26X Midship Transverse Wiring Run - Success!

[Login3]

Hallo,

I thought I'd share a moment of joy with you, in case it helps someone. I'd decided to relocate my batteries to the midship well beneath the "cooler" under the stbd aft table seat. I'd read multiple places that there was no access to cross over from port to stb for wires without going all the way forward or back. I'm sure others have done it, but I didn't find posts saying so, or how.

My intention is to maintain some of the existing Mac wiring/panel as a subpanel, but have most of my new wiring, switches, panels, etc. over on the stbd side, with the panels accessed on the aft lower panel behind the seat, but not protruding enough to cause concern when walking by on the way to the head, or aft sections.

Delighted I am to report success! I had an idea for it, and could see how it would work. In fact I had more trouble with the initial re-routing of the engine power cables ... but once that was done I now have fish lines running fore and aft. So I taped my new marine wire together at the ends with another fish string, and started the run across in the section just aft of the existing battery cubby.

2 Entry.jpeg

I pushed as much as I could through, but could tell it was winding aft, and that allowed me to grab it, and attach it to the fore-aft fish string, which I had somehow had the foresight or luck to make long enough so that I could guide/tension the new wires from the access port whilst pulling (or relaxing) the fish string with the other hand. It was not super easy, but in fact it ended up being way easier than I had feared.

4 Appplying tension guide.jpeg

It is likely that I will use my fish string to pull some PVC tubing through next time (with preinstalled fish string) as tubing acting as conduit helps prevent tangling mess in the future. I never know when I suddenly want to install more wires for something or other.

6 Success.jpeg

Hope it helps someone. Cheers!

[Starscream]

Hope it helps someone. Cheers!

Running wires on the X is no fun at all. I'm one of those who ran the starboard side power wiring all the way around through the bow. The starboard side now has its own power center and bus bars, which fit nicely behind the cooler bin. I forget what gauge I used, but I remember being worried about the toilet pump current draw, so it's at least 10 gauge and quite possibly 8.

*Bilge pump panel, with the lights disconnected cuz it's too bright to sleep with. Pump is under the aft berth, and outlet is up inside the head sink cabinet, as high as possible.
*Right below the bilge pump panel, the on/off toggle switch for a 120V inverter (needs label) that also resides behind the cooler bin. The inverter powers a standard 120V plug mounted in the head, and we have a 24" FireTV which is plugged in there. As long as we have cell reception we can watch movies.
*Four gang power panel, powering the autopilot motor (wilson), NAV for the Seatalk backbone and other network bits, the aft cabin lights and USB outlets, and the water system (toilet and pressurized sink water)
*12V and USB outlets

Nothing is in the way here, and it's a non-structural location that can take as many holes as necessary.

[Login3]

Yes, exactly what I was thinking to do ... I'm glad you showed that photo, as it will help me visualize. Accessible, out of the way, and it looks cool!

I'm still trying to design my system ... being that my high-draw items will be on the stbd side, since that's where the batteries will be.

The hardest part is trying to get the minimum done, so I can actually use the boat this season, but leave room for expansion as-needed, without having to undo work, or deal with redundancies, etc.