251. Adding more solar power to my narrowboat

[@chieromancer]

I have no idea what you were talking about. But i like listening to you talk about it.

[@WhatSarahLikes1]

Same. Just put solar in our Motorhome and while guy was explaining it all I heard was Blah blah blah . Very confusing.

[@JR90.]

I was thinking the exact same thing, while watching it.

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Agreed!

[@joycesalkeld3726]

Gobble-di-goop! If I want to install solar I will call you! Lovely to see you though.

[@A1150N_]

Haha me too! 🤷‍♀️

[@peterh9110]

I have never seen a finer example of British precision engineering for those brackets. :)

[@PieterBreda]

I love carefully measured and finely and precisely machined high-end engineering

[@MrMattlock]

Wow David, your electrical, engineering and IT skills have come on leaps and bounds since you first installed solar power. Another great video and I loved the genuine excitement in your voice as you switched it all on and it "didn't go bang". And then, as if the miracle of working solar power wasn't enough for the viewer, you bring out the mop!!! The 41 minutes just flew by.

[@Goodchappy]

We virtually said the same thing! I felt like I was there, partly waiting for a technical glitch (bang) but also knowing that David would have done plenty of research, used previous experience and taken enough care to make sure a bang didn't happen....unless he edited that bit out 🙂

[@bobham919]

its quite a bit different when he got the new batteries and his trepidation he had when hooking them up. there was a small spark when he connected the 2 together. it shocked him not electrically but mentally. lots of water under the boat since then.

[@WaterfrontJustin]

Mooring the cut is still my favorite narrow boat channel

[@DiscoFang]

Cruising the Cut is like a cuppa tea on KZbin

[@kcwheeler6403]

Without knowing you were professionally trained in broadcasting and film,I would guess you were an electronics wizard! Making a wild guess ,your DIY work saved well over a few thousand pounds. Congrats on a job well done.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

David, David, David.... it is a universal fact that when you go to any DIY shop, they will have absolutely have everything you could possibly need EXCEPT what you went there for.

[@interdiction2]

That was the longest and most convoluted infomercial for a microfibre mop I've ever seen . Well done that man, I too would have been anxiously waiting for a loud bang and/or a big blue flash when I switched everything back on. Very interesting though and I hope you get decent power here in England through the winter. One other thing never ceases to amaze, the sun is about 93 million miles away but a few inches of tilt on a solar panel can have a significant effect. Take care. 👍

[@annerimler]

"...you have to plug the cable into the laptop in order for it to show up..." LOL. Fantastic job! You are so brave: drilling holes, hooking up electrical things and configuring stuff. I'm in awe

[@aenorist2431]

Very solid vice on a table made of cardboard. Some genius at work right there :D

[@zenoelea8239]

Brilliant video. I was a tad worried when that marina work bench started jumping about, and even more concerned that the vice was going to part company with it. But all's well that ends well. Job well done.

[@rebeccamackey4878]

you're vlogs always lift our day.. who doesn't love a machine washable mop head ? :D Weed, California USA

[@juadonna]

I love a good mop head, most especially if I'm not the one using it!

[@Moffit366]

I would suggest filling the ends of the cut off tywraps flush, just cutting them leaves an edge that will slice you wide open. As a service and installer of electronic systems I speak from experience.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers. In the interests of science, I have just run my finger along every single cut cable tie and they're all fine :-)

[@learigg]

Mr Moffit has a point. A couple of years ago ty wrap cuts were the number one reason for accessing first aid kits on our IT site. The fact that your cut ends seem ok is probably down to your wire snips being blunt ;) I am impressed by your explanation of connecting two charge controllers to the same battery.

[@phillipwlamb2938]

For amateur radio operators, it's called the "smoke test." Flip the switch and see if smoke comes out of the radio! Well done, I say. And a joy to watch. Plus you look like you're really having fun doing it. A double win for you, and for your fans.

[@great-grandmakirk8828]

Thank you so much, you gave me a wonderful day after watching you bend your metal brackets 😂😂😂 I could listen to you explain how you are doing things all day long. You are so funny even when I’m sure you are not trying be so.👍🏻😍❤️👏🏼 Wow! You are becoming quite the electronic pro. 😂😂 I think sometimes that you are a little wonky ( just kidding) Thank you so much for sharing all of your improvements 👍🏻😍👵🏻🇺🇸 have a great week and stay safe .

