Electrical

Modern gear such as refrigeration, chartplotters, radar and computers require a well sized and maintained 12v system. These articles also include important SAFETY items. Also read the CRITICAL UPGRADES topic on the Forum.

Alternators and Battery Chargers

• See also: Engine Electrical (takes you to another section)
• Prestolite's Alternator Troubleshooting Flow Chart KWKloeber 8/9/20
• All about alternator belt tension & pulleys Q&A
  
• Alternator mount/bracket upgrade Important safety upgrade for M25 (not XP) owners
  
• Battery charger discussion & Xantrex product evaluation by John Nixon
  
• In-depth considerations on the Xantrex XC3012 battery charger and installation
  
• Tachometer Malfunction Q&A
• Truecharge battery charger installation under the sink on a Mk II
  
• Alternator Regulator Wiring Diagrams
  

Batteries

• Benefits of 6v golf cart batteries
  
• Detailed discussion of battery types by Jim Moe
  
• Battery monitor placement
• Deep Cycle Battery FAQs from Northern Arizona Wind and Sun
• Recharging Dead Batteries
• How to properly connect multiple batteries into one bank. (PDF) By Chris Gibson, inventor of the SmartGauge --KWKloeber 12/10/18

Electrical Panel, Wiring & Lighting

• Adding AC panel lights for readability at a distance
  
• Bow and Stern Navigation Light Replacement
• Cabin lights -troubleshooting
  
• Diagnosing Dim Nav Lights
  
• Electrical panel: Designing and building a new one by Mike Vaccaro
  
• Electrical system upgrade: A comprehensive electrical system upgrade by Jim Moe
  
• Electrical System 101: Comprehensive electrical system BASICS by Stu Jackson http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.0.html
  
• 1987 MK 1 Catalina 34 Electrical System Upgrade: Winter 2015-6 - A very thorough redesign of a Mark I system by Jon Windt, s/v Della Jean
• Electrical system upgrade by John Gardner (includes pictures of 6V batteries)
  
• Electrical system upgrade: Another perspective by Mark Elkin
  
• Electrical system upgrade by Capt. Al
  
• Wiring Diagram with 4 6v golf cart batteries and starting battery on Luna Loca
• Engine harness upgrade: A comprehensive overview by Gerry Douglas Important WARNING for M25 owners
  
• Engine harness upgrade by Capt. Al
  
• Engine Panel Wiring Diagrams
  
• Galley light installation
  
• Galley light mounts
  
• Glow plug solenoid Installation for faster starting
  
• Panel switch telltales: How to tell the on/off state of panel switches from a distance
  
• Unswitched 12V wiring instructions
  

Generators

• Wind generator POV
  

Inverters

• Freedom 20 installation
  

Lightning

• Quickie lightning protection
  

Solar Energy

• 400 Watt Bimini
  
• Flexible solar panels
• 1987 MK 1 Catalina 34 Adding Solar Panels

Starters

• Secondary start switch
  
• Slow start fix with a wiring upgrade, starter re-build, and new starting battery by Mike Vaccaro
  

Items of Interest

There are over 75 Tech Notes on these subjects.

• (Moisture-proof) Alternative to open-type terminal strips --added by KWKloeber 9 May 2015