[Public-List] Electrical Systems

Thu Oct 15 14:31:37 PDT 2015

Wes;
FYI both those links worked on my Android phone using both the browser and the dropbox app

Cool swing arm.

Cheers,  Rod 

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wes Gardner via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> </div><div>Date:15-10-2015  2:55 PM  (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Bill Woodford <williamwoodford at charleswoodford.com> </div><div>Cc: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> </div><div>Subject: Re: [Public-List] Electrical Systems </div><div>
</div>Bill et al,

I use iNavX for charts and a freebee app called Speedometer.  It's made for
automobiles but can show speed in knots in great big letters (1 3/4" tall
!).  I got an articulated arm from the Joy Company - sort of a high tech
version of the ole swing-out depthfinder with that thing that went round
and round and flashed... and mounted it on the "headliner" ( I have a
non-liner boat so I stuck it there with epoxy).  Of course the "speed" that
it gives you is not that "through the water" nonsense that real knotmeters
give you (I don't have one), this is a gps calculated "speed over the
bottom".  I suppose those folks with the so fisticated electronics packages
will give you both.

My "navigation" nowdays is mostly in Round Bay just above Annapolis with an
occasional trip overnight.  The chart does give me an idea that I'm sailing
in thin water whereupon I can verify this with my depthfinder once I am
firmly planted in the putty.

I also "mounted" (actually it's held in place with a wire tie at the
moment) a digital counter that's hooked to the automatic electric bilge
pump.  So now I know if, and how many times, my bilge pump runs while I'm
away.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1le97rvhifxpjbd/mini%20mounted.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nq2mi4m994o1734/digital%20counter.jpg?dl=0

Hope the links work.

Wes

On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 9:17 AM, Bill Woodford <
williamwoodford at charleswoodford.com> wrote:

