Funny but first subject line was "Where to ground Oday 25" and thought some of you would have some interesting comments on that... Horseshoe reef is a nice place to run aground if you are in Fisher Island Sound... Hoping someone might help with electrical problem. Purchased 76 Oday 25 over winter. Survey included several electrical problems including an improperly installed negative ground. Currently everything is run back to negative terminal on battery, none of the electrics work even with a freshly charged good marine battery. I plan to redo much of the wiring on the boat. The book I have on the subject only discussed grounding the electrical system to a ground lug on the engine. Since I don't have an inboard engine, wondering where I should run ground to. Do I need to install a ground plate below waterline outside the hull? Looking for the easiest way that will get my DC system to work. Also, any comment on how to ground deck stepped mast for lightning protection? Thanks in advance everyone. Wayne
Where to ground DC system Oday 25
- Thread starter Ramazzini
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ground
the 12v dc grounds at the neg battery post to complete the circuit to everything. if the mast lights are grounded to the mast, then the mast must be 'connected' to the battery neg post also. you would also ground the mast and rigging to the keelbolt for lightning protection unless the keel is glass, then the ground plate may be necessary, but one does not see ground plates on small boats unless equiped with SSB etc. for best performance.
the 12v dc grounds at the neg battery post to complete the circuit to everything. if the mast lights are grounded to the mast, then the mast must be 'connected' to the battery neg post also. you would also ground the mast and rigging to the keelbolt for lightning protection unless the keel is glass, then the ground plate may be necessary, but one does not see ground plates on small boats unless equiped with SSB etc. for best performance.
I just finished mine
It was pretty simple. After getting yelled at to get a book for my post.... I guess you could say I am a little think headed but anyway, I just used the - terminal as my ground and everything works great. No problems at all... and no book thanks! It really isn't that bad
It was pretty simple. After getting yelled at to get a book for my post.... I guess you could say I am a little think headed but anyway, I just used the - terminal as my ground and everything works great. No problems at all... and no book thanks! It really isn't that bad
I had same question as Steve
I had the same questions as you did in thread, AND i just finished reading Nigel Calders sailboat electrics book!!! The problem with that book is that every discussion about ground shows the sysytem being grounded to the inboard motor. I will do as you did and simply return to negative side of battery and install negative bus bar on panel. Thanks for helping. You did all the dirty work for me. Wayne
I had the same questions as you did in thread, AND i just finished reading Nigel Calders sailboat electrics book!!! The problem with that book is that every discussion about ground shows the sysytem being grounded to the inboard motor. I will do as you did and simply return to negative side of battery and install negative bus bar on panel. Thanks for helping. You did all the dirty work for me. Wayne
bus bar
Wayne: When I rewired my old 23 Clipper Challenger I put in a DC ground bus which I grounded to the Negative side of the battery. For that matter I also put in a Positive bus which went (surprise) to the Plus side of the battery. It's just a tidy way to attach all of the 12 volt stuff to the battery(s) without having a zillion wires going to the battery posts. Also you can pull a single wire off and not affect the rest of the DC system. Eventually all of the 12 volt stuff finds it's way to the battery one way or another. On my OD 28 the only thing connected directly to the battery is the charger the rest of the system goes thru a bus and thence to a circuit breaker panel. Good Luck Mike S/B Pitterpat
Wayne: When I rewired my old 23 Clipper Challenger I put in a DC ground bus which I grounded to the Negative side of the battery. For that matter I also put in a Positive bus which went (surprise) to the Plus side of the battery. It's just a tidy way to attach all of the 12 volt stuff to the battery(s) without having a zillion wires going to the battery posts. Also you can pull a single wire off and not affect the rest of the DC system. Eventually all of the 12 volt stuff finds it's way to the battery one way or another. On my OD 28 the only thing connected directly to the battery is the charger the rest of the system goes thru a bus and thence to a circuit breaker panel. Good Luck Mike S/B Pitterpat
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