The Boat Electrics Bible A practical guide to repairs, installations and maintenance on yachts and motorboats

Following in the successful footsteps of the groundbreaking Boat Maintenance Bible and Boat Repair Bible comes a new title in this popular series of all-encompassing and accessible technical reference bibles that is sure to be the boater's godsend.

Electrics are a notoriously tricky aspect of boat ownership and maintenance. They are both critical to the operation of the yacht or motorboat and prone to breaking down in the damp atmosphere and bouncy conditions. In this book, owners will be taken through all the likely problems and solutions, including making new installations of equipment, reviving an old boat, and correcting electrical faults on their current craft.

Equally useful for yacht or motorboat owners and illustrated with detailed photographs, step-by-step diagrams, and instructions, this is a book every owner should keep aboard.

Andy Johnson is an electronics Engineer with extensive experience in a variety of commercial and marine settings. For the last few years he has combined this with his role as a qualified Yachtmaster instructor offering classroom and own boat training in navigation, radar, boat electrics and electronic systems.

: Introduction : : <b>The basics </b> : What is electricity?; Volts, amps, resistance and power; Basic laws; AC and DC electricity : : <b>Tools and measuring </b> : Tools for electrical work; Safety first; The multimeter; Making measurements in-circuit; Measuring high currents; Continuity, resistance and diode testing; Fault finding in low voltage systems : : <b>Batteries </b> : Battery basics; Types of batteries; Specification, testing and maintenance; Charging the batteries; How many batteries?; Increasing capacity : : <b>Make the connection </b> : Wire and wire size; Connections and connectors; Connecting thin wires : : <b>Power management </b> : Alternators; Care, maintenance and fault finding; Sizing and upgrading; Intelligent chargers; Wind and water; Solar panels; Installing a mains charger; Hydrogen fuel cells; DC to DC converters; Regulating multiple sources; Monitoring battery and alterna : : <b>The DC system </b> : Battery switches; Battery switch configurations; Fitting a voltage sensing relay; DC distribution panels; Protection; Adding new systems; Installing permanent voltmeters and ammeters; Data recording over long periods; The engine and its electrics; Engin : : <b> AC mains on board </b> : Shore power; System installation; Mains protection; The earth system; Galvanic and electrolytic corrosion; Installing a galvanic isolator; Voltage inverters; Generators : : <b> Networks</b> : Marine networks – NMEA0183; Talking to each other; Multiplexers and converters; Marine networks – NMEA2000; High speed data networks; Capturing what's left; Bringing it all together : : <b> Installation projects </b> : Installing an AIS unit; Radar; Navtex and SSB receivers; Hall effect ammeter; Lightning protection; Underwater lights; Upgrading mast electrics : : <b>Appendices</b> : Wire size matrix; Energy consumption analysis; Battery configuration and switching; Engine electrics; NMEA sentences : : Glossary : Index : Acknowledgements