Energy Management Project

NEWSLETTER

We are now several weeks into our Big Lottery Fund project and we now have in place the electrical framework to expand and complete our energy management project.

Since our last blog posting we have taken delivery of the equipment for the first phase of this project and installed it in the partially rebuilt engine room/crews cabin. Before we look at this new setup it is worth taking stock of what we have undertaken so far in this essential project.

Planning Phase

When we took over the charity in 2009 we had been made aware that the previous year there had been a major power failure as a result of a whole section of 50mm cable breaking down.

Once the new team had taken a good luck at all the wiring, how electricity was generated and all the associated problems, we knew we had no option but to develop a new system and replace the bulk of the equipment and wiring.

The first thing we had to do was to reduce the reliance on the generator as everything on Challenge was electric and linked to the generator. Hence, no power, no cooking, no battery charging, no pumps, no lift and no lights.

The first thing we did was reinstall gas as part of our galley refurbishment. The cooker, toaster and kettle were slung out. The next thing was to design a system that provided us with energy 24/7 and the primary battery charging came from the main engine and not the generator.

Funding the Project

Funding was always going to be a problem as estimated costs put this project at around £10k. This is more than twice the annual income of our small charity, which essentially is just enough for our annual running costs.

Fortunately we were successful in being awarded an ‘Awards for All’ grant from The Big Lottery Fund, http://www.awardsforall.org.uk This grant has now enabled us to take forward our project that will now put our charity and our activities on a firm footing for the foreseeable future.

What we have done so far

• Stripped out all the old panelling, timber framework and old insulation.
• Strengthened the floor and substructure for the new battery bank.
• Rebuilt the port side walls with higher grade insulation.
• Stripped out or rerouted all the 24V and 240V wiring.
• Installed a new 240V distribution board with RCD protection.
• Installed a new 24V distribution board.
• Replace the old 2x110amh battery bank with a 6x110amh bank.
• Installed a new Victron 24V Inverter/Charger & associated controls.
• Resited the main engine and generator batteries.
• Replaced all the 50 & 70mm cables to batteries, equipment and main busbar.
• Installed new fuse carriers/fuses & battery isolators.
• Replaced the 12V alternator with a 24V model and splitter system
• Drank loads of coffee and consumed copious amounts of cup-a-soup
 
 

Although it's nice to see pretty photos with any project, we've decided to pull them all together in the short film above.

 

Where to next?

The frozen kettle

Because winter’s fast approaching and we’ve ripped out the walls, ceiling and insulation, we need to ensure we get the insulation back ASAP. Our past experience of an uninsulated steel boat has not been a pleasant one. Icicles hanging from the ceiling, frozen water in the kettle and dripping water every.

Over the next few weeks we will be getting the rest of the walls/ceiling rebuilt and insulated. At the same time we’ll be putting in place the plans and work programme for the second phase of the project, the solar and wind power charging.

Nearer Christmas we may even treat our volunteers to an economy brand mince pie, and, if they play their cards right, we may even consider letting them have Christmas Day off.