Sail Life - Rewiring the AC & a look at an isolation transformer (Victron Energy 3600)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video, I get started on rewiring the AC with the help of a good buddy and also take a quick look at the isolation transformer I'll have aboard the boat.
** Products mentioned in this video **
Victron Energy Isolation Transformer: www.victronene...
Amazon, US:
Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: amzn.to/2oDxOGF
Amazon, UK:
Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: amzn.to/2ppWroN
** Links **
Sail Life on Patreon:
bit.ly/SailLife...
Sail Life on Facebook:
bit.ly/SailLife...
Sail Life on Twitter:
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I spent 40 years in commercial construction management and I have only had one electrician who did work as neat & organized as yours. When ever I used him all of the inspectors commented on his work and said it was the best they had ever seen. It is so nice to see your meticulous progress in all the work you do, you don't take any shortcuts, all the sanding you do is just one example. You sir are a CRAFTSMAN in every sense of the word.
Glad to hear your cold getting better as the week went on.
What will the wire way look like? Will it be approved by the electrician? Will the gods ever let the hull dry out? Will Athena ever let Mads cuddle? Tune in next week for the amazing adventures of Sail Life!!! Thank you for what you do.
i watched this old house with bob vila as a kid,your chanel has the same feeling that does.
I like that you talk about your plan and then work your plan. Allot of DIY videos don,t.
You make me feel like the laziest piece of...you know what. Mads, you're the best. You work all week, and happily do the dirty work on your boat. Best wishes from Portland, OR, USA.
I agree April, on all counts. Mads is inspiring. I need to stop eating Voodoo Donuts and get some work done on the boat on Sundays. However, the weather here has been very poor this month.
The weather here in PDX has been very poor for 5 months......
You're costing me a fortune here Mads. I've just bought a blue water boat and now...Calder's book, Digital Yacht hardware, NMEA2000 everything.....and now...an isolation transformer - it's all your fault! ;-) Thanks so much for the great videos. Inspiring and thought provoking.
I have a Victron battery charger of lower amperage, and the cooling fan runs constantly, and audibly, regardless of output level and state of charge. Find out how your cooling fan behaves before putting it near your bunk!
Finally!! My sunday is complete.
Hehe :) I'm glad to be of service ;)
Sail Life Did you say that charger is a 50Amps charger? Thats impressive! How large will your total battery Amp/hour be?
Sail Away It should be safe to say that it will be at least 150Ah as 1/3rd the Ah rating is generally a good rule of thumb as a maximum charge rate when charging lead acid batteries (though, in the case of flooded lead acid batteries the batteries will only ever accept that peak rate for the first 30-60 minutes if deeply discharged, AGM will typically accept such for much longer). With flooded lead acid batteries a charger sized for 1/4 to 1/3 of the Ah rating can restore battery charge state from 20% to greater than 90% in less than 4 hours if it supports a boost mode around 14.4VDC during charging (scaling back to 13.2-13.6VDC after charging is complete to reduce off gassing and water loss), which makes for fairly efficient generator use.
If that transformer is indeed that heavy it pays to move it to the right, as close to the boats centre line as possible, where it has the least impact on the boats sailing characteristics.
You are the epitome of what we call the 6Ps. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. I may just shorten it to "Mads".. Once again, nice job.
Most of the "professional" work I've had done has been vastly inferior to your own workmanship, Mads. Don't sell yourself short. Your doing excellent work, and a professional boatyard's workmanship would probably disappoint. There is something to be said for the owner doing his own work...because its HIS boat, he actually gives a shit. Nice vid. Love the electrical work.
Thank you so much :) I feel the exact same way you do. Often when I've paid someone to do a job they've been in too much of a hurry. I totally get it - they're on the clock and it's "just" work. When you DIY you might not be an expert but you can take your time and get it right :)
Make sure to "shop around" for your electrician so he does not go crazy because you did not follow the Denmark color code standards on your cable !
Now that just sounds dodgy. The code standards are there for a reason
The color of a wire is not intrinsic to the safety of the system.
I think you should make also some "boring" videos of jammering those nerdy technical things. They're just the information everybody needs. I haven't heard of need for isolation transformer (or whatever) before this and it's awsome you explained it!
