Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 05 July 2023


Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: Correct Wiring of Engine Switch
Complement: Yoni Bresler
Weather: High 90's

  • Mis-wired the engine Guest Battery Selector Switch after blowing up the diodes of the alternator by accidently turning the switch through the "Off" position while the engine was running during the season of 2017. Initial "fix" was to connect the alternator output terminal directly to the battery so that the switch could not disconnect the alternator from the battery. Unfortunately, due to the starter solenoid being wired to the alternator same output terminal, the solenoid was always energized. The engine could be started with the Guest Battery Selector Switch in the "Off" position. Furthermore, the ignition switch was wired to the same terminal of the starter solenoid. As a result, the input terminal of the ignition switch was always energized. Due to the wiring of the control panel the buzzer was always energized and would buzz during heavy rains.
  • Re-wired today to fix the problem.
  • Disconnected at the alternator the wire connecting the alternator output terminal to the starter solenoid.
  • The starter solenoid terminal remains connected to the "Both/Common" position of the Guest Battery Selector Switch and to the input terminal of the ignition switch.
  • Verfied operation: When the Guest Battery Selector Switch is on "Off", the engine ignition switch does not activate start solenoid and the control panel buzzer does not sound. When the swith is set to any of "1", "2", or "Both", the engine ignition switch starts the engine and the buzzer sounds till the the engine starts. Less than 30 seconds after the engine starts, the LED on the SI-ACR lights, indicating that the alternator is producing sufficient voltage.
  • While working on the electrics, moved the cable that connected the #2 (House) battery to the SI-ACR to the input side of m Series Mini On-Off Battery Switch with Key (6005) .
  • Unfortnately, broke (internal? not visible) the wire connecting the #1 (Start) battery terminal of the Guest Battery Selector Switch to the digital voltmeter/USB charger. Need to replace his wire. Verified that the problem is the wire by using the wire for the House battery voltmeter in place of the Start battery voltmeter wire.
  • Drilled a hole in the panel for a LED to connect to the "combine(on)/isolate(off)" status terminal of the SI-ACR .
  • Replaced the spinnaker turning blocks with Selden 60 mm plain bearing block .
© Jonathan M. Bresler