[@dejjal8683]

Five years from now, " After all the upgrades to my boat I've realized it is now entirely made of SikaFlex and I will need to buy a new boat."

[@RobEJC]

I read that in David's voice with inflections in the right places and WOW it's funny!

[@kentyhurst7835]

This is definitely not an tourism video. "Overcast and shorten days in Britain " lol. Love the show

[@nateellis628]

I love how subtle you are in reminding us how chilled it is on the cut, don't even know what day it is 🤣

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hahaha I was genuinely confused! ;-)

[@FancyMcDancy]

I loved you confusing Saturday for Sunday. As good an illustration of the relaxed nature of canal life that we will get.

[@CarolWilliams-xp1id]

Ah, it does put a a smile on the day to watch David amiably faffing about seeming to know less than he does. All that actual knowledge about electrical systems, their wiring and computer controls artfully disguised as a sort of hapless Heath-Robinson affair. Another stellar performance,

[@zak2u2]

You notice that too huh? Took me a couple of years to see through that. LOL

[@roygardiner4002]

Yes, he really should go into television....wait...

[@illiath4438]

I'm happy to see that the most important (and exciting) tool was included in the video at the end :) In terms of the rest of the video, good job!

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@Widestone001]

It's the little things, as always! That mop really looks nifty. I am, like everyone, happy to know that you're (sorry for that) buzzing with power. May the power be enough for the long, dark winter days! Good thing winters only last a few months, not years - really gotta watch GOT again some time. :-)

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I APPRECIATE you not turning this VLOG into a series of 'cliffhangers' at each of the key points in the installation!😘 It is already suspenseful enough! Well...job done. We await reports on performance over the upcoming (winter) months.

[@carolynevolpecurley547]

"Good Morning,. It turns out yesterday was Saturday." Classic line. Your videos are the best and now FINALLY I will start your van videos.

[@TheFudgeChicken]

For a guy who always claims he has no idea what he's doing, and that maybe true, you always seem to do a "bang up" job of these DIY projects you undertake. Respect...

[@paulkeogh3518]

Good to see you. I do miss the weekly vlogs, really used to look forward to the next instalment from week to week.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers, I’m producing as many as I can.

[@rotinkerbell]

I really do miss your videos. Lovely to hear your voice. x

[@CruisingTheCut]

But here they are! :-)

[@richardhasler6718]

Ha ha thanks David, that last bit of video of you cleaning the panel was priceless. I hope to see you regularly interrupting my viewing of KZbin channels, in a panel cleaning advert.

[@vincentfiestada]

I was waiting for the table to just cave while you were hammering away 😄

[@danieltadd]

lol, I love this. Pre-empting the flood of comments about solar power, making counter arguments before they appear. Made me chuckle.

[@Vixduffield]

Came for the panels, stayed for the mop. Another great video!

[@mrwilz57]

With the world filled by constant doom and gloom recently, Imagine how happy I was to be given a new " Cruising The Cut " video to watch upon my homecoming this evening. Nice one David 👍

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Yes, my thoughts exactly!

[@Jagcycle]

That message in Chinese actually was a self-destruct initialisation message. Your boat will self-destruct in 7 days... Cheerio!

[@thomofhillbillyhaven8701]

50 years of drilling holes in metal and I never thought about a magnet to keep the rust away… wonderful idea. Brilliant. Thanks

[@r0cketplumber]

When I was seven years old, my family moved to Belgium and I made the mistake of reading Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day". That was frankly terrifying in a cold, dark continental winter.

[@derekwarner6898]

What a pleasure to watch a realistic solar installation without impossible promises of abundant power in typical UK weather conditions. Being a solar user (PV and water heating) I appreciate the honesty of this job well done!!!

[@incognitoatunknown2702]

The excitement was palpable.

[@johnburgess5534]

Wow, as a person whose knowledge of electrics is black goes to negative and red goes to positive, this whole vlog might as well have been in Russian. I still watched it all the way through though which shows the power of your presentation skills. I survived living aboard a constantly cruising narrow boat for 15 years and traversed the whole 2200 miles three times. I had one solar panel utilised when stationery.. never needed any more lekkies . Engine provided all the amps needed via an heave duty alternator. I admire your expertise setting up your system. My mottos is KSS. Best regards. John B.

[@floydbertagnolli944]

I think when you started, you said you weren’t much of a DIY guy but since then you’ve taken on many varied projects with thoroughness and success. congratulations!

[@villaridge]

the ending was the most excited I have ever seen you. I bow down to your realness.

