12v wiring is sooo easy to do its not funny. its basically just a red and a black wire.
run battery wires to a (decent quality) switching panel, then run everything off that.
I paid someone to do mine years ago, then decided to re do everything myself a few years later when that clapped out. now I know if something does go wrong, I know what to do to fix it.
I was surprised how easy it was and now I fully understand every one of the circuits and can trouble shoot if any problems arise - recently changed out the whole switch panel as the old was getting decrepit (to say the least) - just take your time and be patient - it is worth the effort ! And if you are south of the river and get stuck just drop me a note and I will be pleased to assist
yes have been thinking about it. Not being a sparky u look at all the wires n go wtfff do I dooo with all thatttt haha. Going to be taking the floors out soon will suss if I feel confident enough or not haha.
+1 do it yourself if your even part handy.
Used tinned wire - 30amp fuse on the main wire to the bus/switchboard - standard auto connections are fine in most/cabin areas and recommended rating fuse between switch and any electronics other than that just power and earth wires.
And if it is need of rewiring consider upgrading the switch panel at the same time to a modern one - they are cheap as chips. You can then work on a switch circuit at a time as you dismantle and rewire and that makes it so much easier - mine, a 6.8 seaquest, took two weekends working alone and the worst bit was climbing in an out of the small and tight cabin area - bloody hot this time of the year unless you can put it in the shade or a shed
+1 for doing it yourself, best tips would be to take plenty of photos of existing, label wiring new & old and make sure cable size is equivalent or better than old wiring.
For connections I also solder connectors and also then shrink wrap to help with corrosion.
I say otherwise. Im in the trade and there are techniques and products that differ a shit job from a good reliable job. Even something as simple as repacking wheel bearings, the backyardy can get it wrong. Its amazing to see the amount of different ways even tradies perform one specific task. Understanding and knowledge is earnt over time in a trade. Iv fixed wiring jobs done by god knows who and have saved a potential fire risk. Plenty of bodgy shit gettin around because Joe Blow gave it a go.
Recommend someone you say, I cant, I do everything myself, even around home. Very hard to find people competent at their job these days let alone good at it, but theyre out there so hopefully word of mouth will help you on here. I do agree tho that having involvement with something will help diagnosing if you have a problem. Good luck!
No you cannot rely on tradies to even do a good job, I found that out when, after electrical work by two different contractors (so I do not know which one did it) I went to relock the meter box to find a large electrical burn on the door with a small hole burnt clean through it - bet that shook up whomever did it 'cos it was lucky he wasn't fried.
At least if you do the work (low voltage 12 volts NOT mains) yourself you know how well it has been done and given it is a rewire you are only copying what was supposeldy a professional installation in the first place. And the saved dollars will buy a nice bit of bling as well :-)
No one will ever take as much time and care as you, and if you mess it up at least the money is still in ya pocket. If they mess it up your unlikely to ever see (or want to see) them again plus out of pocket.
Then again word of mouth probably is the only way to maybe get a half decent tradie on it.
So hit and miss but also who actually ever asks to see a tradies quals anyway?
The wiring behind my bulkhead was like a multicolour spaghetti nightmare. I just looked at it and said WTF !
I was running:
a plotter
a sounder
a combo unit (to be safe)
1 27mhz radio
1 VHF radio
1 fm/am radio
autopilot
2 x sets of gauges to suit a twin installation
anchor winch
2 x ignitions
1 power outlet
I literally had wire everywhere that looked as if a madman had cut up handfulls of different coloured wires, bent them, twisted them, taped them, ziplocked them and then stuffed them into a small recessed area. I had fuses hanging everywhere, it was a friggin nightmare.
I gave it to an auto electrician who has done some work for me before, he cut the lot out, put in proper positive and negative busbars, installed a covered fusebox, labelled everything and tidied it up. He came out with a box full of excess wire and I got a boat where all of the electrics worked properly. Cost me $300 and the best money I ever spent.
Hi mate ive recently bought an 80s cruiser and the wiring is a mess who was ur electrician? Could i have his contact details please? I think your approach is spot on!
With no experience at all, i did all of the wiring on a 17 foot centre console. 12v is extremely simple. One black and one red wire. Just think logicially and it all comes together.
