Is This Set Up Correct??? - Inverter, Fuse Block and House Battery!

[ShellBack89]

Hello all. I'm new to iboats and am having a difficult time at best when uploading pictures. I've even gone to photo bucket and tried adding them this way but I'm not sure if it is done right. So please bare with me.

I just bought a 1988 Sea Ray Seville. So far everything looks good. The motor and outdrive all checked out but then comes the deck, stringers and transom and then on to the electrical. I want to add the "add a battery" by blue sea so I can have my starter battery separate from the house battery that I'll be adding but being charged at the same time while the motor is running.

I also plan on adding a fuse block for the accessories such as radio, GPS/sounder and VHF radio (thinking on hardwire to battery).

I plan to add an inverter so I can operate a small 700 watt microwave on those trips to Catalina.

I've attached (I'm hoping) a picture of what I came up. I'm not the most mechanical dude but I've been reading like crazy and even bought a book on Amazon about wiring for boats. So any advise on if this looks good or you are crazy , I wouldn't do that, would be great.

I know there maybe the "It's your boat. You can do what you want" and I appreciate that since as we used to say in the infantry "Its a technique", meaning if it works for you cool but I just don't want to do anything dumb wiring wise that would burn down my boat while I'm 26 miles off the coast of California with my wife and kids.:facepalm:

Thank you all in advance!


http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r538/shellback89/BoatElectricalDiagram-1.jpg

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is This Set Up Correct??? - Inverter, Fuse Block and House Battery!

Up until you mentioned that you want to run a 700 watt microwave from an inverter I would have said follow the directions with the add-a-battery equipment. But understand that there is no free lunch when it comes to 12 volt batteries, inverters, and 120 volt ac appliances. Here's the rub. Your 700 watt microwave draws 700 watts from the inverter. The inverter is not 100% efficient so add another 10% (70 watts) for a total of 770 watts. That's about 6.4 amps. Now the big rub. 120 volts AC is a factor of 10 in relation to the 12 volt battery supply. So the battery must input 64 amps INTO the inverter (6.4 x 10 = 64). Granted, you are not running the mic constantly, but you wouldn't have to run it long to deplete the battery. If you have a high output alternator it would need to output a minimum of 60 amps just to stay even with the demand. I assume there will be other stuff like your significant others blow dryer and curling iron that are in need of ac power as well. So all of this comes as "information" and not as a "don't do that". The only solution for big power draws from an inverter is a big "house battery bank" and a big alternator on the engine.

 

[ShellBack89]

Re: Is This Set Up Correct??? - Inverter, Fuse Block and House Battery!

Silvertip

Thank you for the info and no there will be no blow dryer or curling iron (that's the cool thing about my wife. she doesn't mind leaving those at home when we are camping or on the water).

I won't know what size my alternator is until I get it back this week but I'll repost for advise and when you say large house bank, I'm guessing you are talking at least two large deep marine batteries. The microwave is just a nice to have but not an absolute. This would be the last thing added since there so going to be much to do and having a BBQ and coleman burner is just as good.

I printed a copy of the wiring diagram and gauge sizing but I'm still a little unclear (again, wiring not my strongest). The farthest I'm going to run any of the accessories would be 15 feet to the battery.

Thanks again!

 

[mark1905]

Re: Is This Set Up Correct??? - Inverter, Fuse Block and House Battery!

Wiring is a really, really simple concept: It's all just logic. It's either on or off, no in between.

If you're planning on running anything but stock items, I would highly suggest getting yourself a high output marine alternator to begin with from a reputable source such as DB Electrical or otherwise. You could call them direct and find the exact fit for your application. Last I checked, they now have up to 200A and higher models.

When you're doing your wiring, I can't stress this enough: ONLY USE MARINE GRADE POWER WIRE AND USE THE CORRECT GAUGE. The typical copper stuff will corrode after a season and you'll be doing it all over again not to mention making a fire hazard by choking your components for power. A high power alternator will need 4-6 AWG on both charging and ground wires. Both your positive and ground wires from the batteries to the distribution blocks will need 4 AWG depending on how much you're planning on pulling out of them total. Fuse EVERYTHING.

Remember that as distance increases, so resistance. The longer the run of wire, the thicker gauge you'll need and it's always better to overdo it a little than under-do it.

Use high quality, screw type connectors for that thick stuff when possible (like these: http://www.amazon.com/P3-Platinum-P...I7K4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329835393&sr=8-3) and on the batteries as well (like http://www.amazon.com/Tsunami-BT703...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1329835436&sr=1-15)


It pays big time to be super attentive to your wiring jobs and your electrical system in general. Once you "get it", it's so easy and so nice to have a reliable, working charging and power system that does what you need. Do it right the first time and you'll be a happy man!

 

[ShellBack89]

Re: Is This Set Up Correct??? - Inverter, Fuse Block and House Battery!

Thank you for the tips. I'll definitely pay attention to the size and wire type so I don't cause any potential hazards.