Wiring/ Electronics questions

[Joel5949]

Hello my name is Joel... i'm a newbie here but hope that someone can point me in the right direction. My girlfriend and I sail a 1975 O'Day 22 and i'm trying to install some basic wiring for about 5 different items: Running/ anchor/ cabin/ compass lights and VHF. Does anyone know of a wiring schematic or plot that would give me "plans" to work by? I've been told to pick up Nigel Calders book but haven't yet... does it having any diagrams that i could follow? I've got some components already... Main battery switch, 6 gang fuse flock, 6 switches, marine grade wire, etc...Any help is appreciated... After taking a daysail and luckily discovering the battery was hot before any fire broke out... i've decided i need to make sure the wiring is safe because i may not be so lucky next time!-J

 

[Brian D]

Was the battery hot...

Because of a short somewhere? Or because you have a bad cell and the charger is cooking the battery?Check out the link below. There are some wiring diagrams for a new boat. They are probably extensive in nature compaired to a simple system you want to use. But they might help you understand the wiring.Good luck.

 

[JeffC21331]

Here is a pretty good diagram for a small boat

http://zx81.isl.uiuc.edu/tanzer22/projects/image/electrical/electrical.gif

 

[Don]

Various wiring books

JoelCalder's book is excellent but only a portion of it is devoted to electrical stuff. If you're looking specifically for wiring books, it might be worth your time to stop in at a local marine store which sells books, e.g., West Marine or some of the large book stores also have a boating section. There are a few books wholely dedicated to electrical DIY work.Don

 

[Capn Dave]

If you don't get the book.

Joel, you have a 6 circuit switch panel and you mention 5 items you would like to power up. You will need a bus bar for grounds. And a bus bar for the positive. A bus bar is a bar that have lots of terminal points on it to hook wires to. Run a heavy guage wire from the bus bars to the batteries main selector switch. Also run the ground bus bar to the battery negative post. You do not want more than two wires hooked to any battery post. I am just guessing but I would think a 4 or 6 guage wire will be ok to run to the bus bars. Taking into account the size of your boat and the few items you want to power. To get the corect size wiring I need to know the amp draw or wattage fo each device anf the distance from the panel. You can get this the wire guage needed from the West Marine cat.I will take you to step 2 after I am sure you have the correct stuff.Fair Winds and good luckCap'n dave