marine electrical - lake pleasant sailing · 2019. 4. 5. · marine electrical wiring. boat...

Marine ElectricalLake Pleasant Sailing Club

2016

Sunday, April 17, 16

• Intro

• Marine DC Wiring

• Hands on Wire Splicing

• Batteries

• AC Shore Power

Areas of Discussion


Marine Wiring Standards

The American Boat and Yacht Counsel (ABYC) established the minimum standards for AC & DC marine electrical wiring.

Boat manufactures and marine technicians are required to comply to the ABYC standards.

These standards are design to ensure reliable and safe recreational boating.

Marine standards are unique due to the extreme motion and weather conditions they are subject to.


Type of Wire for Marine Use

All wires should be labeled as “Boat Cable ...” or “Marine Grade ... “ which have 600 volt insulation and are oil resistant.

All wires must be stranded, rather than solid and all connections must be crimped.

Soldering should be avoided or limited as it creates stiffness which could cause wire strands to fray.


• Red is always positive

• Yellow or black is negative

• Green is for ground

Marine Wire Color

• Black is alway hot

• White is always neutral

• Green is for ground

DC Wire Color AC Wire Color


Electrical Busbars

• Provide secure connections

• Even distribution of current

• Allows organization

• AC Hot (Black)

• AC Neutral (White)

• DC Hot (Red)

• DC Negative (Yellow or Black)

• AC/DC Ground (Green/Copper)


• Crimped connections provide secured connections

• Heat shrinking connectors for area exposed to water and dampness

• Closed loop terminal ends ensures that loose connections do not slip off

Connectors and Terminals

Use the proper size and type of connections to withstand the conditions on boats.


The proper gage wire is define by two factors:

• The length of the run (from source of power to the location of the load)

• The amount of amps to be pulled

Wire Gage

Wire suitable for boats is sized using the American Wire Gauge (AWG), vs ASE which is used for automotive use.


AWG Gauge Table


Wire Splicing Exercise

• Select gage wire AWG10, AWG12 or AWG14

• Cut in half and trim the end

• Connect two ends with proper size connector

• Attach proper terminal ends on each end.


• Provides consistent voltage to each appliance

• Provides independent steam of current to each appliance

• Common for controlling power to a single appliance

• Should not be used for multiple appliances

Types of Wired Circuits

Parallel Circuit

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Series Circuit


Types of Batteries

Cranking vs Deep Cycle

Flooded vs Sealed (AGM) Batteries


Battery Maintenance

How low can you drain a battery without damaging it

Different charging methods for different types of batteries

Solar chargers/regulators

Always remove negative first and attach last


• Same Voltage

• Extend Amp Hours

Types of Battery Banks

In Parallel In Series

• Same Amp Hours

• Extend Voltage

Examples assume each battery is 12V / 100Ah


Shore Power Wiring


Master Circuit Breakers

ELCI—Electric Leakage Circuit Interruptor—protects the boat, its crew and nearby swimmers from being electrocuted.

• Current leaks from hot or neutral wires to the ground wire.

• Loose or broken ground wire that could leak current into appliances or the water around the boat.


Reverse Polarity

• When the hot and neutral lines are reversed.

• Creates a potential risk to electrical equipment because there is no longer a fuse between the power source and the equipment.

• Creates the danger of electrical shock because the fuses will still control an appliances but there is always current flowing into the appliance.


Galvanic Isolator

• Prevents grounded underwater metals such as, zinc anodes, seacocks and shafts from galvanic corrosion.

• Allows AC fault current to pass unimpeded while blocking, to a degree, DC current.

• Connects to the AC ground near the boat’s AC inlet.


marine electrical - lake pleasant sailing · 2019. 4. 5. · marine electrical wiring. boat...

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