[Public-List] Electrical Systems
Bill Woodford via Public-List
public-list at lists.alberg30.org
Thu Oct 15 06:17:37 PDT 2015
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:
> > > >>> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > > >>> Please support them.
> > > >>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>> Public-List mailing list
> > > >>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > > >>> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > These businesses support your Association:
> > > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > > Please support them.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Public-List mailing list
> > > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> >
> > --
> > Kris Coward http://unripe.melon.org/
> > GPG Fingerprint: 2BF3 957D 310A FEEC 4733 830E 21A4 05C7 1FEB 12B3
> > _______________________________________________
> > These businesses support your Association:
> > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > Please support them.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Public-List mailing list
> > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support your Association:
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support them.
> _______________________________________________
> Public-List mailing list
> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
>
More information about the Public-List
mailing list