I want to install a second battery and switch that my motor will charge. I am also interested in upgrading the wiring with more lights and some cockpit stereo speakers. Does anyone have a better idea. Oh yea, does anyone remember "the Complete Idiots Guide" for VW's?? Has anyone written it yet for Macgregors???
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Tim Bastian
Second battery installation / additional wiring
Paul, For the addition of a second battery or house battery I recommend that you use a Blue Seas 8083 battery switch / breaker panel. $199.00 from Dave's Marine Electronics. This is the cheapest I could find it. http://www.brokenlegdave.com/Manufacture/Blue_sea/blue_sea_systems_fuse_blocks_breakers.htm Also if you really want to get a good understanding of 12 / 24 volt electrical systems check out this website. http://www.amplepower.com/ They have an on-line maintained and installation area that is fantastic. http://www.amplepower.com/primer/index.html This is also a great place to start when looking for things for your boat. http://everythingaboutsailing.com/ Best of luck and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
Paul, For the addition of a second battery or house battery I recommend that you use a Blue Seas 8083 battery switch / breaker panel. $199.00 from Dave's Marine Electronics. This is the cheapest I could find it. http://www.brokenlegdave.com/Manufacture/Blue_sea/blue_sea_systems_fuse_blocks_breakers.htm Also if you really want to get a good understanding of 12 / 24 volt electrical systems check out this website. http://www.amplepower.com/ They have an on-line maintained and installation area that is fantastic. http://www.amplepower.com/primer/index.html This is also a great place to start when looking for things for your boat. http://everythingaboutsailing.com/ Best of luck and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
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Paul Fishburn
Reply to Tim
Why do you recommend the 8083 over the others (I looked at the website you suggested) What about a wiring diagram specific to the 26x??
Why do you recommend the 8083 over the others (I looked at the website you suggested) What about a wiring diagram specific to the 26x??
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Tim Bastian
Why Blue Sea...
Paul, Blue Sea makes good quality equipment. I used this panel in my boat. It is a little pricey but well worth the expense. You can get away much cheaper with a Seadog panel if your just looking for a switch panel. The nice thing about the Blue Sea panel is that it has circuit breakers instead of fuses and incorporates a battery switch. As far as Mac specific I do not believe there is such a thing. Most of the macs that I have seen have been modified from the original and there are as many ways of doing it as there are mac owners. Have you been on http://www.macgregor26x.com/. They have a number of electrical mods on their website that people have made to their macs. I hope this may be of some help to you. Best of luck and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Paul, Blue Sea makes good quality equipment. I used this panel in my boat. It is a little pricey but well worth the expense. You can get away much cheaper with a Seadog panel if your just looking for a switch panel. The nice thing about the Blue Sea panel is that it has circuit breakers instead of fuses and incorporates a battery switch. As far as Mac specific I do not believe there is such a thing. Most of the macs that I have seen have been modified from the original and there are as many ways of doing it as there are mac owners. Have you been on http://www.macgregor26x.com/. They have a number of electrical mods on their website that people have made to their macs. I hope this may be of some help to you. Best of luck and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
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Paul Fishburn
I GIVE UP
TIM--PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU DID YOURS. WEST MARINE RECOMENDS THREE ON-OFF SWITCHES AND A BATTERY COMBINER FOR FAIL SAFE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T LIKE ALL THAT STUFF. I JUST WANT ONE LARGE HOUSE BATTERY AND THE STARTER BATTERY. I DO LIKE THAT 8083 YOU RECOMENDED, BUT I GUESS YOU HAVE TO ENLARGE THE EXISTING OPENING. MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AT THE MAC-OWNERS WEB ARE MORE COMPLICATED THAN I NEED. THAT CONFIGURATION THAT WEST MARINE LIKED WITH THE BATTERY COMBINER MADE SENSE FOR A POWER BOAT. I GUESS IF YOU LET BOTH BATTERIES DIE, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAIL HOME IF YOU HAVE TO.
