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 1970's wiring: Why two battery leads?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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omgitsgela
Deckhand

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12 Posts
Initially Posted - 06/06/2013 :  07:24:33  Show Profile
My boat has a single battery area on the starboard aft bench in the main saloon. For some reason, it has two battery leads going out instead of one. Is this a typical installation for this year of boat, or was this likely done afterwards? I traced one of the leads back to a bus bar on the port side under the cockpit seat, and the other goes to the switch panel it seems, but I really would have to jump into the sail storage locker to take a look at the physical wiring to get any better idea.
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  07:58:26  Show Profile
Two cables is correct. One negative to the buss bar and one positive to the switch panel. You cannot ground the negative to the frame, like a car does, as their is no metal chassis. Look in the "Manuals & Brochures" to the left for manuals with wiring diagrams of the early C25. Most people have the positive wire going to a cutoff switch prior to the switch panel as a safety feature.
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  08:00:32  Show Profile
I assume you mean two pairs (red and black)... (?) If so, the terminals under the cockpit are probably for connecting the leads from an outboard with an alternator and (maybe) electric starter. The pair that goes to the dumpster connect a negative bus-bar (black) and the switch/fuse panel (red).
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/06/2013 08:07:03
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omgitsgela
Deckhand

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12 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  08:12:49  Show Profile
Did I really write two leads only, and not to pairs of leads? Jeez, I need some caffeine...
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glen
Captain

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359 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  09:37:59  Show Profile
What type of connecting ends do these conductors have? Do they all have the standard marine eyelet that would go on a battery post with a threaded screw / wing nut? If so Dave is correct that the unused leads probably were used for some other purpose. Does the boat have a shore power battery charger, if so it would have separate conductors? Also IMOHO if you decide to use the extra set of wires for anything you should have a 30 amp inline fuse (others will recommend different amperages, but 30 works for me) between the batteries (+) and buss bar. I also have a fuse on the (+) conductor going to the switch. There is some very good boat wiring information archived on this forum, and very knowledgeable sailors here. So welcome and ask away
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  09:39:29  Show Profile
Well that's a horse of a different color. Dave is correct. Hooking the outboard leads to the battery allows the use of the starter motor on the outboard and for charging the battery while the outboard is running.
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omgitsgela
Deckhand

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12 Posts
Response Posted - 06/06/2013 :  10:10:51  Show Profile
I'll have to track them down, but my suspicion is that you are correct about those leads being for an outboard charging circuit. It's all standard ring-type connectors on the battery end. It actually looks like both leads were factory installed because they are the same wiring, same crimp job, etc.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.