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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Electrical

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__Leo__
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/13/2005 : 20:01:58

Hello Folks,

This is my first post here on the forum. I recently purchased a 1979 Catalina 25 and am having some electrical problems... It is kind of hard to describe it here but I am going to give it a shot.... Here it goes...

When I connect the boat to an electical outlet (when docked) and turn on the main switch... I see a red light LIT on the main electrical panel... but I cant get anything else to work... not even the lights or anything... the only thing that is working is the OUTLET thats inside the cabin (where at least I can plug in a stereo system to listen to) but nothing else works.... What should I do??? where should I start??? Would it be of any help if I took some pictures and posted them here??? Please help... Thanks... Leo

"Susatti" 1979 Catalina 25, Pomona, NY

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 20:38:19

The cabin lights and other onboard electrical fixtures run off a 12V battery which should be located under the Starboard (right hand side facing forward) settee.

It is either not charged, not there, disconnected, or there is a main battery disconnect switch
that needs to be flipped to activate it.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 20:44:07

Hi Leo,
Welcome to the group, and your purchase of a fine boat.

May I suggest that you get a copy of "Sailboat electrics Simplified" by Don Casey. It's very informative, and will help you learn how to diagnose electrical problems.

With that said, be very careful with shore power.

Good luck, and happy sailing.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 01:08:42

There is a resettable fuse on your 12 volt switch panel, push it in.
I am not sure what Franks concerns are with shorepower. I run two fans, a battery charger, an Airconditioner, a refrigerator, a television, a vacuum, two CPAP machines, and a laptop charger all off two six outlet powerstrips, (one each in the two stock duplex outlets) one extra fourplex wall outlet I installed and an extension cord that hangs in the cockpit for the dual fan ventilator for my Airconditioner. Shorepower rocks.

Edited by - on

__Leo__
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 05:56:35

Thanks a lot for the answers... I will be checking the boat as soon as I can... Im wondering... shouldnt the boat electricity function without the batteries??? Why does a boat need the batteries if its connected directly to shore power??? I do realize that you mentioned the lights operating on a 12V input... but isnt there some kind of a "built in" transformer/regulator that converts the shore power to 12V??? Leo

Edited by - __Leo__ on 06/14/2005 06:08:17

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 06:37:57

Leo:

You have two completely separate electrical systems on your boat; 110V and 12V. They are not connected together in any way. Shore power provides elecricity to the two 110V power outlets inside the cabin. Battery power is used for all lights and 12V accessories.

I suppose you could connect some sort of converter between the two systems, but you might find it more useful to simply install a battery charger so that you can charge up your batteries while connected to the dock.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 11:13:17

When I am plugged in to shorepower my permanently installed hardwired marine battery charger probably is providing the 12 volt current, but it definitely wants to do it via batteries. Most of us have two batteries. Without the boat batteries my electronics (depth, GPS, VHF, Stereo) would cost a fortune in AA batteries.

Have you looked under the aft section of the starboard settee? That is where my batteries are on my 82.

Edited by - on

__Leo__
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 11:33:26

I did check it... actually when I bought the boat it had 2 batteries... but somehow I managed to drop one into the water... its just so embarassing to even post it here...

Anyways... I bought a replacement and am getting the other charged at a local AutoZONE... there seems to be a problem with the charger (for some reason)... It looks really old and all rusty...

In about an hour I will be heading to the marina to connect the battery and see if everything works... I just hope I dont ZAP the whole boat by connecting the (unmarked) poles wrong... If you dont hear from me please call 911 and tell them that a guy drowned in the Hudson River...

Leo

Edited by - on

tcox
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 11:57:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 There is a resettable fuse on your 12 volt switch panel, push it in.
I am not sure what Franks concerns are with shorepower. I run two fans, a battery charger, an Airconditioner, a refrigerator, a television, a vacuum, two CPAP machines, and a laptop charger all off two six outlet powerstrips, (one each in the two stock duplex outlets) one extra fourplex wall outlet I installed and an extension cord that hangs in the cockpit for the dual fan ventilator for my Airconditioner. Shorepower rocks.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Half of the power produced at the Gordon-Evans generating station is used to power Frank's boat.

Just kidding!. I haven't seen it yet but I think Frank and Martha's boat rocks!!

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 12:05:52

Leo

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE:

BUY THE RECOMMEND BOOK.

You really need to understand what's going on before you start messing around.

This is not only for your information, but for your safety. We know you're not going to put your fingers into an outlet, but why not "learn before you burn" boat bucks.

I also recommend that you purchase a good charger, i.e., Statpower, to replace your old rusted one. Since you have shorepower and batteries, why not learn how to use them properly, keep them in tip top shape, have them last a long time and most importantly, enjoy your new boat.

Fair winds,

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 12:08:09

Evrybody recommends replacing both batteries at the same time with identical ones (not even same brand/model bought at different times). I replaced one last fall and the older one bioled ovr whiel charging next to tne new one (with a 2-bank charger). I ended up gettimg two more batteries just in case! I would recommend using only the new battery until you can get a matching one. Unless you run for long periods on batteries the charger shold be fine. Just make sure the connections to the missign battery are all taped off and not shorted to enything.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by __Leo__
 I did check it... actually when I bought the boat it had 2 batteries... but somehow I managed to drop one into the water... its just so embarassing to even post it here...

