Wiring your aluminum boat is a great way to save money and have a custom electrical system. A vital part of the boat's electrical system is DC power (direct current, commonly known as ship's battery power). Although common electrical principles apply to boat wiring installations, aluminum boats demand special attention. If the installation is not performed correctly, significant damage to the boat's hull can result. If the boat owner has any questions, he should consult a Certified Marine Electrician. Certified Marine Electricians receive their credentials from the American Boat and Yacht Council and are available throughout the United States. (See References)
Instructions
1. Plan your DC power needs. Make a list of electrical equipment and appliances you would like on your boat. Include the current draw of each item. This information can be found in one of two places: (1) the specification page of the equipment's instruction manual or (2) the equipment label.
2. Sketch the locations of the proposed equipment. Give some thought to how the weight of each item will affect the boat's trim and balance. Keep heavy equipment (i.e., batteries) toward the center of the boat. If this is not possible, use the heavy equipment to counterbalance the weight of existing items.
3. Create a route for the wiring. Wire routes include: (1) wires running from the engine to the batteries, (2) wires running from the batteries to the fuse panel and (3) wires running from the panel to each piece of equipment. The wiring harnesses must be protected from damage and should be routed in the most direct manner possible.
4. Measure the length of each wiring harness. Measurements do not need to be exact, and rounding up to the nearest foot is acceptable. Add the wiring harness locations and lengths to your overall sketch.
5. Calculate the wire sizes you need. Wire sizes for appliances and equipment are based on three criteria: (1) the current draw of the item, (2) the overall length of the wire and (3) whether the wire travels through the engine room space. To determine the wire sizes, use the ABYC Wire Size Table on the IMTRA Marine Products website. (See Resources) Note that each electrical device will have both a positive and a negative wire. Do not use the aluminum hull as a negative wire as would be done on a boat trailer.
6. Run the wiring harnesses through the boat. Install double crimp wire connectors on ends of wires using a double crimp wire crimper. Perform the installation in a neat and orderly manner, labeling the wires and bundling with wire ties. An orderly installation will make maintenance and troubleshooting easier in the future. The final step should be making the connections to the battery itself.
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