> Wes,
>
> I noticed in your response that you use the ipad mini as a speedo.  What
> app or program do you run on the mini?  Do you use the ipad mini for
> navigation?
>
> I enjoy "following" Webb Chiles and I know he, a long time user of the
> sextant, is now using his iPad.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Woody
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 3:49 PM, Wes Gardner via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> So here's my current thinking (today anyway) regarding my electrical
>> system
>> and how I use the boat.  A couple of givens are the fact(s) that I have no
>> "high use" items onboard - I don't even have wind instruments, just a
>> depth
>> finder to confirm that the bump I just felt is, in truth, the bottom...  I
>> do have nav lights, which I think I might upgrade to use LEDs and a light
>> near the galley as well as one in the head that can switch from white to
>> red - these are florescent.  I do recharge my ipad mini that I use for a
>> speedo and that's about it. Oh yeah, steaming light and masthead light...
>>
>> Going "back" to a "standard" configuration seems to be the way to go.  I
>> have "grown up" with the good ole Perko switch and am fully aware of its
>> faults (Do not switch to off when the motor's running, please).  My Perko
>> switch is "around the corner" from my electrical panel so there's really
>> not an issue with "accidently" switching to OFF by those who are not "in
>> the know."  All switches on my panel are labeled.  In fact they are color
>> coded, so I can ask someone to just "turn on all the yellow ones"  and all
>> the functions for "day travel" will be activated.  Then the next sequence
>> is "turn on all the white ones" which sets us up for night travel...you
>> get
>> the picture.
>>
>> I do have two group 27 batteries under the floor boards - fairly typical
>> for an Alberg I think.  They'll be wired conventionally to the OFF/1/2/All
>> Perko switch.  The "house" panel and engine will be wired to the "C"
>> terminal.  Since the Perko switch basically sends current to and from
>> wherever it is selected, I'll typically on a daysail just run the switch
>> in
>> the ALL position - motor runs, charges both...when the motor is off, the
>> above mentioned "electronics" will use power from both.
>>
>> I can on the occasional overnight, to power up the anchor light and
>> interior lights, switch the Perko switch to 1 or 2 so that the remaining
>> battery stays "up" and is not accidentally drained.
>>
>> I do have a Guest Charge Pro charger that pretty much maintains the
>> batteries when the boat is tied up.
>>
>> I do have a Blue Seas ACR installed by a PO which is meant to parallel
>> (combines) batteries during charging, and isolates them when charging has
>> stopped and after battery voltage has fallen.  I'm uncertain as to whether
>> I'll ever use the thing but it's there.
>>
>> The entire AC system was rewired and done pretty well - no house wire..
>>
>> Wes
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 13, 2015 at 11:44 AM, Kris Coward via Public-List <
>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Nothing wrong with being intimidated by the DC-engine interface on an
>> > A30. Pretty early on, I had to do a bit of re-wiring, and was halfway
>> > terrified to connect the ground wire for most of the electrics back up
>> > to the engine because the wire was red. It didn't take long before
>> > another Alberger told me that Kurt Hansen was colourblind, and that if
>> > the only thing that looked not-ground about a wire was that it was red,
>> > then it's probably safe to treat it as ground.
>> >
>> > Needless to say, I've since rewired the entire boat.
>> >
>> > -K
>> >
>> > On Tue, Oct 13, 2015 at 11:00:42AM -0400, Gordon Laco via Public-List
>> > wrote:
>> > > Well I'm not particularly proud to say that SURPRISE's electrical
>> system
>> > is
>> > > original.  When we bought her she was like a time capsul from 1969.
>> > Hardly
>> > > used, everything original, even her sails and rigging.
>> > >
>> > > The wiring is long overdue to be replaced.  The switch panel is still
>> the
>> > > cheapo Brydon black plastic and to turn on the steaming light, we
>> throw
>> > the
>> > > switch labeled 'windshield wiper', etc.
>> > >
>> > > I would have done the job before now, but I'm intimidated by the
>> wiring
>> > > system's interface with the engine.  Yes, I know I shouldn't be (hello
>> > Bob
>> > > Crinion) but I am.
>> > >
>> > > Gord
>> > > #426 Surprise
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On 2015-10-13, 10:56 AM, "Jonathan Bresler via Public-List"
>> > > <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Mike,
>> > > >
>> > > > Yes, there have been modifications since the boats where built.
>> > > > Hard to imagine that there are any original systems out there by
>> now.
>> > > >
>> > > > In the maintenance manual and on the website, we have lots of
>> > information
>> > > > about various systems.   Seems that electrical is unusually sparse.
>> >  That's
>> > > > unfortunate, Nigel Calder seems to indicate that fires, electrical
>> and
>> > > > fuel, are
>> > > > a major issue in damaging or destroying boats.  Information
>> available
>> > to
>> > > > both
>> > > > new and veteran owners might be valuable.
>> > > >
>> > > > Something we should work on?  Getting more information there ?
>> > > >
>> > > > Jonathan
>> > > >
>> > > > On Mon, Oct 12, 2015 at 12:49 PM, Mike Meinhold <
>> meinhold272 at gmail.com
>> > >
>> > > > wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > >> Jonathan
>> > > >>  Almost all A30's have had significant changes to their wiring
>> since
>> > > >> delivery. Some much better than Whitby, some worse! The Whitby
>> > diagram is
>> > > >> good to help understand some of the wiring, but you really need to
>> > make a
>> > > >> wiring diagram of your boat first.
>> > > >>
>> > > >>
>> > > >> I did not have main battery fuses when I got the boat. I mounted 2
>> > 250 amp
>> > > >> fuses blocks facing foward on the aft bulkhead of the after battery
>> > > >> compartment. They have blown only once - when I made a stupid
>> wiring
>> > > >> mistake.  If you have battery boxes - which you should - you
>> probably
>> > don't
>> > > >> have room for box-mounted fuses.
>> > > >>
>> > > >> I replaced the little breaker box with a hinged panel under the
>> bridge
>> > > >> deck - there are arguments against doing that due to potential
>> > downflooding
>> > > >> but I don't see much risk there.
>> > > >>
>> > > >> Mike
>> > > >>
>> > > >>
>> > > >> Mike
>> > > >> Michael J. Meinhold 301 852 0619 meinhold272 at gmail.com
>> > > >>
>> > > >> On Mon, Oct 12, 2015 at 12:15 PM, Jonathan Bresler via Public-List
>> <
>> > > >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> > > >>
>> > > >>> Folks,
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Looking around the alberg30.org website, it appears that the
>> > information
>> > > >>> available on the electrical system of our Alberg 30s consists of a
>> > wiring
>> > > >>> diagram from Whitby and a reference to Bill Darden's Battery FAQ.
>> (
>> > > >>> alberg30.org/maintenance/Electrical).  Don't seem to find
>> electrical
>> > > >>> information in the _Maintenance_Manual_, corrosion information is
>> > there,
>> > > >>> but not electrical.
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Been reading Nigel Calder, 250 pages into the 400+ he has on
>> > electrical in
>> > > >>> his most recent edition of
>> > _Boatowner's_Mechanical_and_Electrical_Manual_
>> > > >>>  Whew, its a big read.   Have looked at Don Casey's
>> > > >>> _Sailboat_Maintenance_Manual_ (much shorter) as well as
>> > > >>> _The_12_Volt_Doctor's_Practical_Handbook_.
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Am i missing the link to the electrical data on the website ?
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> What have folks done with their electrical systems ?
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Example: Dont have fuses in the positive cables from the
>> batteries to
>> > > >>> panel. Looks like Blue Sea has a Single Terminal Fuse Block that
>> can
>> > be
>> > > >>> directly affixed to the battery that might be good, if there is
>> > enough
>> > > >>> vertical space available (about 2" required).  Calder recommends
>> of
>> > 300A
>> > > >>> ANL fuses to prevent nuisance blowing during starts.
>> pyacht.com
>> > > >>> recommends fuses in the DC mains.  ABYC requires fuses within 7"
>> of
>> > the
>> > > >>> battery.  Casey wants us to install them as well.
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Jonathan
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> --
>> > > >>> Jonathan M Bresler
>> > > >>> Alberg 30 #262
>> > > >>> Annapolis/Eastport MD
>> > > >>> _______________________________________________
>> > > >>> These businesses support your Association:
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>> > > >>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
>> > > >>> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>
>> > > >>
>> > > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > These businesses support your Association:
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>> >
>> > --
>> > Kris Coward
>> http://unripe.melon.org/
>> > GPG Fingerprint: 2BF3 957D 310A FEEC 4733  830E 21A4 05C7 1FEB 12B3
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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>
>
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