Anyways... I bought a replacement and am getting the other charged at a local AutoZONE... there seems to be a problem with the charger (for some reason)... It looks really old and all rusty...

In about an hour I will be heading to the marina to connect the battery and see if everything works... I just hope I dont ZAP the whole boat by connecting the (unmarked) poles wrong... If you dont hear from me please call 911 and tell them that a guy drowned in the Hudson River...

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

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 14:29:56

Hi Leo, Welcome.

My Cat is an '83. The batteries on board have different sized lugs on the connecting cables. The lug with the larger diameter hole mates to the negative pole of the batteries. Having said this I'd still opt to check polarity of the system that you've inherited. One never knows what the previous owner installed.

Hope all goes well.

Val on Calista # 3936

Edited by - on

Brian King
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 15:10:27

Could it be the "reverse polarity" indicator light? On my '89 SR/WK I have a switch and an indicator light that says reverse polarity below it. I tie up to a mooring and have never tried shore power, but I'd try hitting that switch and see what happens.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 15:20:05

Hey Frank
My Concern about shorepower, and the need to be careful, is that Leo didn't sound like he knows much about electrical work. Get my drift?
We don't want any newbies zapped. I know a bunch about electrical work, and the more I learn, the more careful I become.

Edited by - on

__Leo__
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 22:23:51

Hello all,

I just got back home from running around to various AutoZone's... For a second I thought I was in this unbelievable "twilight zone"... nobody has a darn 650amp 12V battery.... why??? who knows...

I realized... the previous owner of the boat had 2 same brand but different batteries, one 650amp and the other a 1000amp battery... Is there any particular reason why we have two different amp'ed batteries???? Or is it just a coincidant??? Do you also have different batteries????

I really appreciate all the input and hopefully will not stick my fingers in the outlets... I havent got to that fun part YET...

... Leo

Edited by - __Leo__ on 06/14/2005 22:36:05

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 22:55:22

With reference to embarassment: There is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, you can do that has not been done by one or many of your sitemates at some time in their learning curve. Exaple: One time I was operating a belt sander with a reluctant switch, while replacing a wood rubrail. So (bright guy) I decided to turn it on and off by plugging into the extension cord. You guessed it! The switch was on, I plugged it in, the sander took off down the deck like a funny car. This surprised and shocked me, so I jerked the plug out, and the sander did a perfect swan dive into twenty feet of salt water and a deep silt bottom. Even a sailor's vocabulary failed on that one. I could, of course, go on... When buying fastenings, I always buy an extra for "Davey Jones". You get the idea. Welcome to the best site there is, and dont worry about mistakes, Ron srsk Orion SW FL

Edited by - on

__Leo__
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 02:31:30

Ron,

I gotto admit, that was real funny.... I almost fell off my chair reading that one... oh my...

Mine wasnt that Epic though... but almost there...

Im on the side of the boat trying to lean forward to put down the battery on the side of the floating dock, I realized I was losing balance... (cuz those things are really heavy) so I dropped it on the side thinking I barely made it.... (AND that I was so sleek with my new trick ((

)) pheeew... I said "you know what??? Im so awesome today!!!"... 2 seconds later my brother tells me to get off the boat so he can rap up everything for the last time... guess what I do... I JUMP off the boat (forgetting the battery was there).. and watched the beautiful thing slide right off the dock also making a dive into the water...
((

))... you can figure those two beautiful words that came out of my mouth.... "oh ssss%&*t"...

... Leo

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 07:53:44

I read somewhere that one battery should be deep cycle, for lighting and accessories. The other should be a peak cranking power type. I was pleased to find that's what the PO installed. And by luck, I already have a Sears combination charger. No shore power at my dock, so I plan to take the batteries home periodically. Will remember Leo's experience.

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 08:56:11

Dan:

That is true for boats with diseal engines. But, with an outboard, you don't need a cranking battery. Any outboard that's easy enough to pull start can be easily started by a deep cycle battery. Not that there's anything wrong with your cranking battery, but you don't have to spend the boat bucks for one when it comes time to replace it.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 13:04:34

LOVE that one Ron...Personally I consider any project that ends with me having the number of fingers that I started out with a successful adventure. At mid seventies I still have ten fingers though they don't work as they did when they were given to me.

Val on Calista # 3936

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 14:43:17

That's good, John. I really don't know which battery I'm using for starting because the leads from the battery selector switch aren't marked and the batteries were not connected or in the compartment when I bought the boat. No literature, either. The PO planned to install a dual battery power indicator, I found it in the galley drawer. Would you cut a hole in the settee next to the selector switch or run it over next to the switch panel in the galley?

In a post in the 250 Forum I mentioned some curious electrical things that I want to investigate. One reminds me that in Leo's first reply, above, he asked why you need batteries if you have shore power.
The answer might be "for running lights and instruments when you're on the water".

Edited by - on

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