Marine

Electrical 101
John Coyne
 Electricity – some basics
The War of the Currents
Why AC vs DC?
Types of systems on boats
Wire…so much wire
Connectors
Electrolysis

What we will Panels

Fuses
cover… Breakers
Shore Power
Batteries
Inverters
Solar
Disconnects
Tools of the trade
Q&A
“Electricity is just organized Lightning…”
- George Carlin

Electricity
Some Basics
Obligatory Warning Page…
 Electricity is electricity – it’s all protons and electrons.

The key is in current…

Basics
Resistance is NOT Futile (sorry for the Star Trek pun)

Some Terms

Volts Amps Hertz Watts Ohms Charge

Volt
The Electric Chair
uses 2200 Volts…
Volts are the measure of electrical force pushing the
power through a wire….

Types of volts you hear about

110/120V
220/240V Help?!
25,000V
250,000V
1.5V
5V
6V
9V
12V
18V
20V
24V
48V
600V
100,000,000V
Amp
The measure of current flow through the wire…
Think of it like water flowing through a garden hose
Higher Amperage, more water – sort of.

Types of amps you hear about:

10A
15A
20A
30A
50A
100A
200A
Marshall Half-Stack

Amp-Hours = The total amount of current

you can send a circuit per hour.
Hertz
This one gets a little complicated… is related to AC electricity
AC Electricity is basically generated by electromagnetic
energy, moving through the wire.

The number of times per second the electricity changes

direction (The frequency) is measured in Hertz.

It’s important to know what Voltage and Frequency a country uses…

Most common electrical appliances

will run at 50 or 60hz, but it’s
important to check…

Voltage, however is a different story…

be sure. Double check.
Watt
Watt is a unit of power. It quantifies the rate of energy
transfer in a circuit.
This gets pretty “Mathy” 
To put it simply:
The measure of power is always Volts x Amps. So if
you have a 12V circuit at 8A = 96W(power)

So… if you wanted to calculate how much current

you needed for a lightbulb. Let’s say it’s a 100W
light.
I= P/V – You know the P=100W, the V in this case is
12, so to give that bulb 100W, you need 8.3A (I)

But Remember… I said resistance is NOT Futile…

and that gets more “mathy”

Watt-Hour = The total amount of power consumed

by the circuit per hour.
Ohm
Ohm is the measure of resistance in the circuit.

• Think of it like a kink in the hose from the previous example…

• Easy Example is a light – a light creates resistance in the
circuit…
• you see this resistance as the light glows.
• You feel this resistance in the form of heat

Things that cause resistance:

• Wire size
• Wire type
• Kink in the wire
• Solid vs Stranded wire
• Artificial resistance (Resistors)
• Load on the circuit (Lights, plugs,
heaters, etc)
• Differing political opinions
Charge
It’s a super Nerdy explanation…

• For our purposes we’ll refer to charge as the amount of

electricity that can be stored.
• In boats, we keep charge stored in batteries.
• 12V is most typical.
• 6V is also seen in boats.
• A flashlight battery is 1.5V
• Batteries are rated by their storage capacity
• Displayed in Amp-Hours.
• This is measured like this XXX-AH @ YY-HR
• So a 100AH battery @20HR can give 5 Amps of “usable”
voltage for 20 Hours. If this were a 12V battery, your
“usable” voltage would be 10.5V
• Don’t be Fooled – A common misconception is that this
same battery could provide 100 Amps of power for 1
hour… not true. It would likely only give you 100A of More on batteries later…
current for about 40 mins… Remember resistance…
So here’s how you roll them all up…
Charge
Volts

Amps

Ohms… Ohms are everywhere

Amp-Hours = Total Gallons

through the mill
Watts Watt-Hours = Total Grain
Ground
The War of the Currents…
A Philosophical perspective…
Two Types of Current
Alternating Current (AC)
• Developed by Nikola Tesla
• Current is reversible (in the us it happens 60 times
per second)
• Easy to transform up or down
• Easy to convert to DC
• Easy to transmit over long distances
• Common for most household grade appliances
• Always in motion (hard to store)
• Not efficient to generate on small scale
Direct Current (DC)
• Developed by Thomas Edison
• Current flows 1 way only.
• Not easy to convert up or down
• Not super efficient to convert to AC
• Lots of power loss over distance
• Common in automotive applications (Engine on a
boat)
• Can drive high-torque motors in small packages.
• Lower wattage loads for small things (lights)
• Can be easily stored. (Batteries)
• VERY easy to make (Generate)
Why Both on a boat?

DC System AC System
• Primary power for Engine • Primary power for comfort
• Primary power for basic needs on • Common electrical appliances
boat, while underway • Microwave
• Closed Loop Circuit • TV
• Stereo
• Easy to deal with • Hair Dryer
• Less likely to electrocute (Water) • Air Conditioner
• Easily Stored • Etc…
• Convenience
• Charges the DC System efficiently
 AC
AC is the type of current used for all households. Its
also used for shore power on boats. It’s easy to move
and convert.

AC can move forward, and it can move backward.

Power from City

480VAC@600A

Long Distances Med. Distances

Dockside power
Step-up transformer at Marina Step-down transformer at Dock 120VAC @ 50A
10,000VAC @ 50A 240VAC @ 200A, 120VAC @ 30A
 DC
DC is used in automotive and marine power

DC can only move forward, unlike AC

120VAC in / 12VDC Out 12VDC Solar Panel 12VDC Engine Alternator

Charger

Short Distances 12VDC Distribution

• Lights
• Engine Starter
Short Distances • Windlass
• Bilge
• Navigation, electronics
• Etc…
12VDC Battery
Electrical Motion

AC
 Wire
Miles and miles of WIRE
Types of wire

Solid Conductor Stranded Conductor

• Typically seen in houses • Typically seen in cars and boats
• Not designed for movement • Seen in things that move (flexible)
• Permanent installs • Portable installs

The largest sizes all become

stranded anyway. (1/2 thick
cooper is tough to deal with)
Why 2 types?
• Buildings generally don’t move.
• Buildings have larger radiuses to turn corners (usually) #resistance
• Permanent installs
• Solid wire is less expensive than stranded.
Construction of Wire
Full Copper Aluminum or Copper Clad Aluminum
• More expensive • Less Expensive
• More efficient • Less Efficient
• Heavier • Lighter
• Easy to connect • Oxidizes easily
• Safer • Special requirements needed for connectors
• Potential fire hazard
• Must use larger gauge to handle same current
Wire size chart for Boats
Wire size is measured in Gauge.
You’ll see it abbreviated “AWG” or
American Wire Gauge.

Current in AMPS
5 10 15 20 25 30 40 50
15 16 12 10 10 8 8 6 6
Length in Feet

20 14 12 10 8 8 6 6 4
25 14 10 8 8 6 6 4 4
30 12 10 8 6 6 4 2 2
40 12 8 6 4 4 2 2
50 10 8 6 4 4 2 2 1
Connectors
Lots and lots of connectors
Wire Connectors
• Are specific based on size of wire and current carried
• Color coded for size
• Should all be insulated on a boat
• Should be sealed, whenever possible (Heat shrink)
• Tools required (Crimp)
• Direct Soldering sometimes
 Connectors
Wire Nuts
Used to join 1 or more wires
Used in home wiring.
Not good for boats
Spade Terminals
Used to join wires, or connect to a
switch panel
Male and Female connectors

Ring Terminals
Designed to be screwed onto posts

Snap Splice T-Tap

Used to join 1 or more Used to join a wire
Butt Splices wires without cutting without cutting
Used to join 1 or more wires No Crimping required.
Crimp or Solder type
Sealing connections – IMPORTANT

Heat Shrink Tubing

Electrical Tape

Silicone Sealant
Electrolysis
We’re not talking about hair removal…
What is Electrolysis? (this is a trick question)
• Metals in water will create an electrical charge.
• a chemical reaction occurs when electrical current tries to separate
the components of water (Hydrogen and Oxygen)
• This produces corrosion
• Galvanic Corrosion – occurs when two different types of metal conduct
electricity to one another, connected by water.
• Stray Current Corrosion – happens when current leaks into water from a
device (Bilge pump, battery charger, etc)

• Lots of other types of corrosion, but these two are types of

Electrolysis… they are distinctly different.
Marine Corrosion
• Galvanic Corrosion
• Boats with many types of metal
• Bronze, Aluminum, Galvanized and
Stainless Steel all produce different
charges
• These charges, when connected with
Salt water, produce Galvanic
Corrosion
• You battle this with Zincs on a boat.
• The zinc acts as a sacrificial metal.
• Electrolytic Corrosion
• Happens when current leaks.
• VERY bad for boats.
• Much faster corrosion rage than
Galvanic
• Can destroy a boat quickly.
• Can cause electrical fires
• Can destroy appliances
• Allows for mix of AC and DC currents
(Very bad too)
• Keep your wires isolated and
insulated. Check regularly submerged
devices
 How to avoid Electrolytic Corrosion
• Regularly inspect connection
points
• Use a Galvanic Isolator
• Keeps leaky voltage from
completing circuit to shore power
• Heat Shrink and Silicone are your
friends
 Examples of Corrosion
Electrolytic
Galvanic
Panels,
Breakers,
Fuses
The Center of it all…
Panel Types • AC Panel
• Allows central control of all AC
• DC Panel
• Central control of all DC
circuits (On/Off) circuits
• Contains Breakers for each • Contains fuses or breakers for
circuit each circuit
• Has a main breaker for whole • May or may not have a main
panel cutoff on the panel
• Sometimes has a meter on it • Newer panels will have a
• Voltage/Current meter
• Voltage and sometimes
current

Some boats may have a combination panel, with AC and DC on the

same panel… just be mindful of which one is which
DC Panel Examples –

Circuit Breaker Type

Fuse Type
 AC Panel Examples -

Main Breaker

Combination AC/DC Panel

Wiring a DC Panel…
• All negative connections back to the batteries are typically bussed,
meaning they come from a single source, and are all joined together.
• Fuses, breakers and switches are connecting the positive connection
Fuses vs Breakers
• Fuses
• Most typically used for DC
• Over Current Protection
• Can only “trip” or “blow” once
• Simple – piece of metal joining the
circuit… metal melts, “blowing”
the fuse.
• Blows fast. Great for electronics,
opinions vary for motors.
• Many shapes and sizes
• Breakers
• Can be used in AC or DC
• Over Current Protection
• Can be tripped and reset multiple
times
• Sort of complex operation
• Bi-metal pole inside that “bends”
when it gets hot
• Good for variable current loads
like a motor, opinions vary for
electronics and lights.
Shore Power
How you get electricity to your boat…
• The most typical connections you see on marina pedestals:
• 120V 30A connection
• 120V 50A connection (not all marinas will have this one)
• The connectors for each of these are different:
• Some marinas will supply 240V 50A connection for larger boats.
• If your boat is not equipped for 240V connection, stay away from this. 

120V, 30A 120V, 50A 120/240V, 50A

 Converters…
• A boat can connect to a 120V 50A connector if you convert the plug.
• Pigtail connector can do this.
• A boat can also connect to a standard 120V 15/20A plug, with a converter
• Remember, all you get is 15 or 20A, so don’t run Air Conditioners, Hair dryers, etc.
• A boat can also use 2 30A connectors to join to a 50A connection

2 30A male to 1 50A female

50A female to 30A male

30A female to 15/20A male
 Cool Devices for Shore Power
Standard shore power is pretty simple. Think of it like an Extension Cord, but it twists in and usually has a
threaded ring for locking into place.

Some alternatives:

EEL (Easily Engaged Lock) is a brand by Marinco SmartPlug

Single handed operation No twist lock, but solid pin locking
Lights on both ends to show power Heavy duty contacts
Easily adapted on your boat. Requires special connector on boat
Batteries
 Can come in different voltages and
current ratings.

Batteries are Batteries’ current is rated in AMP Hour

DC Power in a (Ah)

portable
storage Batteries take chemical
energy and turn it into
Marine batteries use a lead acid
chemical reaction
Opposing plates of lead and lead

container
dioxide suspended in Sulfuric
electrical energy Acid or a acid based gel.

Batteries can be combined to deliver more

voltage or more current (Ah)
 Combining Batteries, explained
12V, 12V,
200AH 400AH

12V,
1600AH
6V 400AH 6V 400AH 12V 200AH 12V 200AH 6V 400AH 6V 400AH

Series Parallel
Voltage Doubles Voltage Stays the Same
Ah Stays the same Ah Doubles
6V 400AH 6V 400AH
Series-Parallel
Voltage Doubles
Ah Doubles
Inverters
Inverters
• Convert DC power to AC Power
• Not specifically efficient to run for long periods of time
• Not designed to run your entire AC load like on shore power…
• To Run 15 Amps of AC current would take an 1800W inverter, and 166 Amps
of DC current
• Use for small things like your TV, stereo, etc.
Solar/Wind
 • Solar panels are not super
efficient
• Wind generators aren’t
either
• Best for use while underway
or at anchor to top off your
batteries.
• Panel connects to a Charge
Controller, which supplies
the correct voltage to the
battery system.
• Wind generator works in
Designed to charge your much the same way.

12V system, not run it

Tying it all together
 Batteries, Solar, Wind, Inverter, Electrical
Panel, Shore Power
• Each has their use
• They all can coexist nicely
• It’s not as complex as it may sound

DC Battery System
With Solar and/or Wind added
Charge
Controller
Add Shore Power
Charge
Controller

DC Battery
Charger

AC Circuit
Panel
And inverter
Charge
Controller

DC Battery
Charger

AC Circuit
Panel
Tools!
Tools you’ll want
• Electrical Tester – capable of both AC and DC measurement
• Non-Contact voltage tester
• AC Circuit Checker
• Amp Meter – (can sometimes get an all in one tester/Amp Meter)
• Insulated screwdrivers
• Connector Crimper
Go Shopping!

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Electrical-Voltage-Continuity-Current/dp/B0006Z3GZU
Measures AC and DC Volts
Open Jaw Amp Meter
Continuity checker

https://www.amazon.com/KLEIN-TOOLS-NCVT2KIT-Basic-Voltage/dp/B01IX6DIVK

Measures AC in lines
Checks polarity of AC plugs
Good to have
Go Shopping!

https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-32091-1000-Volt-Insulated-Screwdriver/dp/B07C36DCB1
Philips and slotted heads
Insulated to 1000V
Just in case…

https://www.amazon.com/Hilitchi-Professional-Insulated-Connectors-Ratcheting/dp/B01IQIALJC

Will Crimp most types of connectors

Q&A