When I run out of power for all electronics in my boat,, I made an emergency connection from the battery positive to the switches box.The connecting wire is temporarily taped to the floor of the boat and into the switch that feeds the electronics.Of course, this solution althought effective, is bound to be short lived.I would like to have an schematic showing how to locate the original hot wire from battery into the box.My Hunter manual (1987) does not explain this in detail.Any help is very much appreciated.
Trying the correct connection from battery to switch box.
- Thread starter RParis
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Re: Trying the correct connection from battery to switch box
OK! clearly you need to exercise caution as this is your first time dealing with electricity.
Let’s get safe first, does the boat have a shore power connection?
If yes is it connected to the shore power?
While the boat 12 volt DC wiring will not present a hazard to you the 120 volt AC wiring can kill. You need to identify and turn off/unplug the AC power to the boat before you go poking around behind the electrical panel. Also while the 12 volt DC can’t kill you outright it can start fires if you short between a hot and ground so you want to exercise some caution before sticking a screwdriver into things. Having an “electrical fire” type extinguisher handy is wise. With all that said you can prevent any fires by disconnecting the wires from the ground terminals of the batteries.
You refer to a "box." Is this the part of the boat that has all the power distribution switches inside? If so this is normally referred to as the electrical panel no matter what shape it is.
Does the box have a switch/circuit breaker labeled "main"? If yes then one side of it should have a largish red cable that runs out of the box and toward the batteries. As you might have guessed this is the main circuit and powers all the others.
I'm going to need some additional info to go further. A picture of the box/panel would be very helpful. What switches (names on them) are in the box right now? Do you have space to put an additional switch for your new electronics? How much current will the new electronics draw?
OK! clearly you need to exercise caution as this is your first time dealing with electricity.
Let’s get safe first, does the boat have a shore power connection?
If yes is it connected to the shore power?
While the boat 12 volt DC wiring will not present a hazard to you the 120 volt AC wiring can kill. You need to identify and turn off/unplug the AC power to the boat before you go poking around behind the electrical panel. Also while the 12 volt DC can’t kill you outright it can start fires if you short between a hot and ground so you want to exercise some caution before sticking a screwdriver into things. Having an “electrical fire” type extinguisher handy is wise. With all that said you can prevent any fires by disconnecting the wires from the ground terminals of the batteries.
You refer to a "box." Is this the part of the boat that has all the power distribution switches inside? If so this is normally referred to as the electrical panel no matter what shape it is.
Does the box have a switch/circuit breaker labeled "main"? If yes then one side of it should have a largish red cable that runs out of the box and toward the batteries. As you might have guessed this is the main circuit and powers all the others.
I'm going to need some additional info to go further. A picture of the box/panel would be very helpful. What switches (names on them) are in the box right now? Do you have space to put an additional switch for your new electronics? How much current will the new electronics draw?
Re: Trying the correct connection from battery to switch box
I thank you very much for your advice.Your patience in dealing with a novice electrician like me is remarkable.Your info has been conveyed to a friend of mine who is vastly more knowledgeable. I am sure he will do a better repair job.
Rafael
I thank you very much for your advice.Your patience in dealing with a novice electrician like me is remarkable.Your info has been conveyed to a friend of mine who is vastly more knowledgeable. I am sure he will do a better repair job.
Rafael
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