Daft electrical question - with added background detail.

[doug748]

The basic question is this:

I want to supply - and + to a socket in the cockpit. The socket is to plug in a Simrad autopilot, to be used only as a backup.

The easy way to get the power, is to whack the wires directly into the existing supply on the built in Raymarine SPX 5 brain box which is situated below deck, almost adjacent to the new socket. The fuse and supply must be adequate...and anyway the socket would only be in use when the main autopilot is not.

That is the basic question. I know it is not best practice but would it cause any problem? I am not just being lazy, a discrete supply would really need a new fuse panel and the rest.


The reason I am wary is that the SPX5 was new last year and never worked properly. So I have had 2 hours use in the first season, and then had to rip the whole lot out (Control Head, Brain Box, Compass, Wiring etc) for repair. The last thing I want is to have to do this again OR to give Raymarine any excuse to question the installation. Taking the SPX5 apart again would drive me bazonkers.

What do you think?

 

[Blueboatman]

Run a new cable in parallel right back to the battery/fuse/switchboard according to preference.

If the power to A/P 1 goes down you have power to A/P 2

Of course this simple suggestion will add ooh, a whole Saturday ( and a beer reward) to the job..

( only half joking, low volts to A/P 1 will cause tedious problems that will still act on A/P2 if on the same circuit.. There is forum 'history' on The ST autopilot cruddy connectors, for example)

 

[VicMallows]

The easy way to get the power, is to whack the wires directly into the existing supply on the built in Raymarine SPX 5 brain box which is situated below deck, almost adjacent to the new socket.

I would probably do exactly as you suggest. Certainly not the most elegant solution but no reason why it should not be safe and functional - assuming the existing wiring is. However you obviously do not feel confident yourself in that approach so do it 'properly' as Blueboatman suggests!

 

[doug748]

I would probably do exactly as you suggest. Certainly not the most elegant solution but no reason why it should not be safe and functional - assuming the existing wiring is. However you obviously do not feel confident yourself in that approach so do it 'properly' as Blueboatman suggests!

No, no. I would much rather do the easy thing with this one.

However, being a complete mug with the electricals, I just want to be sure I am not about to do anything silly in terms of electrical theory and the wellbeing of my new, and so far useless, autopilot.