Boat electronics : what am i looking at?

[spillemw]

I have some good books on boat electronics, but there is some very basic stuff none of them cover. When i open my switchboard, I don't understand what exactly i am looking at. I attach a picture and would appreciate some pointers as I would like to be able to add repeater displays below for windspeed etc..

[colemj]

The white strip is just a terminal block to connect wires together. The black box is either a solenoid for controlling a high amperage device or a voltage sensitive relay that charges another battery when a charging source is present. Do the thick blue wires lead to a windlass or electric winch, or do all wires lead to batteries?

My guess is a reversing solenoid for a windlass or winch - the small black wire is the ground and the two orange wires are the forward/back control.

Mark

[spillemw]

Originally Posted by colemj

The white strip is just a terminal block to connect wires together. The black box is either a solenoid for controlling a high amperage device or a voltage sensitive relay that charges another battery when a charging source is present. Do the thick blue wires lead to a windlass or electric winch, or do all wires lead to batteries?

My guess is a reversing solenoid for a windlass or winch - the small black wire is the ground and the two orange wires are the forward/back control.

Mark

Thanks. The blue line goes to a windlass indeed.
But what is the grey block? Is that possibly a NMEA network connector?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by spillemw

Thanks. The blue line goes to a windlass indeed.
But what is the grey block? Is that possibly a NMEA network connector?

The grey block that has slots on the side and all the wires run into? That's just a cable chase, nothing more than a way to route wires neatly.

what sort of instruments do you have now? they may not even be capable of supporting repeaters.

[spillemw]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

The grey block that has slots on the side and all the wires run into? That's just a cable chase, nothing more than a way to route wires neatly.

what sort of instruments do you have now? they may not even be capable of supporting repeaters.

My bad luck.
I have a set of raymarine ST60 outside.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by spillemw

My bad luck.
I have a set of raymarine ST60 outside.

ST60 Instruments are easy. All you need is the seatalk line from either the back of one of the displays or from the autopilot course computer. Usually all this stuff is tied together. You can buy a purpose built cable from Raymarine, or build one using a three conductor twisted shielded cable. Easy to do.