[C320-list] Wiring and power on old 320

[Chris Burti]

Unless 'Numero Uno' is completely different that the rest of the
fleet, the cables running forward are for your anchor windlass and the
reason they are so big is because of the distance they run and the
heavy load they carry.

Catalina doesn't have a reputation for cutting corners, and on our
#867 everything is wired more than adequately to meet the minimum
requirements for ABS. So, I'd guess that your cable is sized
appropriately.

I'd suspect that the most likely culprit is your grounding connections
on the engine block or starter. Over the years, these have proven to
be the most frequent source of the problem you describe on older boats
that I have owned.

On 7/23/07, Nicholas Ward <Nicholas_Ward at brown.edu> wrote:
> We have old 320 (1993).  We've had a lot of trouble with engine starting
> and after replacing just about everything related to ignition we still
> have problems.  A good boat electronic guy and a good deisel mechanic
> told us our problem is with insufficient wiring (curiously our surveyor
> said the wiring was ok).   We have a brand new starter battery and two
> huge truck batteries but.. They are on the starboard side, far from the
> engine.  The wiring is ?2g (about as thick as a #2 pencil).  It takes
> all the batteries to start the engine.  We have now begun the task of
> re-wiring and have (at least) 3 questions for the group.
> 1. what route do your wires take from battery to panel?  Our house
> batteries appear to go forward into the V berth, then up the starboard
> wall then dissapear somewhere. Its got to be like 30 feet of wire to get
> to the panel.  Our starter batter cable also appear to take some crazy
> route back into the aft cabin wall. I would hav ethough they would just
> run under the cabin floor.
> 2. As one solution we are contimplating moving the starter battery back
> to the engine so it only has a short cable distance.  Has anyone ever
> done that?
> 3.  Given the monstrous length of cable , what guage do you all use?
>
> Nick
> (almost named) #1
>
>
>
>


-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC