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Electrical Upgrade-The Beginning

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Cate
Navigator

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199 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/10/2006 : 15:23:33

The boat-1983 Catalina 25
The plan (so far)- Get two new Trojan AGM-27's, install battery switch, connect to system
The question- The switch panels behind the sink are original and the wire connectors under the port setee are a mess. I saw a new Switch panel kit at Catalina Direct for $150

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=618

but I am wondering what others have done to upgrade? I am not an electrical wizard so the solution needs to be fairly simple.

1983 C-25, Standard rig, swing keel

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 20:45:42

I used a WM panel and added it along side of the original panel. It has a switch and fuse for each circuit. Used marine grade stranded wire sized for the circuit and installed PVC conduit to run btry wires and conduit to run circuit wires. Made cover of plexiglass for back of panels on the 79 Cat25 for safety. Soldered the connectors and crimped. Put circuit breakers at each btry so each run is protected. I think I have changed the wiring several times but the panel location is still the same. What are they going to make next that we just have to have on our boats.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 21:08:29

A lot can be done with a couple of these and some new terminal fittings for the wire.

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ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 11:44:04

We used two WM panels (http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/0530.asp?LinkBackProdId=59944), one 6-cct and one 3cct+meter, to get more circuits. The orignal panel was on the side of the engine compartment (we have a diesel) so built a new box next to the galley, same panels would work on the bulkhead behind the sink. There are some pictures on our gallery (http://mattcj.dyndns.org/~ilnadi/gallery/album21) and some write-up on the blog (see signature)
<ul><li>I'd replace the battery cables at least, your local marine shop will crimp the battery terminals if you buy them there (I have two rather nice crimpers but can't see buying a huge one for #4 wire).</li><li>Since our panel moved about 8 feet, I used that as an excuse to re-wire everything except for the wiring to the deck conenctor</li><li>I have a spreadsheet for calculating wire sizes (which I am going to send to tech tips one of these days</li></ul>

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farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 16:53:07

I also used two new panels from WM in my 82 SR/WK, but two, 6 switch panels. But having one with the meter is a good idea. The original panel is also behind the sink but wasn't worth trying to fix, all switches were bad. On mine I enlarged the single panel hole toward the AC breaker switch to accomadate the twin panels edge to edge and relocated the breaker toward the starboard. I also used a router to cut a round hole for the two battery main switch and mounted it flush with the formica backsplash that a PO had covered the teak paneling with. I made a cover for the back of the battery switch out of a small scrap of formica also. I crimped all the small connectors and then sealed them with 'Liquid Electrical Tape', a liquid vinyl that comes in a can. Large main battery wires were soldered and sealed. Each switch has its own fuse and I will add a main fuse to the batteries this fall. With autopilot, stereo, radio, waterpump, etc., I went from five switches to eleven (I have one spare). Sorry , I'm new at this too, and don't have pictures.

Paul

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cdreamonly
1st Mate

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27 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2006 : 21:00:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cate
 The boat-1983 Catalina 25
The plan (so far)- Get two new Trojan AGM-27's, install battery switch, connect to system
The question- The switch panels behind the sink are original and the wire connectors under the port setee are a mess. I saw a new Switch panel kit at Catalina Direct for $150

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=618

but I am wondering what others have done to upgrade? I am not an electrical wizard so the solution needs to be fairly simple.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I read your post and am in the same spot as you. I have an 83 wing keel (the previous owner replaced the swing keel) which I purchased last year. It had been sitting for a couple of seasons and the electrics are kind of a mess (seems to be common from what I've read), so this past winter I put it on my list to get everything working again. Like you I am not very experienced with wiring and such but figured that I would go ahead do it anyhow. My goal is to try to return the boat to it's "original condition" and not do any major upgrades.
I purchased the mast wiring harness and replacement electrical panel from CD, and an AC marine circuit breaker from West Marine. Last fall I disconnected all the old wires and pulled the existing bulkhead from out behind the sink. It came out easy being held in place with just a few screws. I then made a new bulkhead using the old one as a template and tried to arrange everything on it so that it looked neat on the front and hopefully neat and uncluttered on the back. My next step is to install the bulkhead and reconnect everything. (wish me luck)

Good luck with your project...

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.