April 8, 2008
I was working on a trawler recently and found that the previous owner had twisted the control wires for the propane solenoid together and then wrapped the “joints” with electrical tape. I see this kind of “repair” all too often. It seems that the owners just do not take electricity seriously. It is so easy to do a job correctly; generally it takes no more time.
My message is this; there are many, many good books and magazine articles available that will teach the boat owner how to do rudimentary repairs. Please take the time to learn these repair procedures and if they are beyond your capability, then hire an ABYC certified professional to perform the task. The survival of your boat depends on it.
Until next time,
Charlie
Posted in Marine Electrical Systems 
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March 18, 2008
I am Charlie Johnson and I own and operate JTB Marine Corporation. I am going to use this forum to periodically post items of interest about the electrical and electronic systems aboard moderately sized boats. I am constantly searching the internet to find advances in the state of the art…and not just in the electronics market. Three phase power from inverters; running air conditioning systems off of inverters and large battery banks; advanced AGM batteries; these are types of items that I am interested in and hope you are to.
I am very active in the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) the organization that produces the standards used to design, build and repair boats. I sit on the technical committees that govern inverter/chargers, galvanic isolators, battery chargers, and battery switches. It is detail oriented, plodding work but necessary to produce standards that will work in the “real world.”
That’s it for now. Stop by occasionally and see what is going on.
Posted in Batteries, Battery Chargers, Inverter/Chargers, JTB Miscellaneous, Marine Electrical Systems No Comments »