TIM--PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU DID YOURS. WEST MARINE RECOMENDS THREE ON-OFF SWITCHES AND A BATTERY COMBINER FOR FAIL SAFE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T LIKE ALL THAT STUFF. I JUST WANT ONE LARGE HOUSE BATTERY AND THE STARTER BATTERY. I DO LIKE THAT 8083 YOU RECOMENDED, BUT I GUESS YOU HAVE TO ENLARGE THE EXISTING OPENING. MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AT THE MAC-OWNERS WEB ARE MORE COMPLICATED THAN I NEED. THAT CONFIGURATION THAT WEST MARINE LIKED WITH THE BATTERY COMBINER MADE SENSE FOR A POWER BOAT. I GUESS IF YOU LET BOTH BATTERIES DIE, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAIL HOME IF YOU HAVE TO.
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Tim Bastian
Don't give up
Paul, Relax man. It's not that complicated. You may need to do a little research but don‘t let that discourage you. All I can do is make recommendations based on my experience and this may not pertain to your boat. If you don’t wish to do the research or don’t have time then you may want to hire someone to install a system for you. As for my installation. I left all the existing wiring as is with two exceptions. First I added an anchor light to the Seadog panel that came with the boat. This puts all lighting on one panel. Second I disconnected the wires from the seadog panel to the battery and connected them to the Blue Sea panel. All of the other systems that I added to my boat were then connected to the Blue Sea Panel. I installed the blue sea panel in the bulkhead that forms the dinette seat next to the head compartment. This makes it easily accessible. The slight tilt and it’s position makes it easy to see from the cockpit. The charging system is another matter and I don’t have time to explain it all here. Ample Power has several options for this and you can read their information for a better understanding. Hope this helps, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Paul, Relax man. It's not that complicated. You may need to do a little research but don‘t let that discourage you. All I can do is make recommendations based on my experience and this may not pertain to your boat. If you don’t wish to do the research or don’t have time then you may want to hire someone to install a system for you. As for my installation. I left all the existing wiring as is with two exceptions. First I added an anchor light to the Seadog panel that came with the boat. This puts all lighting on one panel. Second I disconnected the wires from the seadog panel to the battery and connected them to the Blue Sea panel. All of the other systems that I added to my boat were then connected to the Blue Sea Panel. I installed the blue sea panel in the bulkhead that forms the dinette seat next to the head compartment. This makes it easily accessible. The slight tilt and it’s position makes it easy to see from the cockpit. The charging system is another matter and I don’t have time to explain it all here. Ample Power has several options for this and you can read their information for a better understanding. Hope this helps, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
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Paul Fishburn
Thanks Tim......
You have been most helpful. I guess I was just looking for a schematic (recipe). I'm good at following directions. I will try one of those other sites that you suggested. Again thank you
You have been most helpful. I guess I was just looking for a schematic (recipe). I'm good at following directions. I will try one of those other sites that you suggested. Again thank you
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Tim Bastian
Paul check out this sight.
Paul, take a look at the related link. I have a system very similar to this to connect my charging system. I only have one house battery and one start battery so I used the 2 channel combiner. I think the schematic will be of help. Tim
Paul, take a look at the related link. I have a system very similar to this to connect my charging system. I only have one house battery and one start battery so I used the 2 channel combiner. I think the schematic will be of help. Tim
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Paul Fishburn
You're the Man
Hi Tim--That's the kind of stuff I need. I still can't believe there isn't a Macgregor manual that tells you EVERYTHING. Where to put every screw, where to drill each hole--like a regular motor manual. You got a battery combiner like West Marine suggested only they suggested just an on/off switch so you couldn't run both batteries down. Thanks again......
Hi Tim--That's the kind of stuff I need. I still can't believe there isn't a Macgregor manual that tells you EVERYTHING. Where to put every screw, where to drill each hole--like a regular motor manual. You got a battery combiner like West Marine suggested only they suggested just an on/off switch so you couldn't run both batteries down. Thanks again......
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