Electrical "System" Overhaul

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jfelkins

Jfelkins

.
Jun 19, 2010
131
Oday 23 Percy Priest TN
Attached are three pics of the electrical "system" on my boat as I found it shortly after acquiring the boat.

So far I've been just cleaning and making other repairs. It's time to tackle this project but I don't have much experience with the "sparky stuff."

Where do I start? Are there some particular threads here that you'd recommend? Thanks for any pointers!
 

Attachments

seadaddler

seadaddler

.
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Book

Get a good book on marine electric and keep asking here,Main Sail had a good article recently.
Nick
 
R

Rob19574

.
Feb 4, 2005
524
Catalina C-30 Mattituck, NY
That is a fire waiting to happen. Make sure you buy all the supplies you need in advance in bulk - and as suggested above, get a good book and do your research on how to do this. Its not very difficult - just make sure you have the right tools, supplies and knowledge.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

.
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Begin with the end in mind

I'd make a list of EVERYTHING you are thinking about adding to the boat electricaly as a start. Even if it is a couple of years down the road. The planing now will pay off later. Then design the panel to support that. Nothing drawn out but have an idea of how many breakers, what size of service the panel needs, where/how to put the "always hot" buss for the bilge and other accesories that can't be turned off, etc
 
kenkindy1

kenkindy1

.
Jun 3, 2004
130
Seaward 24 Indianapolis
love the ingenuity!

It looks like they salvaged the ends from an old battery charger as part of the wiring system. Classy! There have been a lot of boat wiring items at auction on Liquidation.com the spools they're selling are far longer than most would need but it may be cheaper to buy "Bulk" than picking up specified lengths. I think I'd start over if I were you.​
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

.
Jun 21, 2007
2,118
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Further to the suggestions already given, just to add that it's important that you use only marine grade components, connectors, and marine rated wire. Resist the temptation to go the local hardware store route.

Being a small boat and by the pic's of your existing panel, you've got a very basic system. The store section this website has a couple of distribution panels which might work as a replacement for yours:

http://shop.hunterowners.com/detail.htm?group=1527&cat=3327
http://shop.hunterowners.com/detail.htm?group=1063&cat=3327

These come with switches already installed with a fuse receptacle next to each switch. You can also find panels with (or that will accept) switches with circuit breakers built in, although these are more expensive. Fuse/breaker ratings should be appropriate for the load each circuit will be carrying.

And this site's store has the wire and other components you will need. If the condition of the components shown in your pictures is any indication, all the wire itself and its connections at the various light fittings, etc., are likely to be in bad shape. All should be replaced.

As for "how to" references, I've got this (again from this site's store section) which I've found very useful:

http://shop.hunterowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66009&cat=1306

Others probably can recommend their favorites.
 
T

tommays

.
Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
Well

There is not much left thats really worth using BUT its a small system so the cost should be on the low side

If you have shorepower ? it raises the cost and the need for a greater level of expert skill





From i what i see its best to make a wire ball and start over
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
That looks like a lot of corrosion! It is hard to imagine letting an electical panel get in such lousy shape. The good news is that this is your opportunity! I bought a book from this site called Boat Electrics Simplified (or something like that). The author is Casey(?) ... in any case it is a fairly thin book written in a style that you can easily understand. I found it to be a great guideline for remediating a simple electrical system.

edited: yep, Rardi already posted the book that I found to be very helpful.
 
Jfelkins

Jfelkins

.
Jun 19, 2010
131
Oday 23 Percy Priest TN
Thanks to all! Great stuff. I tried finding the thread by Mainsail but I have trouble searching via username here.

Thanks again.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Snotter

Snotter

.
Sep 25, 2008
615
Morgan 415 Out Island Rogersville, AL
W

wufibugs

.
Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
I leafed through that and Caulder's book which I prefer since it covers many other systems as well. Try ebay for a small distribution panel. You will have to invest in a few tools as well, good crimpers and wire cutters, good assortment of connectors, marine grade shrink tubing, perhaps a small grounding block, wire ties. It is not always easy to determine what gauge wire should be used for a particular application. Is the boat set up for shore power? A lot of guys here helped through my rewire without whom it would have been a disaster. You are in the right place; you will be astounded at the time and consideration really experienced people will give your questions and schematic.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
After you have determined all of you present and future needs add about four extra breakers as spares for future expansion.
 
Jfelkins

Jfelkins

.
Jun 19, 2010
131
Oday 23 Percy Priest TN
Thanks a ton! I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get going. My hope is to save the Oday plate and rebuild from there. Thanks again!
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

.
Apr 8, 2010
2,238
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
New Panel thoughts

Jfelkins said:
Thanks a ton! I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get going. My hope is to save the Oday plate and rebuild from there. Thanks again!
Click to expand
I have noticed that several independent panel builders can make up a plate any way you want, and with costs lowered by cad/cam and automated engraving they could probably make up one with all the breakers you need, shaped the way you need for a good fit, and with a faithful reproduction of the original logo on it.
:)
I know that there is one guy at the big Seattle show every winter with oodles of examples. Since BlueSeas charges a lot for an admittedly-nice product, I was pleased to see that there is good competition for this business. No, it will not be "cheap" but if you are keeping the boat for quite a while upgrades like this really pay for themselves in safe and reliable usage and pride.

L
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom