electrical

  1. T

    Electrical problem with new fan and tank monitor:

    Recently installed a new fan and tank level monitor wired directly to one of two batteries for power. seems to work fine when connected to shore power but when not connected the tank monitor gives me error messages and the fan seems to operate at 10% speed. Does anybody know what this points...
  2. M

    Help With Bilge Pump Wire Connection - Solid Wire to Stranded Wire?

    Hi All, Novice sailor here. I am working on installing a bilge pump for my Catalina 25. I bought the pump, have it all connected, but it doesn't seem to be working. It sounds very quiet and I can tell it's on, but no water seems to be coming out. Everything appeared to be connected properly...
  3. R

    I’m Tweaking My Battery Banks and Need Advice

    I am updating my battery system on the boat (1989 Catalina 30); I’ve included a crude diagram of it currently. I want to add an Isolator to the mix to keep my starting battery from draining accidentally and I want to add a Battery monitor. I am not sure where to wire each of these and how. I’ve...
  4. T

    Mystery Electrical Fire on 320

    I own a 1995 Catalina 320. I was sailing to Catalina Island this weekend, totally under sail with the engine off. I was using auto pilot, gps, and the fridge but nothing else was drawing power. All the sudden white smoke is pouring out from behind the main breaker panel and coming from the...
  5. D

    Both battery banks receiving charge despite being isolated

    I have a house bank and a starting bank, both of which can be isolated using a common four-position battery switch (OFF, 1 [house], BOTH, 2 [start]). I have solar connected to a Victron SmartSolar charge controller which has its negative lead connected to the main DC negative bus (to which both...
  6. Captain Mateo

    Hunter OEM Solar panel set up

    I am curious of the wiring routing/setup for the deck mounted solar panel on the Hunter 460 (and other similar sizes as well). Photo of the panel below. Does it come in and attached to a MPPT/regulator somewhere and then to the battery charger? If so where. the manual mentions nothing of the...
  7. swshogren

    Mysterious Blue Box

    On our recently purchased 1983 Hunter 34 I have discovered while crawling around looking at thru-hulls a blue metal box to starboard of the fuel tank with wires leading to and from it - does anyone know what it might be or was? Sorry I forgot to take a photo.
  8. R20Sailor

    Waterproof connector for outboard alternator wires.

    Hello, I can do a lot of things with boats, but I am seriously weak at electronics. Thankfully my boat's systems are very simple! I bought a new outboard, it has an alternator and came with a long set of wires to connect to the battery. I already have wires connected to my battery charger for...
  9. M

    Battery switch does not kill power

    HI all, I bought this boat a year and a half ago and noticed this problem while performing the initial survey before purchase. The surveyor noted the problem and suggested it be fixed (among others), but otherwise considered the vessel "seaworthy". About six months ago, I redesigned and replaced...
  10. J

    Breaker panel wording

    Hi, Is it possible and if so how would I change the wording for the breakers on my panel? For example I want to install a new breaker for a washdown pump in one of the spare ports. Where could I buy a "thing" that's says "washdown pump"?
  11. Bogart

    Magnum Energy Remote Control Setup

    I have recently replaced the remote control on my electrical system with a new Magnum Energy ME-ARC and have a couple of setup queries. I have a 600AH battery bank using AGM batteries (3 x 200AH). In the setup for the battery monitor (BMK), at menu item 05B AmpHour Size, I have specified 600 AH...
  12. M

    Just starting out, have questions about charging the battery

    Went out on my boat this weekend for the first time -- a Hunter 27. At the dock before leaving, I hooked the battery (12V deep cycle) up to the charger. When I started charging it it read 35% and then pretty quickly got up to 45% but then stopped. I left it connected while we got the boat...
  13. R

    Grounding Location for Inverter?

    I recently purchased my first boat! A Neptune 24 by Capital Yachts, called Bon Temps (good times). I have MANY upcoming projects in line to restore this boat, which is around the same age as me. I just mounted a Go Power GPSW-300 inverter, but have no clue where the chassis ground wire is...
  14. H3newdog

    1983 Hunter 34 Main 110v breaker connections (Very techical)

    What looks like the original main breaker in my panel has some connections I can't find any information on so I'm hoping someone here can help. The main is double wide with a set of hot and neutral connections that I assume both break when off. Pictures of original connections attached. My...
  15. J

    DC Wiring - Neutral Wire

    I've just purchased a 1983 Catalina 25 with only basic electric systems (only cabin lights and navigation lights). It doesn't currently have a depth finder, etc. The previous owner did an immaculate job restoring most of the boat, except for the wiring. The wiring technically works, but there's...
  16. Benny GrowSailing

    473 - Proper Alternator / regulator wiring

    All, we recently bought a used 473 (Model 2003) and are currently working on the electrical system. I was wondering if anybody could provide some insight into the intended wiring around the alternator (Engine is a PERKIS M65). The wiring has undergone quite some changes but it almost looks to...
  17. Tricky

    Troubleshooting weird (I think) macerator issue

    I have a macerator hooked up to my gray water tank, and up until last week it worked, no problems. Last week however, I noticed the macerator wasn't coming on like it normally does. In the gray water tank is a standard bilge float switch that activates when the tank starts getting full. There is...
  18. H

    Completely restoring those old cabin lights with switch, socket, and bulb

    So I've had my 1987 Catalina 25 for about 8 months now and have done a few small clean up projects and tried buying replacement LED cabin lights from a certain online dealer for our boats but found the mounting holes didn't line up and I was nearly blinded with the super bright white LED's that...
  19. G

    Wiring Harness Upgrade

    Hi All, In the process of updating my wiring harness from the original, dangerous trailer plugs. There have been rats nests at each spot (behind the panels, battery box, engine). Starting to make sense of it, but still struggling. I've cut out the old trailer plugs at the engine and behind the...
  20. JL Stratton

    23.5 battery questions

    I'm currently trying to bring my 23.5 back to its original configuration and have a couple questions about the battery. First, does anyone know what the recommended battery was for this vessel. The PO (previous owner) of my boat had two huge size group 31 batteries stuffed into the right side...