year here in the UK.
Thanks for the info, I'll take a look.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience There's a chart for lead acid batteries and one for lithium-ion which makes for an interesting comparison.
Finances permitting I have to agree. The only things that should limit the size of a solar install are available space and budget as solar (or battery storage) is one of those things you can't have too much of. No rush tho, the charge controller is large enough for more panels so if they find they need them they can get one then.
As for Lithium batteries the jury is still out on those for house battery use in boats and RVs, a lot of RV owners have been very disappointed in the new Li packs and have gone back to AGMs. I'd be more inclined to go for a pair of 100 amp hour brand name AGMs for 1/3rd of the price.
Good information and well presented. Thank you.
Nice work!
Oh BTW the amount of power you use in a day is expressed in amp hours not amps. An amp hour is one amp of current being drawn for one hour. You also need to consider the rate of draw, a battery will be rated at xx amp hours at a rate of xx amps. The higher the draw the less you will get out of the battery. Mind you I suspect you already know most of this.
Yes I do already know this. I was just using 100a as an easy example of how to calculate watts. This wasn’t a video about battery life, only about making sure your solar would be enough to recharge them. The assumption being that you already had a battery back with the capacity to meet your usage needs.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience Cool, it's just that you used the term "we use about 100 amps a day" or the like which jarred my "get it right" nerve. Don't mind me, nothing to see here :)
An electrically conductive connection between stainless steel and aluminum will corrode when left out in the open. Nylon washers will be useful, as may some elecrical tape. At teh very leaset keep an eye on the steel bolts and especially the holes they go through.
Finances permitting I have to agree. The only things that should limit the size of a solar install are available space and budget as solar (or battery storage) is one of those things you can't have too much of.
Well done Kath!
Thank you!!
Thanks Carhy for that information very informative. You did a great job. Very impressed.
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!
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.
You say when things break down you do it with a smile. So when the weather is over cast .just get kath and Annamarie to smile at the solar panels instant power lol stay safe girls
Better get outside to try that now. Very grey today :-(
Excellent video Kath well explained details easily understood .Waiting for the next instalment already . Happy cruising George .
Thanks
Very nice and quite useful. Thanks you!
Very thorough - thanks!
We’ve got the same ones ! Xxx good on ya girls.
These new panels and gas stove should make your winters a lot easier. Roughly how much increase is the panels providing for you? 4x? Ish.
Great job, Kath! I watched the entire video and I don't even own a narrow boat!
Thanks for sticking with it!
Energy is Wattsxhours or Power x time. It is the energy usage you need to calculate. A kettle draws 2200watts but that isn’t telling you how long you use it for. Your Solar Panels are not providing your Power usage, your batteries do that. Your solar panels are replacing your consumption of power over time.
Volts equate to a height of Electricity,
Amps relate to the amount of electricity flowing
Volts x Current (I in amps) = VI = W (watts). K means 1000 as in kilo so Kw is Kilowatts
Energy is Watts x time or KiloWatts times Hours. kWh
A 100w panel will produce 20W at dawn and dusk, 70w flat on your boat at midday, if you have full sunlight. If you track the sun you will improve these figures, but use energy doing so..... You will therefore need 7 panels to get 350watts over 10hrs or 3500wh or 3.5kWh.. Now you need batteries to store this in. 3500/12 is the AmpHours assuming you can use the whole capacity of your batteries. Or double that to account for the fact you can only discharge your batteries to 50% so 7000/12 or 583ampH batteries. If hot water is one of your requirements, you can pump excess energy into your Calorifier directly, and just produce electricity from your batteries. A Hot fill washing machine for example, will use much less energy and you could replace some solar panels with thermal panels instead, produce less electricity, but hot water. Solar panels work most effectively at 25C, so you could save 2.4% per degree loss in hot weather, by water cooling the underside of your panels and recovering the heat into your hot water tank.
Great video. Good to see you had proper supervision, both in the cabin and on the roof 😺😺
Wrong emoji, sorry
Thanks I'm looking at a boat and you two ladies are teaching me a lot
Good luck with the boat buying.
Super informative video! Thanks Cath. Love the feline photo-bombing throughout. More cats in your future videos please. 🐈🐾😊
I will pass on your request to the cats.
Good job . I see the panels can only tilt one way so if the sun is on the other side and the panels left flat you won't get the maximum energy ? Good planning and research girls and of course great DIY installation :-)
Very beautiful.
Great vlog! With the low levels of solar light during the winter (just recently realized that Great Britain is further north than Seattle!), I can see why long-term and winter moorers supplement with small wind turbines to augment to solar.
I am interested to know how much power the little wind turbines generate.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience agreed. Lots of YT reviews out there on various brands, but narrowboat life would add certain qualifiers over some fixed homeowner adding one. Sounds like more research needed ;-)
@@t1n4444 - you still get vibrations from them. They can keep you awake at night.
That was really useful. Thanks
Kath is as handy as a pocket on a shirt!
Seems you have a Munchie shaped shadow on your solar panels. I'm sure it was nice and warm.
He likes to be involved 😉
Brilliant vid Kath and well done on such a professional installation. I always wondered if your original single 'sticker' solar panel actually provided enough energy.
Thanks. The original panel would be fine if we didn't work I think.
The cats are always the star love your video
They know it too!
Very interesting. Stay safe until the next one. Greetings from Germany.
Wow very interesting cath, nice job
Awesome presentation.
well done Cath, you nailed it!
Massive storage !
Lovely job on the installation. One thingy to remember is electric current is like water and follows the path of least resistance. With dc current it's better to use the bigger power line, you will have better performance with the charging and overall performance of the panel. Good luck and stay safe you and your lovely kitty's.
CATS! Looking forward to the follow on vlogs...great job with this one.
Thanks
Great vlog thanks Kath. Very informative and waiting for the follow up. An unrelated question please if you don’t mind, we’ve just come back from our annual hiring, never been this late in the year before, and we had a lot of condensation in the mornings. Do you suffer from this with your diesel heater? I know David CC uses a window vacuum to suck up the water on his boat, but he has a multi fuel stove. TIA
Hi Sally, if we have the refleks on all night we don’t really have condensation in the area with the stove in the morning when we wake up. There might be some in the workroom but not a lot at the moment. if we cook or dry clothes during the day there might be some but not enough for the vacuum at the moment. When we were running the radiator heating we had condensation everywhere. We also have a window vac.
Thanks Kath, interesting.
Very instructive and well-presented 👍🏻