Being an electronic technician and having wired my own home, this is the most interesting episode you've made...for me. Love to watch how careful you are with everything. Thank you.
I have so much to learn and you have a clear comfortable way with your videos.
I never run 14ga (AWG) AC line. Stopped using it 40 years ago. Instead I run 12ga (AWG) and use 15AMP breakers. There was actually a lot of talk about outlawing residential/commercial building 14ga wire here in the states some decades back. Because the electrical current runs around the outter most surface of the conductor, 12ga can deliver a lot more current (high load starting capacity) with far lower resistance and voltage drop. This keeps motor winding stress down and has many other benefits. The reason why I use 15 AMP breakers is to stay in line with the 15 AMP plugs and switches, which are far less expensive than their 20 AMP rated counterparts and if an appliance cord shorts out a 15 AMP trip rate is FAR preferable to 20. Mind you that 12ga generally will not fit into the stab connector holes provisioned on many 15AMP plugs and switches and that the wire has to be pinned under the terminal screws. And lastly, if one takes aboard a high load appliance like an air conditioner, upgrading to 20 AMPS on any circuit is a snap. Your cabling looks fine, nothing there looks to me to be anything but quite professional. The only way you could have upgraded would have been to use conduit of some sort to mitigate anything bouncing around in the cabin from cutting into the cable. "Wire Mold" indoor living space (prettier) conduit might be advised. Keeping the gear in the cabin secured at sea is even more advised though. :) It all looks fine to me and I have ran hundreds of miles of AC cabling in all residential, commercial and marine settings.That cabling you are using looks closer to 12ga (AWG) than 14.
Taking out a mount, that will never be seen, so that you don't get paint on it. You are the consummate professional. Keep up the great work! I really enjoy your videos.
always a pleasure to do a complete rewiring of an old boat. strangely sayisfying task. i realized during our refit as well
Wow! Athena is really coming along nicely!
Carry on Mads. You are the only one that can make the project look presentable. Professionals don't necessarily have your best interest in mind👍👍
Thanks :) That has sadly been my experience too but I get it. When something is "just" a job it can be difficult to care enough to get a good result.
Nice work! If the transformer is having to buzzing sounds you might consider having rubber against the wall mount
If you put those two jumpers in a small ziplock and tape it to the inside of the housing you won't be doing a long search for them years down the track when you need them.
Excellent explanations of something that confuses a lot of people. It scares me how often I see a simple extension lead with a distribution board used for shore power. I went for an ultra simple system for my boat, but did include a galvanic isolator as well as an RCD and breakers, plus a smart charger for the batteries.
Thank God for you posting this video now. I was thinking of going for a walk! And we`ve had 4 seasons of weather here on the west coast today.
lol, I'm glad I could give you an excuse to postpone that walk ;)
Hi Mads. Love all your videos! I've just started renovating a 22-foot cruiser in order to live on it, and I'm now looking back through your old episodes for inspiration. I'll remember you when I'm spending hours sanding, for shaming me into doing the job right!
Mads---add another bracket to hold-down the Isolation Trx to keep it from jumping off that main bracket in a seaway---think--On your side or upside down !? Add another outlet for the engine compartment for power tools and/or heat lamps for winter freeze--much cheaper than a new engine block. Your cable routing is looking pretty sanitary so far!---Mike Yadrick, Seattle, Wa
Great work Mads. I love it when people actually organize their power cables. I've rebuilt so many houses and buildings where the wires just turn into bird nests, it's refreshing to see someone take a few seconds to ensure everything is run properly and neatly. If your electrician is worth his salt I think he'd appreciate how organized you are. Keep it up!
Hi Mads. Your videos on the Athena refit have been so cool to watch. I'm not a sailor but in recent months I've cottoned on to the sailing vids on YT, I love the technical and space planning aspects of it all. Your attention to detail and the way you put your thinking across is rather remarkable, more so, in that, it is in a second language, kudos your way! A while ago I watched a couple document the unintentional tidal grounding of their yacht in a narrow inlet. It slowly laid itself on its side while water gently flooded the interior via portlights mostly. As the tide came in again they bailed, and the bilge pump eventually became functional once the yacht was a little more upright. Any electrical equipment close to the hull on the "drowned side" was damaged. This made me think that if I ever get to do a refit, I may keep any electrical gear as close amidships as possible. Clear runs of cabling and conduits close to the hull would obviously be fine but any joints and devices would likely be compromised. Would it not be possible to put your isolation transformer (and ANY other such water-sensitive gear) on the RHS (closer to the centerline of Athena) of your nav station? Once again, thanks for your great channel. I look forward, along with many others, to your weekly edition. Cheers. Grant.
