How to: Connecting electricity and the switch panel in your boat
Wiring your boat can seem like a complicated job at first! Especially if a lot of electronics have been added or removed by previous owners over the years. Don't worry, it often seems complicated because the wiring is not neatly concealed and labeled. Here we will explain how wiring a boat works!
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The source of all electricity on board, the battery!
Almost all boats nowadays are equipped with one or more 12V batteries, just like in the car.
The battery ensures that you can, among other things, leave lights on on board or pump water overboard with a bilge pump. These are also called 'accessories' or 'consumers'.
If you have an engine with electric start or power trim, it is also connected to the battery. The engine's starter motor then draws power from the battery when you start the engine.
Once the engine is running, it will recharge the battery.
If you have 1 battery on board, all consumers and the engine are connected to this battery.
Some boats and campers have 2 batteries on board. In this case, there will be 1 battery specifically intended for the engine (the starter battery), and 1 battery for the accessories (the acc. battery) on board.
Connect the main power switch
The main power switch ensures that you can switch off the electricity on board in 1 action. The switch breaks contact between the battery and all other electronics on board. In most cases this is already present in your boat or camper. If this is not available, it is wise to install one. This switch prevents the battery from draining when you are not on board or when the boat is in storage.
What are leakage currents?
Leakage currents are small currents that can flow through the consumers, even though it seems as if they are turned off, for example a radio.
This can cause the battery to drain very slowly. If you do not use the boat for a few weeks or months, you may end up with an empty battery. Very annoying, but by turning off the main power switch you can be sure that all consumers are disconnected from the battery and therefore do not draw any power.
There are many types of main power switches, each with its own functions. Basically they all do the same thing, but there is still some difference.
The fuses
A fuse ensures, just like in your house, that the power circuit is interrupted when a defect occurs. For example, if the consumer, such as a bilge pump, breaks down, but also if the wiring in your boat is damaged and short-circuits with other wiring.
| Each cable (YES, ALL CABLES) must be protected with its own fuse
The more fuses, the better. It is often wise to start with 1 very large fuse as close to the battery as possible. This is often an 'ANL' fuse with a maximum current of between 50A and 200A. This is also called the main fuse. Then, if this wire splits into several cables further in the boat, as often happens at the main power switch, you should also install a (slightly smaller) fuse in each branch.
The fuses are used to prevent excessive current from flowing. If too high a current flows, this can have various consequences. It can further damage the consumer and cause irreparable damage. In addition, the fuses also protect the cable. As soon as too high a current flows, the cable can heat up and even become so hot that flammable items on the cable, such as cushions, catch fire.
The fuse is therefore not only to protect the consumer, but also the cable! With sufficient fuses you minimize the risk of fire.
De bilgepump
A bilge pump can often be found in the hold of a boat/yacht. This ensures that any water that collects in the hold is pumped out. If a floating switch is present, this will happen automatically, otherwise this will happen by means of a manual switch.
It is a good idea to place the automatic mode of the bilge pump before the main power switch. This way, water that collects in the hold when you are not on board (and you have turned off the main power switch) is still automatically pumped out of the boat!
| An automatic bilge pump also pumps water overboard when you are not on board
Naturally, the bilge pump must be protected with a fuse.
Bilge pumps come in all shapes and sizes
You must select the correct bilge pump for your boat. Do you want an automatic bilge pump, or a manual bilge pump with an external float switch? Or would you rather control the pump via the switch panel?
Also consider what the capacity of the pump should be, in other words, how many liters of water can the pump move per minute.
The switch panel and the consumers
A special fuse box is often used to separately fuse all cables that run through the boat. This way you have all the fuses nice and clear in one place. These cables then go separately to the switch panel, with which you can switch the consumers on and off.
What all the previously mentioned components look like probably doesn't matter much to you. Most components, such as the main power switch and the battery, are often concealed and out of sight of you and your passengers.
The switch panel, on the other hand, is always in your cockpit or cockpit and always in sight. So you would rather not use a standard, plastic panel for this. You naturally want the most unique design that best suits the interior and your personal wishes. At Custom Switch Panels you can have your switch panel customized, especially for you and your boat!
When do I need 2 batteries on my boat or caravan?
Installing a second battery in your boat or camper is often common if you have a number of heavy consumers, such as a refrigerator, water pump or stereo system. A second battery is also often used if you go for days of recreation without using the engine, for example when you anchor. You listen to music via the radio, the refrigerator is on and you charge your phone via the USB port. This will cause the accessory battery to slowly discharge. If you only had 1 battery, you run the risk of the battery becoming so empty that you can no longer start the engine. Installing a second battery there ensures that the starter battery never runs out and that you can listen to the radio during your day on the water and start the engine afterwards!
