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We like to help boaters learn more about their marine electrical and electronics systems. Ask Jeff your questions (ask@pysystems.ca). We'll post some of the recurring challenges and answers.

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Q: I know nothing about electricity, other than it hurts when I lick my finger and stick it in a socket. I was down at my marine store this week and noticed that I can purchase a pig-tail for my 30 amp plug so that I could plug in both "sides" of my boat. One side feeds the inverter (and battery charger), and also services the light weight items like the TV, stereo, etc. The other side feeds my stove, hvac, microwave, etc. Now I realize I cannot have all this stuff running at once, but can I buy the pig tail and plug in both sides? How would I know if I have too much stuff running?

—Karel

Hi Karel,

You’re right you can have a single 30 Amp shorepower feed two sides of your AC circuits. Both of your AC circuits should have AC analog gauges. You need to make sure that both port and starboard AC draw (as seen on the analog gauges) never total more than 30 amps. For instance you could have 15 and 15, but you could also have 5 and 25. As long as the combined total amp draw doesn't exceed 30 amps. If you do exceed 30 amps the shoreside dock breaker (not the ones on your boat) will blow.

Posted on: Feb 20, 2012

Q: I attended your seminar on electronics at the Vancouver Boat Show last Saturday. I ordered a small runabout Bayliner outboard 170 at the show. Now I want to add some electronics to it. I am planning to use it around English Bay and Howe Sound mainly for sightseeing and a little bit of fishing. Can you recommend me a product to start with? Do I need a GPS, do I need a fish finder? etc. Thank you.

—Ganxin

Hi Ganxin,

The answer to this question truly varies. Here are some questions to you to help narrow down your choices:
1) Will you fish from your boat?
2) Surface or flush mounted?
3) Screen size?

Most of my clients with a boat similar to yours would choose a 5 to 7 inch screen. They would also choose a device that includes a sounder. For instance, perhaps the Garmin 546s is a good choice or even the Lowrance HDS 5 or 7 is worth looking at.

Posted on: Feb 17, 2012

Q: I have a Raymarine X5 wheel autopilot. Is it possible to use the X5 autopilot to drive a hydraulic pump for a beefier autopilot?

—Rob

Hi Rob,

In terms of the autopilot, unfortunately the Raymarine x5 cannot drive a hydraulic pump. You'll need to get a new course computer (x10, x20, or x30 depending on your displacement). You can keep the ST-6001 control head.

Posted on: Feb 02, 2012

Q: I would like to mount a 2000W/100A inverter/charger in the gasoline engine compartment where the current 60 Amp charger is. That way the battery cables are already there. Can I use the existing cables for the inverter/charger?

—Craig

Hi Craig,

Inverters are NOT ignition protected and CANNOT be mounted in a gasoline engine compartment. Boat manufacturers go to great lengths to make sure that engine compartments are vapour sealed from the rest of your boat, since gasoline as a vapour is extremely combustible. Never install any device in your engine room that is not ignition protected. Otherwise, you will endanger your life and and the life of anyone around you.

Also, you’ll need to look at the size of the existing wiring. I doubt that your 60 A charger has 10/3 AC wiring. You’ll definitely need 10/3 wiring for the AC side of the 2000W/100A charger.

Posted on: Jan 11, 2012

Q: I have a 2007 formula 31 PC. I currently have four 6V flooded golf cart batteries totalling 464Ah. I also have a 7.3kW genset with a transfer switch at my main panel between shore power and generator. I have a 60A battery charger mounted in my engine compartment. I am looking to install an inverter/charger. I don't seem to have enough charging capacity as I seem to have to run my genny for hours after getting down over 100Ah.

—Fred

Hi Fred,

When your battery bank is down to only 100 Ah, it is very near the absorption stage (85% to 100% of battery capacity) of the charger. Your fastest charging (25% of capacity) will occur at bulk stage (50% to 85% of battery capacity). When at anchor, you should be in the bulk charging range so that your charger is the most effective.

Posted on: Dec 09, 2011

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Jeff combined his professional expertise with his passion for boating when he started Pacific Yacht Systems Inc. A systems design engineer (BASc), he graduated from the University of Waterloo, known for its excellence in technical education, and wo...

There's nothing Jeff can't do - he's unique in this business, says Grant. When he calls manufacturers, he can talk engineer to engineer, but when he talks to me it's boater to boater.

-Grant