Ps. Looking forward to the details of you getting Athena's hull sorted.
Ahh, an isolation transformer! Very smart.
50/60hz shouldn't make to much of a difference except maybe with video and lighting ect.
And then if you're running the higher voltage, 14 AWG should be plenty good in general.
You are going to have the nicest electric install on TH-cam!
Another great video from the most entertaining DYI guy on the web!
Thanks for all the great videos Mads!
Thank you so much! I think that's a first for me :) Thanks for staying tuned :)
Just an FYI. An Isolation Transformer also serves as a safety buffer for system harmonics, or system 'noise'. That means that your sensitive electronics, should you have any, are protected from dirty power that may be present in the shore power supply and vice versa, the system supply is protected from any harmonics that may be produced in your boat power system. The most common cause of system harmonics in a household system used to be desktop computers, but it would require a lot of computers to make a significant difference, plus nowadays, most people opt for the laptop route, which isolates itself naturally through the internal battery and charger system.
Thank you, Mads, for another great video! I really like the way you tidy things up and take care of the details. I'm sure that it will serve you well when you are hanging out in the South Pacific with nothing to do, while others are scrambling to find parts and equipment to solve a problem. Makes the fruity drinks on the beach even more enjoyable! Keep posting!!
Just wanted to say hi from Canada. I have really been enjoying your videos. I watched one or two because they were in the recommended list. A few days later I watched another one. By the third time I was hooked, subscribed and spent three or four days watching all of the Athena videos. Then moved on to the Obelix videos. I'm still working on those ones.
The attention to detail and filming a good portion of your work is what hooked me. Keep up the good work and I can't wait to see Athena back in the water.
I love your videos dude, I'm currently restoring/repairing the electronics on my Gulf Craft Ambassador 25ft Daycruiser, I removed over 30m with housewiring, most of the electrical system was pretty shitty. So this is kinda inspiring :p
Thank you so much :) Wow, sounds a lot like some of the crap I tore out a few months back. I bet it felt good getting rid of that old crusty wiring :)
U bet, the worst part was that they were so stiff and crumpy, that i had to cut them several times before pulling them out, but it's coming along nicely now, I'm making my own switch panel from Angel eye push switches, so I mounted a fusebox and some extra groundpoints, then I just gotta have to assemble and launch the boat for the season :D
I'm so happy, I got to leave work early, and come home to new Sail Life!
You certainly now more than even a so called certified professional, trust me you have done your homework well A+
Hello. Just discovered your channel, and my first thought is...WOW...your so patient and methodical...you take the time to really research your work. You want to do everything the right way, and your vision is truly long term. And that is very admirable. Good luck with your channel! I think it will be a big hit once you get out there in that big ocean. But don't be a loner...find a good friend to be your wing man/lady. I'll be watching.
I just found your channel a few days ago but I've had it running non-stop in my office since. I really appreciate your attention to detail in both the work you've been doing and the quality of videos you produce. Well done my friend. Looking forward to many more.
Very nice Mars, just finished a Victron Multiplus installation last weekend. I cannot wait to see how you do it. Thanks for being a great motivator!
Darn autocorrect Mads!
My wife and I always get a giggle when you say ' Hi guys!' :)
Good Evening
Another great and informative video but the real reason for posting this comment is to thank you for recommending the Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual in an previous video (and this one!). My copy arrived this week and has already answered a couple of questions I had. Well worth the price. PS Retail price in the UK is £60-00! But Amazon have it for £36-00! :-)
If I'm not mistaken I got my copy from Amazon too :) I'm glad you like the book! It's the single best DIY boat book I've seen so far :)
I work a job where my "weekend" days change every month. When I see a Sail Life video, I realize it is Sunday! ATHENA is looking great man!
Wouldn’t be a good weekend without one of your videos. Amazing job Mads.
Looking good Mads!
