Editable Wiring Diagram to share?

[EarlWer]

Does anyone have a wiring diagram that they would like to share?
Something that is modifiable by me.

I am computer literate, so the sample file and the name of the free? program that can be used to edit the diagram. AutoCad would be overkill ;-)

I want to rewire my Bristol 27 and I don't want to start from zero.

The existing wires are a mess.

Ultimately, it will have 2 or 3 solar panels for power and a small inverter for some AC power.
The outboard doesn't generate anything...

thanks

[MerMike]

What software do you have to edit with?

Visio works well. I've also seen some nice diagrams done in PowerPoint.

Honestly, you're better off starting from scratch. Every boat is unique.

Originally Posted by EarlWer

Does anyone have a wiring diagram that they would like to share?
Something that is modifiable by me.

I am computer literate, so the sample file and the name of the free? program that can be used to edit the diagram. AutoCad would be overkill ;-)

I want to rewire my Bristol 27 and I don't want to start from zero.

The existing wires are a mess.

Ultimately, it will have 2 or 3 solar panels for power and a small inverter for some AC power.
The outboard doesn't generate anything...

thanks

[EarlWer]

Originally Posted by MerMike

What software do you have to edit with?

Visio works well. I've also seen some nice diagrams done in PowerPoint.

Honestly, you're better off starting from scratch. Every boat is unique.

Inkscape ;-)
I can work with anything... except PowerPopint ;-(

Yes, they are all unique, but most of them have common features:
Engine (inboard or outboard)
Batteries
DC Distribution
Navigation lights
Solar panels

AC Shore connections to charge batteries and supply onboard appliances.
Inverter
Battery charger

[Atcowboy]

I used tiny cad to start my own schematic. I tried several and TC had the best features and most complete component library. Unfortunately, I lost what i had already created (a bilge diagram) so I'll need to remake it and can't share it with you.

But tiny cad has all the symbols stored already. Auto snap for connections. You can label components and wires. I then made an excel spread sheet to store a BOM so you could look up say switch 1 and find precisely what component that was.

Bilge diagram:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ew-236427.html

Software:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/tinycad/

- AT

[Spot]

Kicad EDA is a freeware schematic capture and circuit layout program. It's a little steeper learning curve up front but will make bill of materials and stuff.

https://kicad.org/

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Atcowboy

I used tiny cad to start my own schematic. I tried several and TC had the best features and most complete component library.

I like TinyCAD too. Haven't yet found a simple marine library for 12v DC, but most of the bits can be found among the many libraries included, and it's not hard to make custom symbols.

To the OP... our boat's small, and I could just about draw its circuit from memory, and the panel terminals are on a spreadsheet, so i haven't got anything to share with you, either... sorry.

Anyway, the best start is usually pencil and paper. if you start to learn TinyCAD while you refine your pencil sketches, by the time you get good and have created your own marine symbols, you'll know enough to draft up your final system. Then you can share that with us

[oleman]

ORCAD, not often seen in non electronics industry and is admittedly overkill but I do everything with it.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by oleman

ORCAD, not often seen in non electronics industry and is admittedly overkill but I do everything with it.

Oh, is it still around? Worked with OrCAD some decades ago in the Mid-80's. [emoji106][emoji6] It is older than Windows....

[MerMike]

I needed to evaluate the logic and a find a way to physically model the fit of the the equipment into a small space. I copied images, scaled them in Visio and laid them out on dimensioned panels. I added connection points to the images to link them together. I created drawings for the main DC system (shown), the AC panel, and the battery bay. It worked pretty well.

One of the CAD programs would be sufficient if all you need is the logic.

[roland stockham]

Best software I have found for simple wiring schemes is AlleyCAD freeware as long as you don't want electrical symbols. Next one up is LibreCAD which is open source and will do almost anything. Does have a higher learning curve but not ash high as AutoCAD and of course is free.
I could end you some of my wiring diagrams in AlleyCAD if you PM me an email address but not sure how useful that would be. All boats are different and I have a distributed panel design with 3 FLA batteries. I also work on a wiring booklet with one page for each panel. IE Core systems and charging, nav panel, pumps and machinery, cabin services etc. I find this approach greatly simplifies both design and installation/maintenance but not everyone likes it. Could be more work to modify it than starting from scratch with what suits your boat.

[MerMike]

...and the (mostly) finished install.

[jacktheflyer]

The attached is done in Excel similar to the Visio version. Not as good but pretty easy to do.