how much cable!!!

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Planning to completely rewire the 12V wiring on my boat, i've been drawing out a complete wiring diagram..... and have been somewhat surprised to find that on a 45' boat, the cable runs to a total of over 750m!!!!!

That's excluding cable up the mast, and any instrument network wiring... just the plain old positive and negative feeds around the craft, to switch panels etc... and yes, I have optimised cable runs and been sensible with common earths where appropriate etc etc...

I knew there would be a lot, but the number has surprised me!

 

[Tradewinds]

Planning to completely rewire the 12V wiring on my boat, i've been drawing out a complete wiring diagram..... and have been somewhat surprised to find that on a 45' boat, the cable runs to a total of over 750m!!!!!

That's excluding cable up the mast, and any instrument network wiring... just the plain old positive and negative feeds around the craft, to switch panels etc... and yes, I have optimised cable runs and been sensible with common earths where appropriate etc etc...

I knew there would be a lot, but the number has surprised me!

750 miles who would have believed it

 

[sailorman]

750 miles who would have believed it

Under Sole heating

 

[sarabande]

that length of cable will get you a really good discount, so you can truthfully say that you have bought only 500m of cabling, dear.



What programme are you using to do all the layout, and are you being really keen and dragging up the proper symbols and using different colours for different services, please ?

 

[pvb]

Planning to completely rewire the 12V wiring on my boat, i've been drawing out a complete wiring diagram..... and have been somewhat surprised to find that on a 45' boat, the cable runs to a total of over 750m!!!!!

That's excluding cable up the mast, and any instrument network wiring... just the plain old positive and negative feeds around the craft, to switch panels etc... and yes, I have optimised cable runs and been sensible with common earths where appropriate etc etc...

I knew there would be a lot, but the number has surprised me!

In simplistic terms, that's like having 50 cables running the whole length of the boat. Surely you can plan it more economically than that?

 

[Blueboatman]

New conduits/routes?

Be funny if the old wiring proves even longer when layed out and a % scrap value contribution to the new?

 

[Tradewinds]

New conduits/routes?

Be funny if the old wiring proves even longer when layed out and a % scrap value contribution to the new?

It's amazing how much extra cabling you need for an installation when you take into account all the little bumps & detours - quite a few % extra (but not 750 miles worth ).

 

[photodog]

Why are you not putting in one of those new digital ring main system like on a car???? I can't remember what that is called but it's a heck of a lot better than running separate circuits out to each device..

 

[VicS]

The volts drop in 750m is going to be horrendous!

 

[Boathook]

Don't forget that if you are putting in new trunking, etc double the size of it (trunking) to allow for even more wiring.

 

[duncan]

Why are you not putting in one of those new digital ring main system like on a car???? I can't remember what that is called but it's a heck of a lot better than running separate circuits out to each device..

canbus?

 

[Twister_Ken]

I had a mate who stripped all the old cabling out of a 44 footer that had been a liveaboard complete with generator, watermaker, etc. The wires weighed a 1/4 ton.

I suggested he made a cup out of it....

 

[cgull]

Perhaps TACKTICK are on to something?

 

[Plomong]

Planning to completely rewire the 12V wiring on my boat, i've been drawing out a complete wiring diagram..... and have been somewhat surprised to find that on a 45' boat, the cable runs to a total of over 750m!!!!!

That's excluding cable up the mast, and any instrument network wiring... just the plain old positive and negative feeds around the craft, to switch panels etc... and yes, I have optimised cable runs and been sensible with common earths where appropriate etc etc...

I knew there would be a lot, but the number has surprised me!

And a simple 15-tank, 100m LOA chemical products tanker could run to over 800 km!!!

A complex one could double that, easily.

 

[FullCircle]

I have used more than 100m on my boat since purchase.

 

[prv]

Doesn't surprise me - I re-wired a 24 footer with pretty simple systems, and ended up buying three drums of cable where I expected to need only one (can't remember what size drums unfortunately). As well as the length needed to wiggle round tortuous routes, you can also waste a fair bit as offcuts as you leave a generous tail on first fix and then trim back for second.

Pete

 

[Dave_Seager]

I recently replaced a gear cable on my Princess 32. The boat has an aft cockpit and the helm position is in the cockpit. We took the old cable out to measure it and it was 11 metres, longer than the entire boat!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

What programme are you using to do all the layout, and are you being really keen and dragging up the proper symbols and using different colours for different services, please ?

Done in Visio, with correct colours, correct symbols (where i could find 'em - what is the correct symbol for a float switch and bilge pump!).... as well as an attempt at aligning with physical layout.

I'll be getting a good price... I work for one of the worlds largest electrical distributors!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Why are you not putting in one of those new digital ring main system like on a car???? I can't remember what that is called but it's a heck of a lot better than running separate circuits out to each device..

Because it costs a bleedin' fortune... And simple is good on a boat!

 

[lustyd]

I'll be getting a good price... I work for one of the worlds largest electrical distributors!

In that case, and assuming you know better than us - can you link to cables suitable for each role? Don't mind if you're advertising your own brand but Swindlers are starting to annoy me with their cable assortment - they never seem to have the tinned stuff everyone recommends, or the good VHF cable, or even 3 core most of the time!