Marine Electricians - Masters from the Monkeys?

[Zozza 293]

With nothing much to do this weekend but lie in bed and recover from the flu, I did a 6 hour watch online yesterday and today of a basic marine electrical course.

 

I now have gone from knowing nothing (well I knew what + and - meant, but not much more) to knowing a little bit. I.E I now know I need thicker gauge wire for some applications depending on run and the power needed to run the gadget, I know I need fuses in the right places, I know what a short is. I know how something as simple as a bolt can cause a short.  I know to never allow welding wire on my boat....etc etc etc. A ton of stuff I learnt indeed.  Most of what I learnt you seasoned fellas would laugh and say 'You didn't know that"? 

No, I didn't.

Never needed to.

 

Anyway, this has made me realise, that when a marine electrician does finally wire my boat I will now know the basic questions to ask without sounding like a complete know nothing idiot.  Whether that means I now know enough to circumvent allowing a "Cowboy" Electrician working on my boat? Not sure - hence this post.

 

I want to deal with a marine electrician that not only knows what he is doing, but follows all the standards to a T, does not deviate EVER from the safety standards for "Time saving" and "cost savings" purposes, and doesn't mind answering questions.

 

My first boat (now sold for my new-to-me but still old slightly bigger boat) was wired up north and being new to this electric stuff, I just picked the local outfit and assumed they knew what they were doing,. Im now in Auckland with my new / old boat, and this time I want to make sure what is done is done right and is going to last and not have me worrying.

 

Whom do you fellas reccomend out there as the best mix of attitude and competency?

 

Cheers.

[Zozza 293]

In case anyone out there is / was like me, and just "pretended" to know what the f#ck people were talking about when it comes to marine electrical, then I highly recommend these 6 one hour videos.  This guy has that rare talent of making stuff I thought to be  horrendously complicated (one tends to avoid learning stuff that seems like black magic) sound logical and almost straightforward. Plus he has a good sense of humour.  Trust me, I am not one for sitting down and watching anything this long in such a short space of time, except maybe binge watching Breaking Bad. So, he must be good - and he is,
Here is the first hour vid, and you know what to do to watch the rest of them on the youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHZtYFH-0Pc

[Kevin McCready 83]

Thanks for this. Do you know Boatowner's mechanical and electrical manual

Book by Nigel Calder

[Zozza 293]

Thanks for this. Do you know Boatowner's mechanical and electrical manual

Book by Nigel Calder

 

No problem Kevin.

The Calder book is highly recommended as "THE" Boat Electrics book, by the fella giving the video tutorial.

It's on my list to purchase.

[Island Time 1,230]

I work in this field, mostly electronics, but electrical as well. DC only under 50v, I'm not a registered electrician. I can arrange 230v work though, fully certified.

I'm happy to answer any questions I can, and I also strongly recommend Nigel Calders book!

For anyone in Auckland who wants me to do anything, I'm back after this contract in Fiji, about the end of this month.

Wire sizing tables and conversions etc are available on my website, www.neptunes-gear.com.

Cheers

Matt

[ricka 3]

Keith at....

http://ealelectric.co.nz/

[Dtwo 157]

I would recommend that prior to engaging anyone, get a really clear picture in your head of what you want to achieve.  Prepare lists of equipment, broken down by location, as well as any future stuff that you may want to wire up in future.  Think through your charging and usage requirements so the recommendations are based on your thoughts.  Get a wiring diagram (I have a 45 page manual which is friggin' invaluable).  Get them to label all wires (as shown in your wiring schematic).  Yes, that will be more expensive in the short term but my belief is that it will pay for itself once you sell the boat - and it is friggin' invaluable when you want to trace something.

[Zozza 293]

Thanks Dtwo.  I don't mind that it may cost a bit more - I have put everything I own into this boat the last two years, so a wee bit more to get diagrams and labelling all done as you suggested is neither here nor there....I'm going to be just as broke at launch time.

[Island Time 1,230]

There are two basic labelling options. One is to use numbers, the other whole names. I prefer whole names, both ends of the wire, I use a brother label maker, then clear heat shrink over the label to seal it. Gives a long lasting, easily read label.

[Clipper 343]

Great tip with clear heat shrink. I have been folding the labeks in half as a tag, but its ugly. That is a top idea

[Dtwo 157]

I'm going to be just as broke at launch time.

 

That's the spirit, no point fooling yourself 8>)

[wal 27]

I did some wiring in my boat yesterday. One look at it and my beer fridge should be safe from Sparkies.

Only problem with that is the beggars would probably chop the ends off your wiring and call it "hazardous"

[wheels 543]

Just remember that if you have run any spare wires that are not connected to anything, make sure you tie a knot in the end of them so as the electrical current bugs don't fall out and fill up the bilge.

[wheels 543]

Could well have. Although they don't evaporate as such. They like to scurry away to Earth.

[Island Time 1,230]

Damp cases or corrosion helps them climb/slide on down. Same with a grounded metal bench...

[Romany 162]

Zozza - my only recommendation would be to get two opinions about what you are doing. Without offence to anybody - everybody can be wrong.

 

I had an issue in my system and one opinion was to replace the loom. I wasn't convinced, had it tested and there was no problem with it, turned out

the alternator was the issue. Had I gone with first opinion I would have paid for advice (cant recall what that cost), acted on it - which woulda

cost $500, and still been left with the bung alternator.

 

FWIW I found success with an auto electrician in Silverdale - great guy. To look at his operation you'd probably think twice because the shed is a

sh*t fight, but he nailed it (i.e. correctly diagnosed the problem) in one visit.

 

I now take all my cars to him for servicing, if anything goes silly with electrickery stuff on the boat I'll get him to look at it 1st.

[Island Time 1,230]

That's very true. Find someone you trust, then stick with them. The work on your boat will be quicker and more efficient with an electrician who is familiar with that boats installation.

Unfortunately it is often easy and therefore fairly common to have someone who goes off on an expensive tangent. A boat is not a car, and much of it is often beyond many car guys. Especially current leakage and the huge damage it can do.

[wheels 543]

I have come across many sparkies of all specialties that fail to do simple basic logical testing. They get into their heads a tangent as IT said and just can't seem to get out of the rut. One of the most common would be flat battery caused by a faulty charging system. Sparky tests battery and says, yeah it's stuffed mate. You replace the Battery and find it also goes flat. Simply because they do not test if there is charge going to the battery or not in the first place. Or even if the ALT is producing it's rated current. Simply no excuse these days for those guys, as there are a huge number of sophisticated testing units that will tell you damn near everything, including the colour of socks you will wear next Thursday.

[bazzathemammoth 37]

Yea. Don't forget that "electrician" is brainy talk for "cable monkey". About all most of us are good for is putting wires in holes.

[wheels 543]

Now now Bazza, don't go putting yourself down.

We can make a much better job of it

Seriously though, there is a lot to know for sparkies these days.
Especially for those that work solo. Being able to give ourselves CPR is seriously clever