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puzzled by wiring on Mac X

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:13 am
by rick retiree
I hope I explain this adequately: Am in process of upgrading some wiring in pedestal of the :macx: and adding anchor light. My first chore is to upgrade wire from battery to breaker. Why doesnt Mac have a pipe chase from battery up to breaker which is just above the battery. Why does one have to fish wire under floor back to transom just to come back with exposed wires hanging from ceiling of rear room. Using 30 ft of wire when 3 ft would have done if there was a pipe chase and looks shabby. Thanks.

Re: puzzled by wiring on Mac X

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:29 am
by March
Wonder if originally, the circuit breaker was really above the batteries. As far as I know, on the original 26X, the only circuit breaker is situated between the two front-looking windows. Even if the battery was situated under the V birth, you would still have had to go through the lining.
The pedestal has a short, stubby "pipe" that directs all wires through the ceiling of the rear berths. From there, the wires may be redirected to either side and from the sides, you can pry the lining where it overlaps the lower one and redirect again. It's a pain in the a$$, but there you have it
You might want to leave one guiding line in place for future use. I have guiding lines in all directions from the pedestal, and that makes future wiring easier.

Re: puzzled by wiring on Mac X

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:12 pm
by rick retiree
Making some progress with wiring. ran pair of wires from breaker opening to the bow inside double wall for add on anchor light. But my real issue is the supply from battery hatch to the breaker located 2 feet above battery. What route does it take? I plan to use existing wire as a pull wire for 14 gauge hot and 16 gauge neutral.

Re: puzzled by wiring on Mac X

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:44 pm
by Chinook
I agree with your complaints about the stock wiring and lack of a chase for running wiring. I guess it's just part of the challenge of owning a Mac and doing things electrical. I've gotten pretty creative in routing and running wire. I have a storage system which sits on the galley countertop behind the stove, and up against the side of the hull. When I decided to rewire the boat, I eliminated the little overhead breaker panel and installed a nice, large breaker panel down on the side of the battery box. Of course, that meant that I had to run wire from the original breaker panel down to the battery box. I used a length of pvc pipe and hid it behind the dish cabinet, and it gave me a good place to get wire down from the upper liner to the battery box. I put another pvc wire chase in at the front of the galley, similarly hid, to get lighting wires down below. It worked out great.

Re: puzzled by wiring on Mac X

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 7:23 am
by rick retiree
Puzzle solved! Simply ran a chase consisting of a plastic product called Wireguard purchased at Menards for $11.00. Its 1/2 inch round but has a flat side with glue strip. Ran chase from a oak cabinet that above sink straight across wall into 1/2 hole I drilled then fished wire up into breaker opening. Couldnt have been easier and now have 6 ft of 14 gauge wire to breaker instead of 25 ft of original 18 guage wire. Cant even tell its there. The Wireguard kit has 90 els if needed. Now on to next mod. Will provide photo when learn how to compress but honestly you cant even notice the chase.