Question on electrial for MaineSail

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

.
Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
Seems sometime in the last few years, I remember reading were some boat manufacturer was installing a main bus of 4/0 wire around the entire hull. From this they were taping off for any electrical needs plus switches/fuses. If I remember correctly it was saving weight and a lot of cable runs back and forth to the main panel. Have you heard of anything like this? What are you thoughts on this kind of arrangement?

Jim
S/V Java
 
  • Like
Likes: 2 people
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Jim..

If I remember correctly that was in professional boat builder a while back. I don't really have any thoughts on it other than I think it might be a good idea on 45+ footers but would still not work for everything such as bow thrusters or windlasses.

It seems to me the cost and weight savings would be nullified by the added expense of sub panels with breakers for each appliance. The other thing is that no matter where the 4/0 wire was you'd still need to pull off for accessories with more wire of the proper gauge. Everywhere you break the main 4/0 wires is another crimp connection and this could be multiple interruptions, and possible failure points, along the feed plus exposed buss connections that could get wet.

Sounds interesting but I'm sure there are reasons, beyond my quick thoughts, that have precluded this practice from becoming the standard install..
 
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

.
Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
Re: Jim..

MaineSail, did you find this thread by browsing or did you get the email?

Jim
 
newly anonymous

newly anonymous

.
Sep 24, 1999
1,511
Hunter H46LE Sausalito
with the rising cost of copper...

...it seems a forgone conclusion that we're going to see more of these central bus systems in the future.

of course, I was saying the same thing five years ago about 24-volt systems.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: with the rising cost of copper...

On large boats I think that installing a battery at points of high, infrequent demand such as bow thrusters and windlasses would be a preferable approach. You can charge them with #6 or #8 wire.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
On real big boats..

On real big boats, like my buddies 100 footer, they use hydraulics for windlass, thrusters and stabilizers. Even his three gen sets couldn't keep up with those loads so they run hydraulics off the giant Cat main engines..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom