I have solar power.

So I finished the painting of the roof on Monday, I spent the evening (having already spent many many hours before) making the final decision on the solar panels and positioning, I changed my mind completely at the final moment so instead of having 2 x 150watt panels, one near the bow and one near the stern, I decided on one larger 240watt high efficiency panel towards the stern butting up against the entrance hatch, a 20amp MPPT controller and all the cables necessary from Midsummer Energy Ltd. Next morning I rang them and discussed delivery options and was very pleasantly surprised to find they could make up the cables with fuse and terminal fittings and deliver next day! The only problem was they needed a definite postcode delivery address and would not accept them texting or ringing me when they were near and me guiding them to where I actually was, so the suggestion was a post office, who should accept parcels. Before placing the order I set off to the local post office and the answer was a definite ‘not unless it’s Parcel Force and only Parcel Force’, so not very helpful, on the way back to the boat I thought I’d be cheeky and ask in the Travel Lodge which is right at the basin where I am moored, they could not have been more helpful, “no problem, here’s our address and postcode, leave your phone number and I will put the details in the diary so everyone on duty behind the desk will know’, a result, no long walk from town carrying a very large fragile solar panel in the wind, well done Travel Lodge. I ordered it all about 11am and spent the afternoon buying wood for the mounting box and sourcing aluminium, Screwfix had just what I needed but next day collection after 12am so I ordered that as well. Wednesday after a trip to the launderette I started making the box, I couldn't do too much until I had the panel to hand, at 12am I went to Screwfix which is the other side of town, about an hour’s round trip on foot. At 3:30 Travel lodge rang to say my parcels had arrived so I collected them and then worked til 9pm finishing the mounting box. Today a couple of quick calls to Midsummer to clarify a couple of points, again very helpful and then fixed it all wired it up and was powered up getting free (apart from the huge outlay costs) energy by about midday. Today is the first day that without running my engine I have ended the day with more charge in the battery’s than I started with, and it wasn't very sunny. Hoorah !! everyone loves a ‘freebie’.

Tilted position (tilts both ways left or right)

So having got my solar panel a lot quicker than I anticipated fitting it meant I have overstayed my 14 days, hopefully no-one will notice a day or two. I will be moving tomorrow rain or shine. The downside to the panel (at the moment) is that I haven’t sat still all afternoon, jumping up and down like a cat on a hot tin roof to see how many volts and amps was I getting, what’s the state of charge and now I am waiting to see when it will stop performing as the sun sets!

Today also my remaining neighbors both left me, Tim and Margaret (N.b. Mollie) left quite early and I was busy wiring up so never thought to get my camera after having said goodbye, then a bit later Carl (N.b. Lizzie Jane) made his escape, the pontoons are now empty apart from Quinquireme.