June 9, 2024.
This post (and this process) began with documentation of the AC/Inverter portion of the wiring, and has evolved into a stepwise updating and reconfiguration of the electrical/electronics panels. Basically anythng on the "house" branch circuit, PLUS any wiring associated with the electronics. This is what's involved:
- replace the UK-standard receptacles. (concurrent with the inverter upgrade and addition of the 120V inverter)
- Install/relocate the NMEA2000 network cabling concurrent with the removal of the old NMEA0183 instruments,
- Install VEDirect cabling for the CerboGX,
- Relocate the Cobham Sailor satellite hardware, and the Redbox router.
- Migrate interior lighting to a single breaker. (The LED lighting upgrade has reduced the need for seperate protected branch circuits.)
- remove the "home handyman" mods to the extent possible.
- re-think and confirm which 12VDC items should be on which circuits - 24/7 or controlled at panel.
- replace binding posts with proper labelled fuse blocks.
- reroute, seperate, label and secure AC, DC, N2K (etc) cabling in a logical, neat and intuitive manner.
- De-confuse the wiring and switches - reassign spare, mis/unlabelled or relabelled breakers, in an intuitive, simplified physical configuration. Minimize the use of additional switches and Add a secondary switch panel behind the door into the horizontal cabinet for any switches still needed, or for future additions.
- Re-cut and replace the drop down panel where the stereo, VHF, and MFD reside.
Navigation and Communications Panel
I have replaced the aged stereo with a narrower Fusion RA670. This left a gaping hole in the already abused drop-down panel at the nav station. Conveniently, there was a piece of the appropriate plywood aboard, so was able cut a matching new replacement panel with a layout of my choosing. It occurred to me that this is the perfect time to also upgrade the RAY53 VHF to one with NMEA2000 connections and dual station capability, so I have purchased a standard horizon GX1850B and SSM70H RAM4 mic.
I likely overthought the layout. Everything is a bit higher than it was, and hopefully the chartplotter is now aligned with bottom edge of the breaker panels. The stereo is still located above the vhf because the hanging mic cable might otherwise have interfered with the stereo’s control knob. The mic can now be hung beside the stereo, much higher than before, which ensures that the cable is not resting on the chart table. The spacing between the devices should now be equal.
Owner-added Toggle Switches
There are 7 toggle switches that were added by the prior owner. Some of these could be replaced by the now surplus breakers, and some can be hidden in a separate switch panel.
The 7 owner-added toggle switches include:
At breaker panel
- nav lights - (pulpit/off/masthead) this is adjacent to the breaker for this circuit so it will remain there. Not sure why it needed an "off" position.
- Gas Detector (on/off) to relocate to companionway with other alarms, or in the new switch panel. I would think these alarms should be on a 24/7 circuit, and controlled as a group.
- Silence - (on/off) this disables the transmit function only for the AIS transponder: A separate switch is not required for this functionality.
- AIS (on/off) To be relocated to a concealed switch panel, using a DPDT centre off switch. This will combine switches 3 and 4.
- Fuel Gauge (Port/off/stbd) This is adjacent to the breaker for this circuit so it will remain there.
- strange that there is only one fuel gauge, and that a toggle switch was added. I suspect that the BMV 712 replaced the second fuel gauge, necessitating the selector switch. Strange given that there is a now-redundant voltmenter on the panel, which could have been replaced, but perhaps the BMV didn't fit that opening. (Black ones are available.) It may be possible to reinstall the original fuel gauge and reolcate the BMV712.
Beside VHF
- Sat Comm. (on/off) This turns the Cobham sat system on
- This will be relocated
- AVO (on/off/on) This toggles the VHF/FM antenna between sources or automatic mode. Likely AIS/vhf. Not sure what’s become of the FM antenna, though there’s a cut-off piece of coax in the PS cockpit locker. The radio seems to work fine.
- These two switches will both be relocated to a concealed switch panel.
The horizontal drop down cabinet contains a length of finger duct and was used only to store some junk items. An acrylic switch panel could easily be installed inside this cabinet, hidden behind the door. This would hide any switches installed there, and the panel could easily be reconfigured as needs change, without butchering any woodwork.
Based on scaling the 40mm hinge in the above photo, the opening meausres approximately 120mm X 350mm. I could mount the panel from the top and leave room below for junk. Will incorporate a USB charger so that phones could be charged inside the cabinet. Less clutter….
DC Breaker Panels (house loads)
The columns of 5 are (sort of) grouped by function:
1 compass/nav lights2 mooring light
3 (blanked with marker)
- not sure what if anything is connected here. Does it work?
- this should probably be for the transom light
5 Fuel gauges
6 Water pump (white label)
7 bilge pump portside
8 bilge pump starboard side
9 shower pumps
10 electronic board
- Need to confirm what is actually connected here.
- should attempt to have USB chargers and fans wired to this cct.
- the transom light is actually connected to #15
14 interior lights. (Reconfigure to Entertainment/comms?)
15 interior lights. (Interior lights)
- #15 is actually connected to the transom light.
- Need to understand which lights are on which breakers. Perhaps there is a good reason to switch branches separately from this panel? Can/should this be done from one breaker?
Options
- AIS - this should likely be switchable independent of the other electronics, and combined with the ‘silence’ switch.
- Silence - likely means AIS, Rx only.
- Watermaker - at some point there will be one.
- Sat Comms/LAN - should this be a separate breaker on the main panel?
- Radar - should this be switchable due to its power consumption? (it is switchable at the MFD)
- Entertainment - should this have its own cct, separate from Navigation electronics? Combine with comms and switch each within the new switch panel? Entertainment/communications?
Labelling
Black inset of label field on breaker panel is approx 8mm X 28mm. Unfortunately the smallest label Brady offers is over 9mm wide. (3/8”) M21-375-595-BK.
Circuit protection at Nav stn.
- I have ordered two 6 pos fuse blocks for use in the house panel area at the nav station. One will be for the entertainment ancd comms equipment, one for the NMEA/navigation equipment, as energized by the panel switches 10 and possibly 15. 24/7 circuits will likely be supplied from a similar fuse box at the battery box.
May 2024
My prior post was obviously written under the influence of a very positive state of mind.
As I explored further, it became clear that the various electrical upgrades over the years were not installed very thoughtfully and much needed undoing. Breakers were relabelled, (or repurposed and not labelled) switches added. Furthermore, the new N2K network, the ethernet and satellite networking, the AC wiring additions, and the loops and coils of excess cable from those upgrades plus some of the cabling from the older NMEA0183 instruments were all stuffed into the main electrical area, and simply cable-tied and taped together. Photos are incomplete and don't show the worst of it. That's enough on the sins of a darker past...
I excavated, untangled, and removed the NMEA0183 wiring and anything else that is now surplus or was really substandard. I separated, routed and secured the various systems, and labelled many wires and cables as they were identified. Even though systems are now upgraded, there is much less cabling and other clutter choking the space. I will likely locate the satellite communication and LAN router to some other nook nearby.
A compact, low-current fuse block with ground bus is definitely required, and this will further improve ease of troubleshooting and reliability. I will need to determine which circuits should be grouped and how they will be switched, two such blocks may be best. Fortunately, due to lighting upgrades, I now have several spare breakers, and this could further unclutter the system.
The visible work hinted at what lurked behind. (Who chops holes like these in a nice yacht???)
The switches above will be relocated except for the top and bottom ones, which relate to the adjacent breakers. All safety related switches fand alarms will be moved to the companionway, and the AIS on/off will be relocated to the horizontal cabinet, behind its drop-front door.
The strip between the panels thats been drilled full of holes will be covered with a black plexiglass panel, 1 1/8" X 7 3/8"
I replaced the UK style receptacles with GEWISS branded items. (Could the PO have not centred the receptacles under the panel?)
The little teak thingees have been removed. I may locate the charging cradles for the handheld VHF radios to the left of those new receptacles.
The boat has a router with ethernet connections linked to a Cobham FleetONE satellite system. Both these hardware items were stacked (loosely) inside the electrical cabinet, and will be relocated. This will clear some space and enable viewing of LEDs on the router especially. As it was, any tracing or troubleshooting of any problem would have been pretty difficult.
prior post/working notes
the factory wiring is very good, with every red conductor numbered. As expected, a few owner mods fell short of perfection with regards to wiring practices and circuit protection . As the various systems are revised, and as the battery configuration has been updated, there is a need to verify and consolidate charge-source wiring (note - this turned out to be one of the simpler projects...)
This means that solar, wind and Sail-Gen require an easily accessed fuse point, adjacent to the batteries.
Below is the relay for the electric windlass, or the electric main halyard winch, not sure whinch.
It needs to be deternined where the batteries terminate. There is a "Repartiteur" in the drawing, which roughly translates to a distribution point. It is located (on the drawing) in the starboard aft cabin. No idea what it looks like. The switching is in the port side aft cabin, as pictured. .
is there a positive bus? (no)
Is there a ground bus? (yes, under the P/S aft cabin berth)
Is the shunt correctly wired? (yes)
What is the size of the existing cabling? (Big)
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