Quote:
Originally Posted by DonutUK
Is this likely to be the correct place? And will it be 2 terminal blocks inside, 1 positive & 1 negative?
|
Kind of depends what the box is. If it is a power distribution block, then yes, you should find at least a positive bus bar to pick up power; you may also have a common (ground, or negative) bus bar as well. Make sure you have a fuse in line between power and each electronics unit(s).
Quote:
|
Never done any electrics on a boat before....so a little bit circumspect about just diving in.
|
Only way to figure out what needs to be done though. Boat wiring is usually pretty straightforward (at least electrically; no comment about wire/cable routing), so that's a plus.
Quote:
|
Also, apparently the boat used to have 2 batteries but at some point has been converted to just one....how hard would it be to add in the 2nd battery again?
|
Double battery system is usually common negative (i.e. tie the two neg terminals together and out to the engine; picking up a feed for other equipment along the way.)
Positive terminals go to each pole of an isolator switch, the throw of which goes out to the engine and power feed for other devices. The switch lets you select either battery, both batteries, or no battery.
Note that there are lots of ways you can do this that accomplish different end results, depending on what you need to do. The above setup is designed to let you run everything off one battery and have a spare should the first be insufficient for starting. Downside is that you need to switch to both to charge both batteries, and remember to switch to one to keep the other as a backup. There are devices that eliminate the thought process (Combiners), but then you open up too many possibilities to write about.
jky
