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.
Contents
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
Inverters
Lightning
Solar Energy
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
