What do electronics and spaghetti have in common?

[TheOtherLine]

Maybe nothing on your boat, but mine is a mess. I've added stuff, piecemeal and it's a mess.

This week's goal is to clean this up. Going to replace all the terminal ends with the correct connectors. Going to move some of the stuff to different bus bar and maybe even use one of those boxes that organizes connections.

This is the BEFORE!
:shock:

 

[ryanc2]

Took on the same project this weekend. Wish I had taken some before pics. Need a little more split tubing, but have labeled, re-connected, and tire wrapped all cables. Something I have been wanting to do for a while.

Good luck - it's a very satisfing project.

 

[TheOtherLine]

Took on the same project this weekend. Wish I had taken some before pics. Need a little more split tubing, but have labeled, re-connected, and tire wrapped all cables. Something I have been wanting to do for a while.

Good luck - it's a very satisfying project.

Well, take some AFTER pictures!! How did you label the cables? Did you just label at the terminal or did you put a label on the cable?

 

[TheOtherLine]

Not a fair comparison (you got way more stuff), I was happy how this turned out.

Surely that box is not there just for your VHF?? What else goes in there?

 

[ryanc2]

How did you label the cables? Did you just label at the terminal or did you put a label on the cable?

I labeled the each cable. I ran GPS, VHF, and Sounder cables in individual split tubing to isolate noise. Others I grouped by application and they got there own tube as well (harness, steering, tabs, etc.) All then came together and ran up to the fuse panel or bus. Heat shrinked, greased, and secured.

All this came based on another post I did regarding losing power at my fuse panel. In trying to trace back the issue I ended up pulling all my wiring out and embarking on this project.

I'm worlds away from the duct tape and corroded connections I inherited from the previous owner :lol:

 

[tara11]

Mine was you twin, I got heat shrink and one by one redid it, and it looks a lot better and easier to trace back wires now if I ever have to ! You will be glad when you are finished !

 

[pelagic2530]

ugh... i dont even want to think about this project on my boat. mines twice as bad as yours and i dont have NEAR the electronics savvy to do it myself sigh...

 

[TheOtherLine]

ugh... i dont even want to think about this project on my boat. mines twice as bad as yours and i dont have NEAR the electronics savvy to do it myself sigh...

I'm with you. I'm pretty sure that as I cruise the intercoastal and flip on the GPS, I can swear I hear blenders coming on inside houses..... :shock:

Having said that, I am going to cheat. I am going to have a guy I know, who DOES know this stuff help me. Or maybe the other way around. I help him.

Either way, it's got to get done!

 

[Hugs Tug]

Great idea to clean that up and also get rid of those automotive crimps.
They in no way belong on a boat, adhesive lined shrink tube fittings are without a doubt the cats whiskers.
Wire numbers taped on the end of the wire insulation before shrinking also helps inentifty the wiring. You do need to have the same corresponding number at the other terminal end. From there it is just an addition to the boats log book if in fact a problem does occur.
When I had my boat built I was very anal about these issues.
Good Luck and enjoy the peace of mind.
Tom

 

[Porkchunker]

Great idea to clean that up and also get rid of those automotive crimps.
They in no way belong on a boat, adhesive lined shrink tube fittings are without a doubt the cats whiskers.
Wire numbers taped on the end of the wire insulation before shrinking also helps inentifty the wiring. You do need to have the same corresponding number at the other terminal end. From there it is just an addition to the boats log book if in fact a problem does occur.
When I had my boat built I was very anal about these issues.
Good Luck and enjoy the peace of mind.
Tom

Well...when I rewired my horn this weekend, I found some of those automotive style crimps inside the tubing supporting the hard top. :shock: :shock: :shock:

The connector to the ground had given up, and I lost the ground wire in the tube...had to fish a new ground wire through. :shock: :shock: :shock:

I rewired with the heatshrink style connectors. But...both of the cockpit flood lights are connected with those automotive style connectors inside the tubing. One of these days....

I'm surprised that Parker used them...even inside the tube. The rest of the wiring is first class.

Dave

aka

 

[Hugs Tug]

Fish Factory,
To each his own.
My way of doing things is very simple, do the right way the first time or do not even bother.
My reply was just a suggestion to the original poster.
If my replys to posts are irrevelant I am sure that the mods will let me know.
Tom

 

[grouperjim]

............. I am going to have a guy I know, who DOES know this stuff help me.........

:shock: :evil:

 

[HM5]

............. I am going to have a guy I know, who DOES know this stuff help me.........

:shock: :evil:

The doctor makes housecalls...? :lol: :? :lol:

 

[grouperjim]

it's dayum fine house. on the water too, plus he always has plenty of Red Stripe on hand. The pool has gone to the ducks though. :mrgreen:

 

[ppem45]

TOL, would that guy be Jim?

 

[TheOtherLine]

TOL, would that guy be Jim?

HA HA HA ! Poor Jim. He's my go to guy when I need an extra hand.

Anyway, Jim's off the hook on this job.

Today, I ripped out all the connections and clipped all the unused nema wires that I had wrapped up. I bought one of those blue sea systems to connect some of the electronics to. That will free up some space on the bus bar so it won't be so cluttered.

The blue seas box will allow me to replace all regular fuses with the blade type.

My guy said he was going to add a mini bus bar panel to tie the smaller wires to.

The project is on :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[grouperjim]

TOL, would that guy be Jim?

............Anyway, Jim's off the hook on this job............

W h a a a a a t? no more sandwiches.........did i mention his wife brings out sandwiches while we are tinkering. 8)

 

[ppem45]

What kind of sandwiches and what was that address,do I have to work for my food?

 

[TheOtherLine]

I was just relaxing last night, after feeling a sense of accomplishment and then it occurred to me ...... I am soooo over my head....

 

[TheOtherLine]

Wire numbers taped on the end of the wire insulation before shrinking also helps inentifty the wiring. You do need to have the same corresponding number at the other terminal end.
Tom

I like this idea :idea:

Thanks