[@cleversolarpower]

17:30 you don't need two charge controllers that are communicating with each other. They both charge on the internal resistance of the battery. When the battery is empty, both charge controllers put as much current into the battery as possible. The reason for communicating is for lead-acid batteries where they need to de-sulfate. Only let one charge controller do that while the other will be set on AGM.

[@henryD9363]

That's correct. It was charging just fine without the communication box. The battery internal resistance will cause each inverter to deliver its maximum current at whatever the battery voltage happens to be. This very efficient

[@TheMarsh777]

Party Pooper!

[@MichaelRBlair]

Came for interesting solar panel installation, stayed for sweet sweet David shoulder shots!

[@johneastman1905]

Well done as a Motivated boat owner … very much enjoyed your defiant attitude to critics .

[@TheGardenKitten]

I know you may not feel the same way, but I always enjoy your DIY vids, thank you again.

[@rodneymaennling5963]

A truly amazing video! You are the most articulate person I know, bringing to ground (pardon me...) one of the most technical subjects I know. You describe with tight clarity, ideal for the ordinary person. Phew, that was a mouthful. I've followed your video work for donkey's years. Thank you! Keep up those wonderful stories. Rodney Maennling Vancouver Island Canada

[@amfwelsh]

He could talk while paint is drying and I would still find it interesting.

[@henrystratton9572]

2 years ago he would have had to hire someone to do that, nice to see how much he’s grown as a full time boater, knows the canals better than anyone now

[@panzer6398]

You don't need to worry about a bang from new electrical. What you need to worry about is the magic smoke escaping. As long as the magic smoke is still inside, you're good!

[@stephenmatthews9378]

Who knew a mop could be so exciting?

[@MrWolfgee]

Always have preferred looking over someone else's shoulder to doing my own work. Thanks

[@normanboyes4983]

David I subscribed to your channel six years ago and have watched most of your videos but rarely commented. I cannot help myself but just have to compare and contrast the much younger David whose technical skills were rudimentary and lacking in confidence, through to the van conversion and fit out where you get into the technical stride and now here where you are gabbling on like all the other You Tube geeks with confidence and allowing us to look at your shoulder while you knit your latest electrical circuit together. Transformational or what? Excellent video and great humour. Thank you.😉👍

[@Haustorium12]

I always get excited when you do one of these videos! you are the reason why I know about narrowboating in the first place. Thank you!

[@garyheap3780]

I definitely need to see a full mop review😁👍

[@CruisingTheCut]

It may yet come to that over winter...

[@davids6533]

Just a tip to offer.. If you put your magnet into a sandwich bag, it would keep most of the metal shavings off of your magnet, making cleaning your magnet much easier at the end of the job. I hope this helps someone.

[@jimwulstan8592]

From Blacksmithing to digital electronic wiring, a little knowledge is a marvellous thing.

[@altowatts1325]

Award Winning Explanation Of How The Charge Controllers Must Be Able To Communicate With One Another 🏆🏆🏆.

[@Rewedanz]

Golly David - I sure do miss your narrowboat videos Sir, you're the best on KZbin (Gin and Tonic on me should I ever be fortunate enough to cross paths with you).

[@FUNKYBOUFFE]

Congrats on another successful project! If you’re not careful you’ll become the handy man around the marina!

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Glad to see the dilithium crystals are fully functional: engage warp speed, measured knots!

[@sciez22]

New video from CtC? Click and it's 40 minutes? Best surprise ever!

[@lucindawilson5510]

gee whizz David well done. I held my breath but yippie all done ..whew.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Whew indeed

[@Nimashet]

I know it's a year on but you know what I just watched this video for the first time and seeing the sheer Joy on your face for the mop. Have a good day

[@swishswish386]

This was a very informative and interesting vid. Who would have thought that a solar panel installation/upgrade could keep me glued to the screen for 40+ minutes

[@henkbarnard1553]

So in 5 1/2 years, there was a sunny day in Great Brittan! Who knew.

[@laviniajohnson9210]

You have explained installation perfectly. Haven't a clue about amps and volts (never have) but the concept of the units makes sense. Think you deserve a rather large cheese sandwich for your effort sir.

[@perkinscove1640]

He doesn't know what day it is...and he doesn't really need to. The man is truly blessed!

