Sailboat Electrical Systems: Improvement, Wiring, and Repair
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Introduction
1. Safety First
Battery Acid; Containment; Spark; Explosive Gas; Fire; Corrosive Fumes; Fuse
2. Understanding the Basics
Terminology
Amp; Volt; Ohm; Watt
Three-Part Harmony
Ohm's Law; Power; Load Calculations; Desert Algebra
Circuits
Not Like Water; Boys Will Be Boys; Polarity; Open and Closed; Series; Parallel; Extra Credit
AC/DC
Magnetism and Current; Current; Polarity; Loads; Voltage; Power Factor; Safety Revisited
3. Battery
The Basic Cell
Fully Charged; Discharging; Fully Discharged; Charging; Gassing; Shedding; Plate Sulfation; Inefficiencies
Batteries
Internal Construction; Plate Thickness; Spongy Lead; Self Discharge; Starting or House?
Battery Choices
Automotive--Conventional Flooded; Maintenance-Free; Deep-Cycle; Gel Cell; Scales Don't Lie; Absorbed Glass Mat; Selection Chart
Capacity
Amp-Hours; Cycle Life; Weight and Amp-Hours; Cold-Cranking Amps; Marine-Cranking Amps; Reserve Minutes
Sizing Batteries
Load Calculation Redux; The Alternative to Bigger Batteries; House Bank; Starting Battery; Powering Inverters
Installation
Series; Golf-Cart Batteries; Parallel; Matching; Negative Ground; Temperature
Maintenance
Discharge; Recharging; Water; Clean and Dry; Terminal Corrosion; Voltage; SG and Voltage; Specific Gravity; Keep Records
4. Wire
Wire Selection
Construction; Size; 10% Drop; 24 Volts; Insulation
Routing
High and Dry
Connections
Crimp Connectors; Crimping; Soldering; Tinning the Soldering Iron; Heat-Shrink; Bare Wires; Wire Nuts
Overload Protection
Fuses; Circuit Breakers; Sizing; Installing; Supply Side; Equipment Protection
Switches
SPST; DT; DP; Battery Selector
Neatness Counts
Labeling; No More Than Four; Terminal Strips; Junction Boxes; Right Angles; Spiral Wrap; Panel Location
Coax
Size; Construction; Connections; Weatherproofing; Backstay Connection
Copper Ribbon
5. Circuits
Wiring Diagrams
Symbols; More about Ground
Circuitry Step by Step
Closed Circuit; Open Circuit; Overload Protection; Series; Parallel; Real World
Mapping Your Own Boat
AC Caution; WYSIWYG; Circuit Diagrams; Master Diagram; Layout Schematic; Signal Wires
6. Troubleshooting
Signs of Trouble
Dimming; House of Cards; Sluggish Starting; Flickering; Blown Fuse; Ground Return; Heat; Odor; Heat Loss; Corrosion; Wet Wiring; Rat's Nest
Test Light
Make or Buy; Using a Test Light
Digital Multimeter
Digital vs. Analog; Auto Ranging; Polarity; Clamp-On Meters
Meter Fundamentals
Connecting Test Leads; Measuring Voltage; Measuring Current; Measuring Resistance (or Lack Thereof)
Troubleshooting with a Meter
Voltmeter Tests; Multimeter Connections; Zero Adjust; Checking Your Hydrometer; Extending Your Reach; Kirchoff's Law; Ohmmeter Tests; Masthead Lights; Changing Resistance; Ammeter Tests
7. Charging Systems
Alternators
Output; Pulley Ratio; Sizing; Ignition Protection; Expecting Too Much
Regulators
Standard Regulator; Fooling the Regulator; Manual Controller; Three-Step Regulator; Equalization--The Fourth Step; Charging Gel Batteries
Alternator and Regulator Wiring
Output; Internal Regulation; Attached Regulator; External Regulation; Polarity; Excitation; Surge Protection
Alternator Maintenance
Belts; Connections; Bearings and Brushes
Troubleshooting Alternators and Regulators
Alternator Output; Regulator Faults; Excitation; Bypassing
Don't Be Baffled by Your Electrical System--Handle Repairs and Improvements with Ease
With clear illustrations and simple explanations, Don Casey shows you exactly how to install wiring . . . make good, safe connections . . . match your battery bank and alternator to your needs . . . troubleshoot problems quickly . . . avoid shore power problems . . . and more--all without a lot of technical jargon.
"Don Casey's book provides clear guidance on how to create and maintain a robust electrical system. Don's lucid explanations and numerous illustrations make what is normally mysterious and invisible--electricity--into something the reader is able to understand with confidence. An excellent addition to the sailor's seagoing library."--Chuck Hawley