[Public-List] Electrical Systems

Tue Oct 13 08:00:42 PDT 2015

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
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>> 
>> 
> 