Best part is that if something stops working for some reason, it is very easy to find out why because you know where all of the cables go.
+1 for doing it yourself. I had a big short in my 6.5m plate ally sports cruiser alot of wiring burnt out but luckily no damage to instraments sounder/plotter or radios, only thing stuffed was the sterio.
Did some googling got some good diagrams rewired whole boat myself fitted pos and neg busbars which it didn't have before and then just completed circuit by circuit took me about three days all up but so much neater and tidier than it was before not to mention the $$$$ I saved aswell
get a pro to do it will be neater faster and peace of mind when out deep
they know what to do they have all the little bits in their car or shop
they know what size wire suits the current for the paticular apliance
it seems simple but im sure many diy jobs have faults how many boats break down due to flat batterys prob due to voltage drop thru the circrt somewhere or wrong size wire used
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Only one person i would recommend and that's Mike at North Coast Auto/Marine Electrics in Wangara. Has been in the trade 25+ years and does a professional job the first time, every time. He has done work on several cars and boats for me and i've never had a problem. They're not the cheapest but also not expensive, as always you get what you pay for.
What sought of price range are we talking here? Ive got an 80s 24 ft blaxell with just the usual bits and about 478km of wiring half of it going nowhere!
scotto
Posts: 2472
Date Joined: 21/04/08
do it yourself mate
12v wiring is sooo easy to do its not funny. its basically just a red and a black wire.
run battery wires to a (decent quality) switching panel, then run everything off that.
I paid someone to do mine years ago, then decided to re do everything myself a few years later when that clapped out. now I know if something does go wrong, I know what to do to fix it.
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
I agree - do it yourself
I was surprised how easy it was and now I fully understand every one of the circuits and can trouble shoot if any problems arise - recently changed out the whole switch panel as the old was getting decrepit (to say the least) - just take your time and be patient - it is worth the effort ! And if you are south of the river and get stuck just drop me a note and I will be pleased to assist
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
yes have been thinking about
yes have been thinking about it. Not being a sparky u look at all the wires n go wtfff do I dooo with all thatttt haha. Going to be taking the floors out soon will suss if I feel confident enough or not haha.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
+1 do it yourself if your
+1 do it yourself if your even part handy.
Used tinned wire - 30amp fuse on the main wire to the bus/switchboard - standard auto connections are fine in most/cabin areas and recommended rating fuse between switch and any electronics other than that just power and earth wires.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
I simply did one circuit at a time
And if it is need of rewiring consider upgrading the switch panel at the same time to a modern one - they are cheap as chips. You can then work on a switch circuit at a time as you dismantle and rewire and that makes it so much easier - mine, a 6.8 seaquest, took two weekends working alone and the worst bit was climbing in an out of the small and tight cabin area - bloody hot this time of the year unless you can put it in the shade or a shed
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
4.5 metre side console.
4.5 metre side console. Going to buy switchboard switches fuses tinned wires etc the whole lot. I know I can do it just work is flat out.
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
but looks like I will give
but looks like I will give it a crack. Can put it indoors easy to. Cheers
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
+1 for doing it yourself,
+1 for doing it yourself, best tips would be to take plenty of photos of existing, label wiring new & old and make sure cable size is equivalent or better than old wiring.
For connections I also solder connectors and also then shrink wrap to help with corrosion.
DM306
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
I say otherwise. Im in the
I say otherwise. Im in the trade and there are techniques and products that differ a shit job from a good reliable job. Even something as simple as repacking wheel bearings, the backyardy can get it wrong. Its amazing to see the amount of different ways even tradies perform one specific task. Understanding and knowledge is earnt over time in a trade. Iv fixed wiring jobs done by god knows who and have saved a potential fire risk. Plenty of bodgy shit gettin around because Joe Blow gave it a go.
Recommend someone you say, I cant, I do everything myself, even around home. Very hard to find people competent at their job these days let alone good at it, but theyre out there so hopefully word of mouth will help you on here. I do agree tho that having involvement with something will help diagnosing if you have a problem. Good luck!
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
google is your friend.
google is your friend. plenty of diagrams to help you out .
