Hello all, thanks for the input on my last post about sailing in neutral or fwd. Guess I must start using the reverse gear from now on. This post concerns the electrical box on the 28.5. I was horrified to see negative electrical lugs sandwiched between the positive electrical lugs in the electrical box. What makes things even more exciting was the fact that one of those negative bus had actually come unglued from the panel! Well, this weekend I am going to install a negative bus bar well away from the positive terminals. I had to do the same thing on my h23.5. Maybe, I too paranoid, but the thought of positive and negative terminals sitting with no insulation and inches away from each other doesn't make me too happy!
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Electrical
The common bus seems to be an issue with other boat companies. I discovered the same problem with a Bayliner Trophy Pro. On my Hunter 28.5 the wiring is nothing but spagetti. I am rewiring it this weekend. There are many wires on each switch so I am adding a pair of terminal blocks mounted on a piece of wood. Then I am going to label each wire, tin it and attach it to either the power block or the common block as appropriate. When done there will be one wire from each switch to the appropriate group of wires on each terminal groiuping. Again everything will be labeled for easier troubleshooting. I am also adding a Fluke multimeter in line so I can monitor the amount of power draw. I am doing all this to identify excessive electrical draw and to prevent the possibility of a fire, or at least lower it. Good luch, Mike msosborn@msn.com
The common bus seems to be an issue with other boat companies. I discovered the same problem with a Bayliner Trophy Pro. On my Hunter 28.5 the wiring is nothing but spagetti. I am rewiring it this weekend. There are many wires on each switch so I am adding a pair of terminal blocks mounted on a piece of wood. Then I am going to label each wire, tin it and attach it to either the power block or the common block as appropriate. When done there will be one wire from each switch to the appropriate group of wires on each terminal groiuping. Again everything will be labeled for easier troubleshooting. I am also adding a Fluke multimeter in line so I can monitor the amount of power draw. I am doing all this to identify excessive electrical draw and to prevent the possibility of a fire, or at least lower it. Good luch, Mike msosborn@msn.com
Yes, you are paranoid
If you think your Hunters electrical panel is a problem because of the close proximity of uninsulated wires, I suggest you stay away from the fuse panels in most automobiles and even the breaker box in your home. Usually the breaker connections are only inch or so from the steel enclosure (which is at the same potential as a ground wire). Uninsulated areas on printed circuit boards can be within a MM or two, so your computer poses an even worse threat. To be honest, an inch of air is a pretty good insulator at the voltages we are dealing with. There is no need to worry. Even the unglued bus will only cause a breaker to trip. So try to sleep better tonight.
If you think your Hunters electrical panel is a problem because of the close proximity of uninsulated wires, I suggest you stay away from the fuse panels in most automobiles and even the breaker box in your home. Usually the breaker connections are only inch or so from the steel enclosure (which is at the same potential as a ground wire). Uninsulated areas on printed circuit boards can be within a MM or two, so your computer poses an even worse threat. To be honest, an inch of air is a pretty good insulator at the voltages we are dealing with. There is no need to worry. Even the unglued bus will only cause a breaker to trip. So try to sleep better tonight.
I was so scared of jumping electricity that I did
it this way! It is the same idea that Michael is after. Oh, I'm kidding about jumping juice. Just secure the ground bus back were it was.
it this way! It is the same idea that Michael is after. Oh, I'm kidding about jumping juice. Just secure the ground bus back were it was.
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