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Upgraded electrical system

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jaclasch
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USA
104 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/28/2006 : 16:24:53

The addition of a new outboard with electric start last Fall inspired me to upgrade my electrical system. I spent quite a bit of time thinking and planning. Usually when I do this, the project ends sometime during the thinking and planning but this time it moved forward. I came up with three main objectives:

1. Nothing in the black hole behind the sink except the ac breaker. I need to have things in plain sight so I don't go off and leave switches on.

2. A simple, easy-to-maintain system.

3. Use do-it-yourself fabrication where possible and save boat units for other things.

I found I could buy a 12" x 12" x 3.5" aluminum "project box" at an electronics store. The box would almost fit my selected location at the aft end of the starboard settee and would contain everything. I needed to reduce height by 1/4 inch so I bandsawed that amount off and filled the open end with a 5/16" thick base that I made from some scrap plastic. I made the faceplate from a scrap piece of 1/8" aluminum plate and had it powdercoated. Some teak scraps provided the outside trim. The dc breaker unit was already in the "black hole."

This is what I ended up with.

Two group-24 batteries reside in the battery compartment.

The battery fuses are in another project box installed flush with the fiberglass.

The dc wires are routed to a buss in the old (black hole) location via 3/4" blue plastic conduit. This conduit, from Lowe's, is great to work with. For easy bends, just bend it slowly with your hands. For tight bends, warm it with a heat gun. The 3/4" diameter conduit will easily accomodate a bundle of eight 12 ga. wires.

The starting circuit wires are routed inside the coaming. I used 6 ga. wire to the point where the 8 ga. motor cables connect.

I installed a trolling motor plug in the aft end of the coaming to make life easier when I need to take the motor off for any reason.

All the electrics functioned perfectly on first try even though my boat still has embedded non-tinned wire to some circuits. These are scheduled for replacement at some point. I spent a fair amount of time the past winter on this project but I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoy the results.

James
1983 FK/TR
Tiempo Dorado

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 17:31:23

James,

Great job! Congratulations. And thanks for sharing the details with us.

-- Leon Sisson

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 21:49:03

Nice work, James!

Regarding the photo with the blue conduit, what perspective was the picture taken from? I can't seem to figure out where on the boat that is.

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 21:59:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Nice work, James!

Regarding the photo with the blue conduit, what perspective was the picture taken from? I can't seem to figure out where on the boat that is.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Quarterberth bilge looking to port under the galley sink from starboard. The conduit is entering the sail locker bulkhead aft of the drawers under the galley sink.

P.s. VERY nice job, James. I bet there are some stories to be told about installing the wires behind the settee backrest and into the battery compartment. That is, if you've quit cussing yet. ;-)

Edited by - Sea Trac on 04/28/2006 22:01:13

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 22:09:28

Ah yes, the quarterberth. I don't know if I've ever stuck my head in there. The drawer frames look look really good, James! They look like finished maple.

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jaclasch
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 22:16:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Nice work, James!

Regarding the photo with the blue conduit, what perspective was the picture taken from? I can't seem to figure out where on the boat that is.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The photo was taken from under the quarter berth by just removing the large board, poking the camera down and taking pics until one of them shows what you want to show. To the left is where the conduit enters the portside locker which is intended, I think, for sails. I spent some time in it reworking the wiring behind the original panel location. Almost straight ahead you are looking under the sink area. To the right in the picture is where the conduit sweeps around under the stairs and proceeds starboard and then up into the panel box. The clamp you see is midpoint under the stairs.

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jaclasch
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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 22:19:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Ah yes, the quarterberth. I don't know if I've ever stuck my head in there. The drawer frames look look really good, James! They look like finished maple.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The drawers were actually an earlier project which I will be posting next.

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jaclasch
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 22:25:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Nice work, James!

Regarding the photo with the blue conduit, what perspective was the picture taken from? I can't seem to figure out where on the boat that is.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Quarterberth bilge looking to port under the galley sink from starboard. The conduit is entering the sail locker bulkhead aft of the drawers under the galley sink.

P.s. VERY nice job, James. I bet there are some stories to be told about installing the wires behind the settee backrest and into the battery compartment. That is, if you've quit cussing yet. ;-)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Interestingly enough, the hole for the battery fuses made it relatively easy to work in that area because you can reach quite a ways through it. The killer (at least for me) was getting into the sail locker and contorting around to work on the old wiring which had several bad splices wrapped in old degraded tape. My back and legs did most of the cussing.

Edited by - jaclasch on 04/28/2006 22:27:09

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