Mounting Blue mains input electrics unit ...

[Refueler]

Here comes the decision time .....

My Motor Sailer has the typical Blue connector faces down in the front lower part of cockpit .. this means that I know its connected and disconnect before departing berth ! Its relatively out of the way as its next to winch handle pocket.

But my Primor 24 MoBo and Conqubin 38 sailboat do not have such connectors ... I have on bench ready to fit.

The Sailboat will have the item fitted in cockpit next to engine panel - so I know its connected when starting engine etc.. plus there is no real vertical external coaming to mount it to. It will also lead easily to the mains cable into cabin. Decided.

But

Primor 24 ... the cockpit is large like most MoBo's and of course I have significant external vertical coaming ..... the question being - Do I mount it external or do I mount inside cockpit where I see it ? The question is affected by the cockpit 'sole' .... fwd of the engine bay - the sole is actually the deckhead of the aft part of cabin ... so any cable run should be aft of that to prevent water ingress and easy connection to gear.
I have a twin charger unit (Mastervolt or Victron - yes I have choice) I will fit as well as mains cable + sockets for cabin / cockpit.
My thoughts are to mount the blue unit in the cockpit just behind helm seat ...

I'd rather have it ahead under the throttle - but its getting the cable fed through from there ... have to have another look ...

Anyway :

Question to you lot :

Would you mount outside cockpit or inside cockpit ?

 

[Boathook]

Somewhere sheltered, so it isn't knocked, especially by shins, etc plus easy to get at to to insert and remove the plug.

 

[DreadShips]

I think your logic is sound, but if you went external to avoid wires in the cockpit could you place it aft of the helm so that you still can't avoid seeing it as you climb into the seat? I suspect this isn't actually an improvement, but you know your boat and it might spark an alternative idea or two.

 

[MontyMariner]

The pic only shows the area that YOU are considering what does the transom area look like? It could be an alternative.
From what is seen: On the side or bottom of the wheel console?

 

[MontyMariner]

Maybe outboard on the upper quarter or inboard at the end of the brown (wood?) strip.

 

[Boater Sam]

How about putting on a short flying lead so you can fetch the wire in where it is best and still have the unit where you want it? You could leave it lying on the seat so yo know, when you leave.

 

[Refueler]

View attachment 191634

Maybe outboard on the upper quarter or inboard at the end of the brown (wood?) strip.

Interesting you show a picture of her as she was in Sweden ...

There's no wood strip on her ...

Problem with the console area - is that its a box screwed to the cockpit and very hard to get any cables / leads along inside the coaming back to engine bay etc.

 

[Refueler]

Its nice if external - then lead doesn't have to go in under the canopy - but then its out in the weather and easily forgotten when departing !

I'm going back out there - look again ..

 

[Refueler]

Sorted .... it may not meet the 'concourse' specs but having already in the past departed a berth whilst still connected - I do not want to do it again !!

Sitting at helm ... I thought OK .. where so I don't miss it ... helm seat is a bit close to coaming - so that's not good ... I unmounted the throttle unit to see if I could get wire down through the limited hole .. no.

Then realised - there's a big gap behind the wheel and bottom of console has been cut away by previous owner for some access ... I already have a mouse line fed through from there to rear compartment ready for log / depth cables .. its going to be tight fit for all three ... but it suits me for now ...

Here you can see the cables exiting top of aft stbd bilge locker ... with the blue mouse line ..

Another view - note you are looking up NOT down !! ..

One really annoying item .. two actually ... both battery switches are located right aft in port bilge locker - you need to open compartment - then lay on cockpit sole to reach them .... OK - its good that thief would not see the main battery switches ... but what a pain !! I have a multi switch to replace it which will be under the transom bench seat ...

Next is decide where to mount the Victron charger ... under the cockpit sole in cabin ? in one of the bilge lockers ? in engine bay ? I want to avoid drilling holes in cockpit coaming.

 

[Boathook]

I would think that the charger needs to be somewhere dry and well aired.

 

[MontyMariner]

Good result, neat

 

[Refueler]

I would think that the charger needs to be somewhere dry and well aired.

Yep ... that's to be sorted. The port and stbd bilge lockers as seen above ... the gasoline tanks sit in those and also the valves / fuel lines. They are good solid stainless tanks .. lines and valves are good ... but do I want the charger in with them ?
Suggestion has been to fit in the engine bay .. but its a big lump and likely gets pretty warm in there.

Thoughts are about mounting in the aft end of cabin under the cockpit sole ... the keel line bilge runs all way back into engine bay exiting under the batterys.

Yes I know - disgusting !! I need to get my Steam Cleaner in there !!

Another thing I plan to do ... replace loose wires with multi-core trailer cable and distribution panel .... to tidy things up
Plus - the impellor speed log which had broken drive to display will be removed and a NASA paddle unit installed ... and depth in-hull other side of engine .. Its actually why the mouse line leads up to console to pull the NASA cables through.

 

[Refueler]

Good result, neat

Thank you .... as I said - my main reason for position - I should not miss it to disconnect before leaving berth !!

 

[Refueler]

OK ... I have a 3 pos switch to replace the two separate 'agricultural' switches for battery power.

Where to mount the switch ? I want it reasonably out of sight - but easily accessible. Near the console is too far and I have enough cables etc taking up the limited 'through hole' ....

I'm thinking same general area - but tucked under the transom bench seat - instead of down in the locker. OR to still have in that locker - but more fwd so I can just open locker and easily reach .... but its not seen ....
Both mean just adding short extension cables .....

 

[Alicatt]

Our mains input is on the starboard side of the cockpit beside the helm seat, when not in use it has a 1/4 turn waterproof cap covering it

Mains switching is beside the house Engine batteries isolator just at the bottom of the companionway into the saloon (house battery isolator is on the other side of the saloon)


Breakers

 

[rogerthebodger]

https://www.penrosetouring.co.uk/user/products/large/MAINS-ANGLED-INLET.jpg

This is the type of mains connector I have in a similar position.

It closes flush and the plug points downwards so it clear the cable is connected

 

[Refueler]

https://www.penrosetouring.co.uk/user/products/large/MAINS-ANGLED-INLET.jpg

This is the type of mains connector I have in a similar position.

It closes flush and the plug points downwards so it clear the cable is connected

Such are fine - but the console has a lot of gear inside and I have to be careful ... the surface mounted as I fitted doesn't foul anything inside.

 

[Refueler]

I have no panel on this boat - the switches (pull toggles) are just plain wired. I have a fused switch gang panel I would like to fit instead but it means major surgery to the console.

Mains power is really only for battery charging (and a couple of sockets which in reality will rarely be used).