Project House Boat

[jamesn]

Hi All,

I have been lurking on the forum for a little while and following Johannes and Damien on Youtube for ages so it seems only proper to share my project now.
I sold my house in Cornwall to move back to Gloucestershire but rather than geting another boring house with another boring mortgage I decided to play the wild card and build myself a canal boat. The aim either way was to be off grid as much as possible.
We found a boat builder called BlueWaterBoats in Warickshire and so far they are doing an amazing job on fabricating this 60ftx11ft beast, they are doing all the steelwork, painting, sprayfoam insulation, windows, etc. and I will be doing all the internal electrics, plumbing, heating, panelling and fitout along with the most important bit: the electric propulsion system.

[jamesn]

The propulsion system will use two motors with a propellor each as this allows for great manouverability and even the ability to spin on the spot by running one motor in full forwards and the other in full reverse. I have a pair of lynch motors and controllers sat on my bench salvaged from an early EV conversion but I was concerned about whether they would have enough power for cruising up river, they are also 50v controller max or 72v motor max so I would have to split up my HV pack to provide 44v rather than 320v as standard so I have sourced a Mitsubishi Outlander gearbox and inverter. I will try to figure out the CAN commands for the inverter and make a controller from a Teensy or Arduino to drive it but failing that I will replace the logic board and go that route instead.

[willywonka]

A genuine British canal boat! Gotta love it!

[tom91]

The propulsion system will use two motors with a propellor each as this allows for great manouverability and even the ability to spin on the spot by running one motor in full forwards and the other in full reverse... have sourced a Mitsubishi Outlander gearbox and inverter. I will try to figure out the CAN commands for the inverter and make a controller from a Teensy or Arduino to drive it but failing that I will replace the logic board.

You cannot make the Generator spin in reverse with the standard firmware on the front inverter. So you will need a new logic board if this is a hard requirement.

[Isaac96]

You cannot make the Generator spin in reverse with the standard firmware on the front inverter. So you will need a new logic board if this is a hard requirement.

Theoretically it would be possible to reverse motor wires to change direction... But then I assume the resolver would get messed up...

-Isaac

[tom91]

Theoretically it would be possible to reverse motor wires to change direction... But then I assume the resolver would get messed up...

-Isaac

Sorry but this is irrelevant, original post was about having full forward and reverse control NOT reversing the direction of the motor.

[Isaac96]

If

Theoretically it would be possible to reverse motor wires to change direction... But then I assume the resolver would get messed up...

-Isaac

Sorry but this is irrelevant, original post was about having full forward and reverse control NOT reversing the direction of the motor.

I was thinking of just using some contactors and relays to do the job--that would be possible on the fly, granting full forward and reverse control. I suppose it isn't very usable, since back EMF would probably play Old Harry with the relay contacts when switching direction.

-Isaac

[jamesn]

The propulsion system will use two motors with a propellor each as this allows for great manouverability and even the ability to spin on the spot by running one motor in full forwards and the other in full reverse... have sourced a Mitsubishi Outlander gearbox and inverter. I will try to figure out the CAN commands for the inverter and make a controller from a Teensy or Arduino to drive it but failing that I will replace the logic board.

You cannot make the Generator spin in reverse with the standard firmware on the front inverter. So you will need a new logic board if this is a hard requirement.

That is very good to know, I may well be looking at new logic boards then. Unless I get hold of a rear inverter and then use the generator conections on the front inverter to actually connect my generator...

[jamesn]

Its been awhile so time for an update:

The boat went in the water in August:




Fitting out the inside:




Drive system:

[jamesn]

Ooops, lets try that again:
Boat going in the water:

Starting the drive system:

[jamesn]

Fitting out the inside and installing the batteries under the kitchen floor: