Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

[59 lonestar]

I've posted before and had great success thanks to the community. I have a new project that I've been researching and since I am very new, I don't know where to start. I've looked at the Electrical 101 sticky, and read some blogs, posts, etc., which has led me to more questions.

I have a 59 Aluminum runabout that I am rehabbing. I use the boat in a salt / fresh environment mostly for harbor / lake light cruising. My objectives are: 1) Install front Nav, and stern lights, 2) Install a bilge, 3) install a radio, 4) have a cigarette lighter port for iPhone power charging.
My questions (I?ve got lots, but trying to start somewhere):

1) Do I try to run these somehow off of the engine power (AC) or do I go directly from my main (or secondary) battery? I have read the http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/pdf/downloads/ELECTRICAL.pdf which showed guages and instruments like lights being run off of the AC. I?m not sure if I can run anything like lights off of the tach / gauge harness or if I should given an option. Boats, Yachts: Tips on Electrical System Use and Maintenance

2) Can I even run AC electrical out of my engine ? say somehow through my remote control secondary harness ? I have a side mount remote control from Mercury 881170A20 (which drives my Mercury 1995 35HP ELPTO), and it has an 8 pin (I think) ?tether for Tach?.

3) In the case of directly from a battery, how does that ever get charged ? or somehow should it be wired ultimately to the alternator so that although I am running on DC all the time, when the boat is underway, the battery is constantly being charged too?

4) I found a site ? EZACDC which seems to have a good looking solution to the task, but I just want to make sure I?m going about things right before grabbing a full system. Mostly, I want to make sure that 1) I?m not overseeing the any options with my existing control electronics hook up, and that 2) that I?m buying a system that will serve my needs, safely, and reliably.
Thanks!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

You have no need for AC power. everything you listed uses the boats DC battery power, which is 12V DC.

Engines do not produce any usable AC power. The charging system does produce AC, but it's changed to DC through the rectifier, and kept to 14.5V max by a regulator.

It's also not a good idea to run all your accessories back to the battery. Typically boat are wired with a single positive and negative wire of the appropriate size to a fuse at the help. From there your separate circuits run to switches or unit being powered.

 

[59 lonestar]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Thanks Don. I didn't realize that about boats and DC.

"Typically boat are wired with a single positive and negative wire of the appropriate size to a fuse at the help. From there your separate circuits run to switches or unit being powered."

I have read about a couple of options with respect to your comment above, and I'm not sure what to do. Here are my two thoughts (granted these may not be anywhere near reality)
1) Run one wire from each terminal to a separate bus bar - then run each accessory from red and black respectively with its own fuse and switch.
2) Run a red and black to a panel (like EZACDC?) then hook up each accessory off of that .
3) What about my harness from my helm controls - there is a tether there which in theory I could plug electrical devices into... (I don't even know if it has power or just feeds for tach, oil levels, speedo, trim, etc.)

Not sure if I'm getting close to the right way or if I'm adding a ton of cost by going with plan 2, but I do feel that I'm headed in the right direction.

One more question - If I do run from the separate circuts, which ultimately do lead back to the battery, how is it that I'm not running down the battery when I say turn on the lights (motor running or not)?

Lastly, found this picture on the web - I think it is how I described #1. The best boat wiring advice is here, by leading author and marine electrician

 

[Don S]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

You need to do some basic learning about boat electrical systems. Instead of reading a bunch of unrelated posts, you need to learn some basics. Get a book like this one Powerboater's Guide to Electrical Systems, Second Edition: Edwin Sherman: 9780071485500: Amazon.com: Books and do some studying so you have some idea what you are getting into.

Here is also another good starting book Amazon.com: Sailboat Electrics Simplified (0639785800361): Don Casey: Books
It may say sailboats on it, but the basics are still the same.
I actually downloaded both of the above books in the Kindle version just to see what was in them.

I have been re-wiring boats and working on them for many years, so I know you must learn some basics if you want to rewire or upgrade your boats wiring. Otherwise, all you are doing is adding a bunch of wires and hoping you get it right.

 

[beardeddone]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Thanks Don, I just ordered my copy of the first link

 

[NYBo]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Your boat already has a bilge. What you need is a bilge pump.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

To start off, a battery is a bucket that power is stored in, nothing more. A charging system puts power in, and the amount depends on that systems out put. Accessory's draw power out. Depending on the storage capacity of the battery that determine`s how long it will last.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

You show a port and stbd nav light operated by a single switch but you show NO stern light which is part of the NAV light system. You also need to understand WHY and HOW these lights are used. When you are at anchor (as in fishing while anchored) at night, ONLY the stern light is to be lighted. This tells other boaters you are NOT moving. Whether you are drifting or under power, both the red/green and stern lights are to be lighted so other boaters know you are moving. The color light the other boater sees tells him/her which direction your are headed. You therefore need the red/green and stern lights on two separate ON/OFF switches, or you need a three position (center off) switch. Wiring for this function is shown dozens of times in this forum. Us the SEARCH feature. Don't know where you find 13 AWG wire but it is much larger than you need for any of the wiring except the red and black wires coming from the battery to the bus bars. Those should be #10 and the red wire needs a 20 or 30A breaker at the battery. From the bus bars, 16 gauge wire is adequate for all of your accessories. The harness from the engine to the control box is NOT to be used to power accessories except for gauges.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Here is how you get power to the helm from the battery which usually resides at the stern. What you do from the fuse panel is up to you but your diagram works for that. The Master switch is optional and if used, allows turning everything off with one switch. This ensures you don't accidentally leave anything on when you leave the boat.

 

[Don S]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Personally, I would rather see a battery switch (On-Off) near the battery than the Master switch option shown in the picture above.
You can run 30A through the 10 gauge wire and the 30A breaker, but about 99% of those rocker or toggle switches have a max amperage of 15A or less.
With a battery switch you can also shut off the power to the motor as well as power to the helm, all in one switch.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

I agree Don, but many walleye boats, including mine have a master switch at the helm. I find it handy to kill the locators, radios and pumps when making short duration stops. Overnight at the dock is when the battery switch gets turned off.

 

[Don S]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

I've run into a few pontoon boats with them too, but I doubt his 59 Lonestar has one. From the sounds of things, it doesn't even have an electrical system. Just giving him some options. If he ever comes back.

 

[59 lonestar]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

Wow, great stuff here. First of all, I've ordered the book - can't wait to dig in. Second, the bucket concept is really useful for helping me to imagine what's going on. You are right, I don't have any electrical to speak of on board, the boat was a shell when I found it.

I had been looking at a manufacturer EZACDC which has a "plug and play" type system, and I really like the woodgrain panel switch look, but after getting through the book and this as a start, I think I may be equipped to piece it together. Thanks,

 

[Don S]

Re: Runabout electrical install: EZACDC? Direct to Battery?

That EZ system stuff looks nice, but it is spendy to say the least, but for a basic system like you are wanting to set up, it's not worth it.
You can get wood grain material and make your own panels, or make them out of real wood.