re wire

[Mr. Fixit]

I am getting a Columbia 30 ready for crusing. I want to replace all the existing wiring with new. (over 30 years old) I am very familar with 110 volt wiring, however i have very little knowledge of 12 volt wiring. The wide varity of equiptment available is confusing. Can anyone reccomend a good reference  book on wiring that I could use as a guide.

[Captain Smollett]

Nigel Calder's Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual is a good reference.

My own personal preference is to almost always go up one size from any published recommended wire sizes (or double the run you use in planning).  Resistance losses add up, and may get worse with time (connections corrode, etc), so using oversize wire will help a little.

[dasein668]

I second the Nigel Calder book, though it is fairly technical. I used it almost exclusively for planning my rewiring project.

Others have recommended Don Casey's "Sailboat Electrics Simplified" though I haven't used it myself.

[watsongs]

Second those, also Charlie Wing's Boatowner's Illustrated Handbook to wiring -

http://tinyurl.com/bjhry

And remember to leae drip loops and extra wire for future upgrades/replacements, and get the waterproof heat-shrink connectors.

[GordMay]

There are several technical articles of interest on the CruisersForum
Goto: 

"Ohm's Law & Boats"
http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=372

"Excerpts from ABYC - Electrical"
http://www.cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1471

"Basic Engine Gauge Theory & Testing"
http://www.cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=645

"Wiring Color Codes"
http://www.cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=626

And applicable Graphics at:
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1321
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1650
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1648
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1695
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1391
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1390
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1622
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1623
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1315
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//showphoto.php?photo=1728

and many more ...

HTH,
Gord

[Solace]

The 12 Volt Bible for Boats - Miner Brotherton. The latest edition, I believe, is the seond edition. It features everything you need to know including some of the more modern technologies like inverters, multi stage 'smart' charging systems and trouble shooting techniques.

Good Luck with your Columbia renovation - I am outfitting my Columbia 8.3 for a Caribbean voyage.

Cheers!

John

[Mr. Fixit]

Gord, I have been reading all your posts I can find  (other sites) and I want to thank you for your willingness to share your experience and knowledge. I am on a crash course  to understand low voltage DC principles and you have been a great help. Thanks again

[Mr. Fixit]

Solace, I ordered the book should have it in a few days. I have not been getting as much done as I would like due to the weather. Right now the boat is gutted, all existing electric and plumbing removed, new sail drive sits in basement waiting for install. I have all wood work in basement varnished and ready to install when time comes. My new anchor should be here before weekend and I have anchor platform ready to install.(if I do not want to change it after seeing new anchor). Who knows maybe we will meet in  Caribbean. I hope to be ready to leave this fall, however I have a lot of work to do and it is talking longer that I expected so I am not sure. If you come down The NYS Canal Sys. let me know I am only 1/2 hour from canal.