Thanks, Robert :)
Looks kind of complicated now but I'm pretty confident You'll figure it out, as always. Good luck
I'm your newest subscriber! Just ordered a new isolation transformer for my boat yesterday and found your video in my search for knowledge about it. Thank you for making the videos you make! Nice job on the install too! Even after 2+ years your videos can help some of us! Cheers and safe travels.
good video. Great that you end it with a disclaimer. Grounding and proper bonding is very important. Plus the type of wire used. As you show your thorough. check review then double check. as for the 115 to 230 your tools should work fine at 115 unless your using variable speed. You may find lagging overheating or just stopping. I have tools from America that work but not to be run continuously. Good job of thinking of all the angles.
How gorgeous Mads, you are building a masterpiece.. such attention to detail is incredibly inspiring! I can see you're going about this with the intent to be a forever home! big thanks to you for all the creating and posting effort to enthrall and entertain us each weekend bud :-)
And now, excuse me while I go dive into my own OCD project :-))
Thank you so much :) I do plan on spending the rest of my life aboard Athena... or at least the next 30 years. Of course, those plans might change but then I'll have a nice looking boat for as long as I own Athena :) What kind of OCD project are you working on? :)
Nice work Mads.
Back we're I live (Belgium) an AC installation needs to be certified too. It requires the installation to adhere to the rules and you also need to provide a one-line diagram of the installation + a physical plan with the location of the outlets, breakers, ...
Most of the time the guy who will be certifying the installation will draw it for you but it's easier if you keep documenting it whilst you're building it.
Great work, the boat is looking awesome
Another awesome progress filled episode -Athena is looking great. Cheers from PEI Canada, Bryan
As a kid I swam all the time behind my Dad's boat in the marina.
beginning I've been watching all your videos from the very beginning inspired you've inspired me to do better work thank you.
Hi Mads - you are making spiffingly good progress. 👍
Excellent videos! They are the highlight to my Sunday workday
Thank you so much :)
Love your videos. We replaced all of our A/C wire and outlets a while back. It is great to know everything id new. We will be installing our smart plug shortly. Great information as usual.
Hi Mads, The best way to spend a sunday evening, is watching your vids. I am totaly adicted to them. Is Athena in Ebeltoft?
Hey Mads
You continue to do a very nice job on everything. Watching the video made me think of one of the little things I really like aboard my boat that you might want to consider. I have a couple very small AC (shaded) lamps that make the boat feel very homey. They are almost miniature in size but still give a nice effect. I know you will have your heater but you won't be using that year round. Anyway, you might want to give it a try and, if you like it, make sure you have an outlet (I ran an extension cord which I really don't like).
Ron
great job dude you keep me motivated on my reft :)
Thanks! :)
Another brilliant video , thanks Madds !
good stuff dear Sir .food for the mind .good job on your show,
Pretty dang spiffy. You built up the next week's video, and I've been waiting for this set of videos. Great job so far.
made me Sunday thanks
I think you will find that they make a lot of noise. When they are not loaded they can make a loud hum. They will normally quiet down when they are loaded. The difference in freq. between 50 and 60 Hz. will affect your compressors like the fridge and freezer.
Great video. It's going to be exciting to see the next video!
Great educational vid today Mads, at least for me... I'm currently searching for a boat to fix up and the stuff you do fits right in!👍😃
Look at those arms wobble ;). Great work Mads. Thanks for sharing.
Tak for opdateringen, det er SÅ fedt at følge med, du og dit arbejde på Athena, er ren inspiration, 👍
Good videos and a decent length, as I hate we short videos lol thanks.
I'm getting hooked on these videos. You're doing a great job.
I take it the j34 connection is obviously the earth connection from shore power to the earth on the isolated side. If this is the case, whatever you do don't connect this earth to anything like the engine or prop shaft or you will find the zinc's disappearing.
so far it's going well good luck and I'm waiting al ready for the next video
Thanks! :)
Great video. Looking fwd to the next one. Thanks much and just ordered the book. Hadn't even considered corrosion on a sailboat. Great point. Typically cathodic protection is accomplished with sacrificial anodes on motor boats. Once again, look fwd to your next video. They are intelligently put together and entertaining. You're giving me ideas on mine. I call it 'Chineese Blueprinting'. Lol, best wishes from Oklahoma.
