Retro-fitting shore power

[jimbouy]

usefull stuff for all who may undertake such a job

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[jimbouy]

Re: Once it\'s all hooked up...

Presumably you can be hooked to the mains charging the battery and still be using your various 12v stuff on board. Or does this upset the charger in anyway.

Also... what about earthing and galvonic isolation..... things I have seen mentioned elsewhere on YBW but in honesty have never quit understood.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[charles_reed]

To re-assure you

It was 2.5mm cross-section tinned, multiple strand flexible. That which was not used inside the boat ended up as the main input wire.

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[charles_reed]

Re: Youmay not do job yersel ... but ..

<<I would not use a caravan type socket as these are very poorly made and easy to break.>>

My experience in 14 years of use is that the sockets don't break - after a few immersions in marinas they gradually rust to the extent that you cut them off and replace with a new one.

The expensive 16amp plug with ss fixings is almost unobtainable from outlets except the most specialist and IMHO not worth the 300% premium.

In hindsight I would have used armoured cable for the wandering lead - thoughtless motorists driving over it end up (in time) with the individual cables finally fracturing and shorting.

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[Trevethan]

Re: Youmay not do job yersel ... but ..

I used armoured cable when I wireled the inside -- misread boat safety scheme, but it is a bugger to work with -- stiff heavy and horrible to connect. I use arctic cable for the shore lead and its great.

Cost of my fitting out

£60 on internal cable.
£50 on a consumer unit RCD and three MCBs
£40 on brass outlets (SWMBO liked 'em)
£10 RCD socket for galley
£30 immersion timer switch for calorifier
£50 on 30 metres arctic cable (in 2 15 metre lengths) with connectors
£250 on a Sterling 50 amp charger/power supply.
£20 on external fittings
Plus a few more pounds on bits and pieces.

Wiring up 8 twin outlets, the immersion, etc took me the best part of three days -- toughest job as said feeding cables, drilling holes.

Worth it though. system is secure and safe (as I dicovered when I melted through the soldering iron cable and it went pop.

I did the job myself, but had it checked by a professional

Recently passed Boat Safety Scheme so it must be a pretty good job I guess




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[Guest]

Can be done ....

As with all things boaty - there are expensive and less expensive ways of many things on boats - like houses etc.

Some here have used armoured cable - that is an overkill and also terrible to work with ....

But generally most have used generally available components etc. and achieved good results. Some have spent what I believe to great gobs of dosh on IMHO unnecessary high spec items. Now I don't know what boats they have and what Ins. Co. specs they have - maybe they have particular high requirements, but I think with all respect that good installations can be made with more 'normal' priced items.

The general consensus seems that about 200 - 300 quid covers an average boats needs + of course what charger / other fancy bits are added later.

Me - I spent under a 100, but will need to upgrade a few items later - bringing me more nearer the 200 mark.

So I hope that Memphis Chung ........ interesting ID that ... wonder where it comes from ?? ..... will keep us informed of what happens.



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Ok, that is two of you

Charles and Trevethan have both said they have wired in 8 sockets. In Trevethans case 8 doubles.

Would someone please explain why you need 16 sockets on a boat. I have less than that on the ground floor of my house.

Is that not a little excessive. I was thinking of fitting shore power, but only planning on one double socket, I have currently an extension lead for the odd battery charging etc.

In fact reading all this, I am going to use KISS and keep the extension lead idea but use Arctic cable and an RCD socket bank.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

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[tome]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

I wondered about this also. I fitted one double swiched mains socket at the chart table, and this has been fine for all our needs. I use an extension cable if I want to use power tools etc.

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[AIDY]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

Dito... One in the aft cabin, next to the mirror for the otherhalf to dry her hair. And one in the kitchen for the kettle. One at the chart table is also useful. That 2 poss 3.

A friend has just had his house re wired and has a double socket on every wall in the house. Just in case !

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[Memphis_Chung]

Re: Can be done ....

Thanks for the advice.

The latest update is that my Volvo has just given up the ghost, a new engine is required, all other jobs are off and I am sobbing into my computer!

P.S Memphis is from the lead character in Gone in 60 Seconds and Chung is the Jackie Chan character in Rumble in the Bronx. Both DREADFUL films!

<hr width=100% size=1>Quit the job, sell the house, sell the kids, sell your wife, go sailing.......