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
But Tim-o you have said it all !
No you cannot rely on tradies to even do a good job, I found that out when, after electrical work by two different contractors (so I do not know which one did it) I went to relock the meter box to find a large electrical burn on the door with a small hole burnt clean through it - bet that shook up whomever did it 'cos it was lucky he wasn't fried.
At least if you do the work (low voltage 12 volts NOT mains) yourself you know how well it has been done and given it is a rewire you are only copying what was supposeldy a professional installation in the first place. And the saved dollars will buy a nice bit of bling as well :-)
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
got to agree with Sunshine.No
got to agree with Sunshine.
No one will ever take as much time and care as you, and if you mess it up at least the money is still in ya pocket. If they mess it up your unlikely to ever see (or want to see) them again plus out of pocket.
Then again word of mouth probably is the only way to maybe get a half decent tradie on it.
So hit and miss but also who actually ever asks to see a tradies quals anyway?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
The wiring behind my bulkhead
The wiring behind my bulkhead was like a multicolour spaghetti nightmare. I just looked at it and said WTF !
I was running:
I literally had wire everywhere that looked as if a madman had cut up handfulls of different coloured wires, bent them, twisted them, taped them, ziplocked them and then stuffed them into a small recessed area. I had fuses hanging everywhere, it was a friggin nightmare.
I gave it to an auto electrician who has done some work for me before, he cut the lot out, put in proper positive and negative busbars, installed a covered fusebox, labelled everything and tidied it up. He came out with a box full of excess wire and I got a boat where all of the electrics worked properly. Cost me $300 and the best money I ever spent.
hardyakker
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 20/05/13
Rewiring
Hi mate ive recently bought an 80s cruiser and the wiring is a mess who was ur electrician? Could i have his contact details please? I think your approach is spot on!
Lifes better fishin'
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
Very nice whos that haha ???
Very nice whos that haha ???
Swompa
Posts: 3906
Date Joined: 14/10/12
With no experience at all, i
With no experience at all, i did all of the wiring on a 17 foot centre console. 12v is extremely simple. One black and one red wire. Just think logicially and it all comes together.
Best part is that if something stops working for some reason, it is very easy to find out why because you know where all of the cables go.
axey45
Posts: 1758
Date Joined: 26/11/13
That sounds bit like boardy
That sounds bit like boardy ballards 1 black one 1 white one 1 with a with a bit of shiet on n the hairs on her........etc lol.
sunshine
Posts: 2626
Date Joined: 03/03/09
And newer switch panels come with a "common bus"
And fuses for each switch within the panel itself - easy as !
De-Crais
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 26/03/11
+1 for doing it yourself. I
+1 for doing it yourself. I had a big short in my 6.5m plate ally sports cruiser alot of wiring burnt out but luckily no damage to instraments sounder/plotter or radios, only thing stuffed was the sterio.
Did some googling got some good diagrams rewired whole boat myself fitted pos and neg busbars which it didn't have before and then just completed circuit by circuit took me about three days all up but so much neater and tidier than it was before not to mention the $$$$ I saved aswell
Paul
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
get a pro to do it will be
get a pro to do it will be neater faster and peace of mind when out deep
they know what to do they have all the little bits in their car or shop
they know what size wire suits the current for the paticular apliance
it seems simple but im sure many diy jobs have faults how many boats break down due to flat batterys prob due to voltage drop thru the circrt somewhere or wrong size wire used
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
If you do it yourself make
If you do it yourself make sure you do all the study and do it properly
Right size cable (for Vd)
Right size fuses
Tinned cable
Correct joines, Resin shrinked etc etc
Correct isolators and busbars
etc etc
rocklobster
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 27/12/09
Only one person i would
Only one person i would recommend and that's Mike at North Coast Auto/Marine Electrics in Wangara. Has been in the trade 25+ years and does a professional job the first time, every time. He has done work on several cars and boats for me and i've never had a problem. They're not the cheapest but also not expensive, as always you get what you pay for.
hardyakker
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 20/05/13
What sought of price range
What sought of price range are we talking here? Ive got an 80s 24 ft blaxell with just the usual bits and about 478km of wiring half of it going nowhere!
Lifes better fishin'