Marine Electrical Reference Material

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PETER KENNEDY YACHT SERVICES
Marine Electrical Systems

Standards, Tables, International Equivalents

ABYC Standards
The American Boat and Yacht Council is an industry based body which publishes a set of voluntary standards for all aspects of boat design and construction. The "Standards and Recommended Practices for Small Craft" is the industry bible for surveyors, boat builders and repairers. ABYC also also offers certification for professionals working in various fields. Technical questions from boat owners as well as from professionals are welcomed at the ABYC offices. Individual standards are available for purchase online for $60 each. Recommended for Electrical Systems is E.11 AC & DC ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON BOATS

www.abycinc.org
American Boat and Yacht Council
613 Third Street, Suite 10
Annapolis, MD 21403
Phone: (410) 990-4460
Fax: (410) 990-4466

US Coast Guard Standards
Coast Guard standards are available free online. Here are some of the main sections . However, because they are lengthy I recommend the ABYC digests of the various standards. The Electrical compliance guideline is available for $25 from the ABYC

46 CFR 110 General provisions

46 CFR 111 Electric systems--general requirements

46 CFR 112 Emergency lighting and power systems

46 CFR 113 Communication and alarm systems and equipment

46 CFR 120 Electrical installation (Subchapter K, small passenger vessels)

46 CFR 129 Electrical installations (Subchapter L, offshore supply vessels)

46 CFR 161 Electrical Equipment (Subchapter Q, Items requiring Coast Guard Approval)

46 CFR 183 Electrical installation (Subchapter T, small passenger vessels)

33 CFR 183 Boat and Associated Equipment (recreational boats)

UL Standards
UL marine standard.

Wire Size and Color

Allowable Amperage in Conductors - Wire Sizing Chart

Voltage Drop in Conductor - Wire Sizing Chart

Wire sizing program (Free)


AC wiring color codes
Conductor	US 115v AC	US 230v AC	Europe 240v AC
Ground	Green	Green	Green and yellow
Neutral	White	White	Light blue
Hot	Black	Black	Brown
Hot		Red

From Table IV of ABYC E11
For wire with **105° C** insulation rating
Allowable Amperage of conductors for systems under 50 volts
Conductor size AWG	Outside Engine Spaces	Inside Engine Spaces
18	20	17.0
16	25	21.3
14	35	29.8
12	45	38.3
10	60	51.0
8	80	68.0
6	120	102
4	160	136
2	210	178
1	245	208
1/0	285	242
2/0	330	280
3/0	385	327
4/0	445	378

ENGINE AND ACCESSORY WIRING COLOR CODE from ABYC E11 Table XV
COLOR	ITEM	USE
Order these wires online.
Yellow w/red stripe (YR)	Starting circuit	Starting switch to solenoid
Brown/yellow stripe (BY) or Yellow (Y) - see note	Bilge blowers	Fuse or switch to blowers
Dark gray (Gy)	Navigation lights Tachometer	Fuse or switch to lights Tachometer sender to gauge
Brown (Br)	Generator armature Alternator charge light Pumps	Generator armature to regulator Generator Terminal/alternator Auxiliary terminal to light to regulator Fuse or switch to pumps
Orange (O)	Accessory feed	Ammeter to alternator or generator output and accessory fuses or switches. Distribution panel to accessory switch
Purple (Pu)	Ignition Instrument feed	Ignition switch to coil and electrical instruments. Distribution panel to electric instruments
Dark blue	Cabin and instrument lights	Fuse or switch to lights
Light blue (Lt Bl)	Oil pressure	Oil pressure sender to gauge
Tan	Water temperature	Water temperature sender to gauge
Pink (Pk)	Fuel gauge	Fuel gauge sender to gauge
Green/stripe (G/x) (Except G/Y)	Tilt down and/or trim in Tilt and/or trim circuits	Tilt and/or trim circuits
Blue/stripe (Bl/x)	Tilt up and/or trim out Tilt and/or trim circuits	Tilt and/or trim circuits
Order these wires online.

Electrical Formulae

Ohms law: Volts = Amps x Resistance

DC Power: Watts = Volts x Amps

Voltage Drop in DC circuits: CM = 10.75 X x L / E

Where CM is cross section of wire in circular mils
I is the current in Amps
L is the round trip in feet
E is the voltage drop in volts

More formulae than you ever wanted to know...