 

[JohnL]

Re: Fitting a ring main

Hi Charles, did you connect AC earth to DC neg when you did your instalation? is it important? thanks.

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[MainlySteam]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

Gulp - just from a mental count up of what I can remember on board, we have I believe 10 AC outlets in a 40 foot boat which embarassingly adds up to one every 4 foot /forums/images/icons/blush.gif.

Would have to concede that we have never used them all at once.

John

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[peterb]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

Surely the point of putting in multiple sockets is to avoid the necessity for trailing extension leads. If all the sockets in our house were in full use, we'd need a power station next door, but the only time I need an extension lead is when I'm working in the garden.

I got used to multiple sockets in the days of working with signal generators, oscilloscopes, power packs, etc all on one bench. Now I wouldn't be without them.

I've just counted up. Computer, monitor, printer, scanner, laptop, chargers for two cameras, telephone and fax unit, that means I've only got one free socket behind my desk. Better get some more. Admittedly I don't use so many on the boat, but I still use quite a few.

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[andyball]

same here...

a double in the galley, single & double in the dinette, a couple for the fridge & charger, one for the tv, some in a locker where the tv used to be, single & double in aft cabin + one more.

I added several of those to save trailing leads from tv, dehumidifier, wifes leccy blanket etc.

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[Guest]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

I have two doubles - switched surface box mount type. One is in the mid section between fore / main cabin, other under the divan table in main cabin.
I have never needed more than that - in fact the midships one is rarely used.

The sockets I do need though are actually 12V ones - as at present I have a cigarette lighter socket doubler just above the engine and that is not enough. Have to fit some around the old tub ..... then guests can charge mobile tec. in their fore qtrs.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Guest]

Re: Ok, that is two of you

in the 2 kitchens I have done ... and the one about to be done in my new house ..... I reckon that a minimum is 2 sockets per mtre run of worktop. I have run to nearly double that in one kitchen I did. Its amazing - its like coat hangers .... the more you have, the more you need- as all get used up.
But as said prev. on boat - I have 4 and rearely use more than 2.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Guest]

Soviet style ....

Having lived for abt 11 yrs over here - I am amazed how few sockets many live with over here - but a roaring trade in extension multiple sockets and socket doublers.
The norm in a soviet style is a single socket - middle of the main wall about 1 mtre above floor. So placed to make sure that a) your sideboard covers it preventing getting to it, b) is so poorly wired that it fizzes when you switch on anything, c) the cable leading to it is surface laid and the wall-paper has a ridge running through it where its stuck over the cable, d) the cable used is the minimum possible to reduce the size of the ridge, e) the distribution box is a meter connected to 2 old fashioned screw in fuse holders .... rated at about 10 - 16 amps each. Some like me have been clever and obtained auto breakers that screw into these holders to try and get some sort of safety into it .... guess what - they pop refgularly !!
Normal style for cable junctions ..... old bakelite black circular junction box missing its lid .... and wires twiddled together , with sticking plaster or if lucky insulating tape ... all of course sticking out at least the required 2" from the box ....
Cables are still found with the old bitumastic style insulation ..... of course flaking of and patched with sticky tape .... and thats the main feed cable !!!

You lot don't know how lucky you are !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Guest]

Woes of older boats ...

Volvo for Life they say ...... OK - I drive a Volvo XC - marvelous - but I would refrain from a Volvo in a boat, a) for pricing, b) most boats I look at have MD1's etc. and due for retirement yrs ago ....
I do not include recon / new etc. etc. .... just the old smokers !!

When my Perkins gave up - due to water seizure .... I looked around to replace. My cheque book and credit card went into hiding and I had to face it that I was stumped.
Asked around and was given various contcats for guys who buy up stock etc., recon engines etc. etc. One in particular in Dorset who has box's of Perkins engines never used ..... gave up with them in end and concentrated on local contacts. Ended up buying old 4107 for 200 quid, cleaning it up, connecting fuel and water to check .... sale was dependent on engine starting ! She fieed up and ran a good'un.
All the bits from 4-99 fitted, and away she went into boat.

Only thing I don't know at moment is the bill from the engineer for fitting it ....

Sowhy tell this ..... there are many Volvo engines out there secondhand ... ok you take a chance with it, but its got to be better than the luimp you have now. It will fit straight in where old comes out, it is a better bet for recon job if necessary as it will be a runner ....etc.
But of course if you plan to be more adventurous than the average boatie - then new engine may be the way.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/