[@stevenholton438]

I burst out laughing the way he said it turns out yesterday was Saturday!😄

[@altowatts1325]

Good day from North America. As a fan of great music I appreciated The Nina Simone reference. 🎶🎤 It's A New Dawn. It's A New Day. It's A New Life. And I'm Feeling Good 🎶. Great job on the installation 👍🏾. I did get a good chuckle from watching you swing the hammer in the workshop 😂. Carry on Captain 🏆.

[@christopherwhitelaw1197]

Brilliant! Step by step….accurate and utterly delightful. I am deeply sorry you’ve lost your love of cruising, but I can understand why the summer months is a closed book.

[@dobeedeux]

I enjoyed this vid as usual, but to be honest, my favorite part was the mop. LOL

[@jckirby7994]

I just loved how you. Made this whole operation look so easy... Especially the mop thing .. From Alabama in the US..awesome

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks so much!

[@raytheron]

Excellent job, David! I would not have been able to it that well. Loved the video, btw, and that mop is the bee's knees!

[@mjallenuk]

The end took me by surprise ... after all these years I should have suspected it would happen but I still couldn't help but chuckle. Always a pleasure chap and you utterly deserve a million or so subs.

[@alanjameson8664]

An excellent illustration of why it should be taken care of by the builders when they make one's custom boat! [Speaking as an analogue person.]

[@davidsneddon8508]

More power too you David

[@hans2406]

The mop, the mop. The surprise of the day. Grand ending of the posting. GROOVY.

[@aqueousone]

The explanation of the need for separate controllers to accommodate mismatched panels was excellently laymen-ized and important for anyone considering expanding their own solar system. The climactic ending where you go enthusiastically ultrasonic was so worth waiting for! “... wiping the panels keeping them CLEEEEAN”.

[@henryD9363]

It's very comprehensible, but it's actually not correct. The battery's internal resistance while charging will cause the two inverters to approximately equalize their output. IOW one cannot prevent the other from charging.

[@Sleepy.Time.]

using a magnet to catch the metal bits is cleaver

[@gold4leaf]

yes ... and inside a plastic bag so all you have to do is turn the bag inside out and remove from magnet and the throw away .. the bag not the magnet of course

[@bobham919]

i have watched you for a long time. many times when you are doing something someone will say you should have did it this way or that way. i mounted some on my trailer and truck using well nuts. i had the same issue as i wanted to keep the inner part of my truck nice and clean and did not want to remove the head liner. the well nuts worked fine and no costly tool to buy. you did a nice job dear Sir. carry on.

[@Epitome613]

OMG. That last bit was almost too exciting. ;) Thanks for another great vlog!

[@CruisingTheCut]

My pleasure!

[@celiaty5814]

Watched every bit without understanding much. Still liked the process. Just like kids wanting to play with the box the toy comes in... you found such joy in the extension cleaning pad. WAY TO GO!!! 👍🤣🤣🤣👍

[@ToddTalksTech]

(wipes eyes) well David.. you've proven that in absence of engineered tools, enthusiasm and a large hammer will substitute for just about anything. Bravo!

[@sailingyoumeandjosapea6770]

Wow ! I remember when you first started you was plumbing your washing machine in and it seemed hard for you. Now look how you’ve grown in your abilities not just Normal DIY JOBS but now electrics and solar. I’m very pleased to see this and feeling proud for you . Well done 👏 you are a clever man . Your also very good at explaining things too .

[@leighlawson4854]

At least I understood the mop!!

[@pieceofschmidtgamer]

There's just something indescribably charming about the British Accent.

[@taffetatwist2194]

40 min video about setting up the most satisfying mop scenario I've ever seen!

[@zak2u2]

It was really an advertisement for the mop. David is really a mop salesman with GB as his territory.

[@brynvjones6679]

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din. Spiffing job.

[@stina6762]

Fantastic. I love that you didn’t know what day it was !!! I need a life like that . Love the way the excitement built toward the end , right up to the mop ! 😂👍

[@billharris6886]

Well done David, you should be proud of your accomplishments! I see you did all your homework on this project and, aside from the usual unplanned problems that tend to crop up, everything went fairly well. In this unstable world since covid hit, more panels are a really good idea. As a bonus, it should get you quite noticeably further into winter without shore or engine power. You will probably have 3 to 15 amps coming in when overcast now. You definitely did the right thing by using a charge controller for each of the old and new panels systems. I would recommend putting some labels on the charge controllers and circuit breakers, just to eliminate confusion. I have never seen the need to have the charger controllers talk to each other. Since they are designed to generate a regulated output voltage, if both controllers are set up for the same output voltage, there should be no problems associated with which system is putting charge into the batteries. My system currently has 3 parallel 60 amp charge controllers feeding 5 parallel battery banks. My panels are located 200 feet/61 meters apart so, the solar output is constantly changing. I also like to de-rate every component in my solar system to maximize reliability. In the case of solar controllers, I run a maximum current that is half the rating, which helps everything run cooler. The charge controller communication is handy for online monitoring. I have done considerable testing on the circuit breakers you are using. They are a poor Chinese copy of marine breaker. They generally trip at 1/5 to 1/2 the rated trip current. There are no specs these breakers are designed to so, what you actually get is a bit of a crap shoot. I had so much trouble with them, I tested each one using a calibrated test current, to see where they would trip. After determining the trip current, I would label each one. Also, in reverse engineering these breakers, I have found the contacts and internal connections are good for a maximum of about 40 amps. For my high current breakers, I use the Buss, MRCB breaker, which is much higher quality at a proportionally higher cost. These circuit breakers are rated for a maximum voltage of 24 volts DC. Therefore, I would recommend replacing the breakers you have that are between the charge controllers and solar panels. DC voltages require about 10 times the contact gap over AC. DC will arc a surprising distance when you open a switch, especially if it is carrying high current. So, what this means for your system is: if you try to open your breakers connected to the solar panels during the day, the voltage may arc across the breaker contacts.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Great info about the breakers, cheers. I have also since decided that they work perfectly well without the parallel controller so maybe I'll do an update video in February or March.

[@shirleylynch7529]

What a talent. Very clever man. Well done.

[@oldsteam3618]

From Boat life to Van life to Off Grid life to Mop life David be D man. Thanks David .

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

I can not BELIEVE that I entirely missed this video - the “vice scene” had me howling with laughter ❤🐿 Well done 👍🏼

[@CruisingTheCut]

🤣

[@marlecmarine5393]

Really enjoyable video, the workshop scene bashing metal with a very large 'Irish screwdriver' was hilarious. l love the childish enthusiasm and the total surprise it actually works, brilliant job. Barry Bucknell would have been proud of you.....

[@paulhaynes8045]

Two questions (it would have been three, but I assume the lack of mentions of cheese sandwiches was just an accident!): 1) Will the new panel provide enough power to get you through winter? And, if not, what will you do without a generator? Can you recharge from the engine, without actually traveling? (That was one question - just in three parts!) 2) I know you are no longer cruising, but is that just a short-term decision, or do you intend to restart cruising at some point - even if only occasionally? I know lots of people live on permanently moored houseboats, but it seems a bit puzzling to live on a boat that can so easily (locks aside!) travel and not take advantage of that sometimes. I'm not asking for more cruising vlogs (although they would always be welcome), but more to understand your decision to stop.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, I will have to run the engine to a degree. I have no plans to cruise again.

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

@@CruisingTheCut Ever?

[@spumonihusky]

@@CruisingTheCut sad face ... I've so enjoyed your cruising vlogs. But I understand, interest in an activity waxes and wanes. I'll have to re-view some of your earlier videos.

[@petermagoun7457]

Excellent explantion of a fairly complex system. Nicely done David!

[@azlansharom7011]

“Didn’t go BANG! 💥” 😄👌🏽 Lovely, thank you David. As a landlubber in a land with no canals I’m an avid follower of your tales. And as a newly solar powered homeowner, this episode was particularly fun and much awaited after your earlier teaser. ☺️

[@ronmcdonald466]

"Hello and welcome to the vlog." Aaaahhh! It's a good week now. (Plus, I can't believe how long we've been watching! Must be good stuff.)

[@AdamWyatt-cx4zz]

Detailed, and informative, Well Done!

[@davidpiper3652]

I am SO pleased it's not just me that does not know what day of the week it is. Fantastic, thank you.

[@scottc1589]

You're not the only one, Mr. Piper! (Calling you David would be too confusing)

[@CruisingTheCut]

You are so welcome!

[@coaltit1]

I understood very little of this but enjoyed it none the less

[@timothyboles6457]

Ah the joys of a successful DIY project complete. And nothing burned up!! Bonus!

[@lobstercheescake8264]

Wow. I continue to be gobsmacked by your Electrical/Mechanical engineer abilities.….most wouldn’t even attempt. Love me a simple mop too-Bravo, Dave. Enjoy rolling in your new ampage!!