As always, thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍👍 😊
look forward each week for your uploads great job your doing .
wow your subscription base has grown.
You used the music from "Sailing Uma". I was confused for a moment. Wish you wisdom with your installation.
Hi. Great video. I think you need to check what you said at around 12:58, and the 115 v AC connections... While pointing with an index finger "You need to connect this one to this one, and this one to this one." The way I understood it, the schematic diagram differs from your explanation. BUUUUUUT... I might be wrong, or perhaps worked with too much Owatrol Oil lately. Anyways... Good job! Greetings from Norway!
Thanks :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I'll double check those connections or at least make sure I do so before arriving in the US :P
Had the same thought Kajsa - but on cogitating on it, I believe it's just a case of confusing diagrams on the circuit board.
It only looks like the 115 should be all connected together with the third pin unconnected,
but in reality it's the rather silly U shaped pictograph that is criminally poorly designed and easy to misread.
If you see it as two seperate pictographs, and some designer not having enough space to put them, so placed them really close together making it "look" like an actual connected circuit diagram then you see where the confusion comes from.
As always very informative. Thanks
Love your videos. Thank you for sharing.
Ser godt ud, glæder mig til næste søndag!
Great video, electrical regs are pretty restrictive in Denmark!
The time warping in the early part of this video had me a tad confused. Thanks as always.
Oops sorry,,I should of watched the video longer.
At the bay where I'm at everyone looses zinks at a rapid rate even the people at mooring buoys. You have touched on a huge subject.
nice video ! again! you ll having a good time on Athena..!!
Ol' Wilma is really coming out of her closet, so to speak. Good to see her taking an interest in her environment.
Please take time to secure that bulky transformer for the worst possible conditions aboard Mads. 2 screws all the bottom is far less than the 5 along the top area. Not to mention how it's secured to that little clip alone. If that thing were to break loose it could do significant damage in rough weather.
WOW! Just WOW! 😎👍
God damn! Great video as always (: You've always considered your projects and go to them wisely, with great perfectionism and care. Very inspiring and even helps me to "do my best" when I'm going to fix something. Nice to see you with glasses On .... almost like watching "old mads" from previous episodes. 👍
Great video. Thank you for all the info. The wiring looks great.
Boo hoo! Don't leave us hanging on the edge of the cliff. I'm expecting great things for your cable management! Once again, great workmanship. I love you how dedicated you are to high quality, neat, well thought-out work.
happy for u.
Great video Mads. I guess here in the states we are suppose to get a licensed electrician but most do it themselves. I guess its hard to sneak and do it when you are posting a video of you committing the crime. lol
Hey, If you have so much room under the nav station for the isolation transformer, why not build some shelves and add some storage under there. There is never enough storage on a sailboat!
thumbs up for glasses!
You do nice work !
Thank you! :)
I can hear your sailing Uma influence.
Great video again Mads, eventough i didnt understood it all :)
By the way, still ow you for butyl tape. Already used some of it. Works great.
That is looking good, very well thought out. Is heat going to be an issue with the AC gear in that locker or from that isolation transformer? I came across this product for shore power connections, do a search for 'smartplug'. I'm not with the company but it looks promising. Keep up the good work, I really enjoy your vids.
Hello Mads! Another great video!This is my 1st. comment ever and it's all your fault,no one else has ever compelled me to do so.I just sold my house and am headed to Vancouver to find a boat to live on,after watching all 217 of your video's I feel a lot more educated as to what I'll be looking for,see you next time you come to Vancouver Cove maybe.:):):):):)lol
Congrats on making an awesome decision! :) You won't regret it! Moving aboard is the best choice I've ever made. Be sure to let me know if you locate Vancouver Cove ;)
I was just over watching,Life is like Sailing's older episodes and got a chance to see the inside of a C&C 34,I could live in one of those!Looks like a great set-up,can't wait to watch the rest and see what he does with her.Oh and thanks so much for sharing your journey!Already looking forward to next Sunday!You amaze me!
What does the locker door look like? Is there a door? If not might I suggest some spiffy smoke acrylic, like on super futuristic looking server cabinets. Something about blinky (or not blinky) LEDs behind smoked glass (or in this case acrylic) always gets me going.