Tough immersion proof enclosures for powerboats

Spelsberg UK's tough immersion proof IP67 enclosures are providing component housing for a new style of DC wiring system for luxury powerboats.

Spelsberg UK's tough immersion proof IP67 enclosures are providing component housing for a new style of dc wiring system for luxury powerboats.

The 'Romec' system from Axon Components cuts down wiring complexity and provides remote monitoring and control for each electrical device on board.

Fitted to prestige boats such as the Princess 25M, the new distribution system using Spelsberg's polycarbonate TK enclosures has to look the part as well giving faultless performance out at sea.

Modern motor cruisers have an extensive electrical system, feeding devices such as air-conditioning, electric toilets, bow thrusters and hi-fi systems.

In the majority of boats, all these circuits originate in one place: the DC control panel - where a spider's web of wiring radiates out in all directions.

In addition to a master contactor and the switches used to turn things on and off, there is a circuit breaker for each circuit and any AC control equipment is mounted in the same place.

The result is that the AC/DC panel in a modern 50ft (15m) flybridge cruiser wouldn't look out of place in a nuclear power station.

"If you are starting with a clean sheet of paper you just don't do it that way" comments Barry Vipond, MD of Axon components.

A ring main system with several junction boxes is a far more effective way of distributing power around a boat, similar to the way power is distributed around a domestic house or a factory unit.

The advantages include far less cabling as each device can be connected to two cables running round the boat instead of being wired direct to a central control panel.

At the same time, the voltage drop is reduced dramatically.

The voltage on the ring main is the same all round the boat, and the wires from the junction boxes to each load are now much shorter.

Tracing faults also becomes a lot easier, with only the short wiring from the control box to the faulty device to follow - not halfway along the boat behind the furniture.

The snag here is that you would normally need to have a tour of the boat to switch the individual circuits on and off.

Remote control is the answer.

Each circuit breaker is teamed with a solenoid that allows remote operation from anywhere you care to put the switch.

The cabling for this link can be very light indeed, as it is only carrying a tiny current to operate the solenoid.

The circuit breaker's job is essentially one of protection, but it can now also be used as an on/off isolation switch, cutting down the amount of switchgear by half.

This allows a mini control panel to be located at a strategic point on the boat i.e one in the saloon to control all the domestic circuits and a similar one at the helm to operate all the navigation and instrument breakers.

All the breakers for each electrical area can then be grouped in that area and enclosed in an IP67 TK polycarbonate enclosure from Spelsberg, giving protection and convenience in one go.

If a piece of equipment, say the electric toilet in the forward/guest cabin, plays up, the circuit breaker pops and it stops working.

If the other facilities in that area are still OK, the area control box must still be powered up, so the user is only facing a single isolated fault.

The Princess 25M luxury motor cruiser features the remote-controlled DC system, which is now widely accepted as the new benchmark in on-board electrical control and protection.

By limiting cable runs and replacing secondary switchgear the ROMEC system also reduces weight.

Control switches can be mounted in composite or wood veneer panels and remotely switch and re-set circuit breakers anywhere on a boat.

Because of the power demands of equipment such as anchor winches, the maximum rating for a control box is from 300 to 700 amps.

Individual connections for each circuit allow one panel to control circuits in any number of different ROMEC boxes, or for individual circuits to be controlled from different locations.

Spelsberg high protection enclosures such as the TK series are impact resistant, UV protected and fire retardant.

They are available with din rail and mounting panels fitted and are suitable for most outdoor electrical housing applications.

Similar units are also used on pilot vessels and RNLI life boats because they are light, but tough and do not corrode.

Custom drilling and slotting as well as cable glands and a full range of breakers and switches are also available.

Spelsberg have the widest range of plastic enclosures available ex-stock in the UK.

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