Wiring upgrade

[single]

Over the years i have probably doubled the amount of gadgets but not the wiring from the batteries to the control panel.What is the typical cable type and size for a 3m run to power all the gear on a typical 32' yacht?

 

[halcyon]

Over the years i have probably doubled the amount of gadgets but not the wiring from the batteries to the control panel.What is the typical cable type and size for a 3m run to power all the gear on a typical 32' yacht?

Though the load may be half what you started with due to modern electronics.

Always spec 5 - 10 sq mm power feed, mainly for volt drop, load wise it depends what goes through the panel, some builders run winch / heating through switch panel, so load can be a big spread.

Brian

 

[Gwylan]

I would go with what Halcyon says. Always impressed with KDD kit and their service. Have to assume he knows what he is talking about.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Google " the 12 volt doctor: or the 12 volt hand book.

Full of the info you are looking for and a lot more.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I did this last year on a 32 foot boat and ended up with cabling to each of two separate panels that was not very far short of the main battery cables in size, having summed the maximum loads and used appropriate wire sizing tables, allowing for a tolerably small voltage drop and for some possible future load additions. I'm not on the boat and cannot recall the exact size, but in any event I think you need to do your own calculations of maximum load and consult wire sizing tables rather then rely on a "typical" size since, as Halcyon says, loads may vary a lot depending on what the panel controls. Modern electronics may indeed have reduced the load from certain replaced items, but you may also wish shortly to add completely new loads, which in my case prompted the assessment and re-wiring (not to mention the additions you say you have already made).

 

[David2452]

Over the years i have probably doubled the amount of gadgets but not the wiring from the batteries to the control panel.What is the typical cable type and size for a 3m run to power all the gear on a typical 32' yacht?

Typical is a bit nebulous, the only way to do it properly is add up the total power consumption and size the cables appropriately, taking into account the desired permitted voltage drop of course. One can often wind up with surprisingly large cables when done this way.

 

[VicS]

Over the years i have probably doubled the amount of gadgets but not the wiring from the batteries to the control panel.What is the typical cable type and size for a 3m run to power all the gear on a typical 32' yacht?

Don't forget if its 3m between the battery and the panel that's 3m on the positive side and 3m on the negative side., making a total of 6m.

Also don't use up all your acceptable volts drop between the battery and the panel. You still have the volts drops on the individual circuits to consider.

 

[Roe]

Blue Sea System Configurator is available for your phone/tablet and has a good cable sizing tool on it. I would then go up one size to allow for upgrades.