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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Electrical Overhaul

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Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/14/2011 : 13:08:12

.....so this weekend, i wanted to check out the entire electrical system BEFORE plugging it in for the first time to shore power.....no battery, and an ice chest full of wiring bits and a 5gl bucket of saveable parts I am on a quest to redo the wiring from shore power plug to fuse panel.

If anyone has a favored link, or location. I am currently looking up AC isolators, re-using 1 of the 2 battery chargers I found, likely re-using the fuse panel, battery switch and undecided on teh AC circuit breaker switches. Does anyone use the cigarette lighter? Also now going to have to include rebedding the depth transducer and new plumbing lines due to overenthusiastic removal of wires.... :O)

s/v No Worries, O'Day 28
PO Moe'Uhane - C25 SR/FK #1746

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2011 : 19:00:09

If you want to do things really right . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Boatowners-Illustrated-Electrical-Handbook-Charlie/dp/0071446443/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1308103042&sr=8-3

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/wire_termination

Good luck!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2011 : 09:24:58

I did what OJ said and the help from Voyager was an enlightenment. I had done electrical work for years (AC) and I had always kinda been sloppy on DC with sloppy results ( read: left in the dark )

It really helped me reviewing the proper crimping procedures. Ya don't know what ya don't know. (Still to lazy to heat shrink.. in freshwater)

I now see the light.

Edited by - on

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2011 : 10:55:26

Whoops... there goes that whooshing sound again...

Edited by - on

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 00:19:41

Michael...

I was planning to add a 12v power outlet to mine. Seemed like a good idea to be able to use a car charger for my cell phone on the boat. I also have a small inverter I can use with it.

I'm actually in the process of revamping all my electrical as well. I'd like to wire in a charger and inverter, as well as solar eventually. Anyone know if it's possible to have the 110 outlets switch between shore and inverter power? Also, are there any recommended in-line changers and inverters? My searching is turning up all kinds of results. Not sure where to begin or which info I trust.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 07:01:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dolivaw
 . . . Not sure where to begin or which info I trust . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know I keep referring people to this person's blogs, but he's an extremely knowledable guy with a burning passion for boat maintenance.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/inverter_inefficiency

The kinds of questions you are asking may be geared more towards applications found on larger boats. If you don't get the repsonses you are looking for here - I recommend sailnet.com, the Gear & Maintenance section.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/

Edited by - on

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 11:32:04

Thanks for pointing that out OJ... He really seems to be is a wealth of good advice.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5445 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 21:06:09

I've got two 12V lighter plugs in the galley area for charging my handheld VHF radio, the LED lantern, the portable FM radio and for plugging in an inverter. The fixture is rated for 15A and the inverter has a 10A fuse in it. I use it for my laptop charger and phone charger.

I've also got an electrical outlet in the starboard coaming with a 12V lighter plug and a GPS connection to my permanently mounted VHF radio with DSC. This way I can watch the GPS while on deck and provide Lat/Lon to the radio in case I need to hit the panic button.

I use the lighter plug up on deck for a LED lantern, my FM radio and my 12V car-vacuum cleaner. Works great.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2011 : 11:11:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dolivaw
 

Anyone know if it's possible to have the 110 outlets switch between shore and inverter power? Also, are there any recommended in-line changers and inverters? My searching is turning up all kinds of results. Not sure where to begin or which info I trust.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes it is, and it depends on which inverter you purchase. Many of them allow you to wire your AC outlets into the inverter. However, and this is a MUST, you MUST have a switch that ASSURES that you NEVER have shorepower AND the inverter on at the same time. Blue Seas makes one, model 8032. Shorepower in --- to inverter --- back to AC main breaker. http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,833.0.html

What info do you not trust?

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 06/18/2011 11:14:39

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2011 : 15:11:07

Thanks Stu... great info! =)

What I don't trust is mostly manufacturer and retailer claims in ads and on-line. I've been caught too many times buying the 'greatest thing' only to find it a waste of money.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2011 : 05:22:12

Cig Plug ins.. I added one aft, one mid, and one in the forward cabin. I like the West Marine plastic plug but epoxy glue the back plate on better, or simply check to see that it was glued/fused properly the first time.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2011 : 10:57:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dolivaw
 Thanks Stu... great info! =)

What I don't trust is mostly manufacturer and retailer claims in ads and on-line. I've been caught too many times buying the 'greatest thing' only to find it a waste of money.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Glad to help.

If you have "issues" with the glossy ads for equipment, my recommendation has always been to download and read the instruction manuals that come with the equipment. That's the ONLY way I know of to truly find out the details (beyond the basic specs in the glossies). With the internet, it ain't hard to do. All the inverters you have in mind are easy to download.

That said, the real "issue" you have is whether or not you actually need (compared to want) to connect your few AC receptacles to the inverter and spend the $$ on the 8032 switch. Most inverters come with receptacles on them. Depending on what you plan to power, for a boat the size of our C25s, it may be easier to simply use those receptacles with short extension cords. On my boat, which is bigger, it was silly to NOT connect the built in receptacles on the boat, since there are outlets in the V berth, aft cabin, and both sides of the main cabin.

Think about it before you dive in.

There are in-line combined inverter/chargers, like the Freedom and Magnum units, but I think it's way overkill for a C25. I have a Freedom 15. If I were you, I'd consider a separate quality charger then the inverter of your choice, hard wired or use a plug-in as discussed. However, and this is a big BUT, size the wiring to the cigarette lighter carefully, since most of them are wired with small wire which won't support an inverter, however small it may be.

When we bought our C34 in 1998, I went through exactly what you are doing. So, I wrote up a simple comparison sheet with the different models and the wiring costs necessary to put them all together. Don't even need a spreadsheet, just a nice blank piece of paper.

Good luck, and come back if you have more questions.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 06/20/2011 11:10:21

dolivaw
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2011 : 12:58:20

Thanks Stu...

I know what you mean... I have a very long list of things I may want to do, that may or may not be things I should do. Right now there's 94 items on my to-do/wish list, and that's not including the v-berth hot tub. =)

In the end we'll see what makes the cut.

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2011 : 15:25:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dolivaw
 . . . Not sure where to begin or which info I trust . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

...he's an extremely knowledable guy with a burning passion for boat maintenance.

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

I hope to be described this way in my eulogy someday...

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2011 : 18:23:24

My inverter is mounted below the starboard settee and wired directly to the battery switch next to it with heavy cable. 600 watts is 5+ amps at 120 volts but 50+ amps at 12 volts. Big wire and short runs for the DC. The receptacles are easily accessible.

Edited by - on

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