[Boat Electrics Im Confused]

54 minutes ago, annv said:

Suggest you get someone to draw up a wiring diagram, simple enough, normal practice is to have a battery charger for the domestic battery(house battery) all 12volt items should run from this via fuses(mcb's) the engine battery(starter) should only power engine electric's ie starter, wiper this is charged via a battery maintainer when on shore power, when sailing from engine alternator, the domestic battery is charged via a relay/diode/advanced charger when sailing from engine alternator, the two battery banks should each have a battery isolator switch which should be switched off when you leave the boat, many of these items my be basic which require human intervention or more upmarket and work completely automatically, have you not spoken to the previses owner? have you plugged the shore power in(what happens) have you started the engine up (what happens?. did you get a survay? has no body told you anything about the boat? you need to know about the boat for your own safty and others. John

Hi. Thanks for the helpfull info. I bought the boat from a broker so did not speak to the previous owner. I plugged in the shore power but did not plug in anything into the sockets so dont know if anything worked. I have not started the engine up with the shore power attached? i had a survey but nothing mentioned in the report yet. So unfortunatly having to try and learn everything myself. As i said my main concern was why the circuit breaker was in the off position with a label above saying battery charger. i have noticed a sign poiting saying battery isolator switch so could you explain why i need to turn this off when i leave the boat.

Thanks again

[Boat Electrics Im Confused]

Thank you everyone for your advice, some of what i have now makes a little more sense. I will remove the zig, as its not wired inn anyway. Just got to find something that will fill the large hole left in my cabinet side.

I will have an marine electrion inspect the 240v system and circuit breakers and also try and see if i have a battery charger already installed.

Thanks again

[Boat Electrics Im Confused]

2 hours ago, BayC said:

 sorry picture quotes wrong way round. Fuse box is installed. zig is not wired up yet.

 

[Boat Electrics Im Confused]

Hello everyone. Having enjoyed the Broads for many years I have purchased my first Boat so please go easy on me. I have a question about boat electrics. The previous owners have done all sorts of electrical works to the boat, so is no longer stock, but I cannot quite figure out what Is going on. The boat has two batteries. Is one for engine start up? and the second for powering lights and sockets etc? at 12V?

Firstly, it has had a shore power socket installed on the back of the boat which I assume feeds power straight to the sockets installed onboard? So the sockets will now be 240V? and I can plug various items in. When I look inside the cabin I find the following fuse box (see Zig pic ). The question is: I assume for the house battery (or whatever it is called) will not be charged directly from the on shore hook up, there may be a battery charger installed somewhere so the shore power will recharge the battery? If this is the case why would the fuse be turned off? How can I find out?

 

My second question is why would you install this? (See fuse box pic) Although when I inspected it no wires are plugged in?

Thank you in advance for any help