12 volt power in the cockpit
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 370 / 375
Forum Description: 370 / 375 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8646
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:18
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Topic: 12 volt power in the cockpit
Posted By: charentebob
Subject: 12 volt power in the cockpit
Date Posted: 30 September 2014 at 18:45
| Has anyone experience of adding 12 volt power points in the cockpit? I'd like to have one on the side of the steering pedestal for my tablet computer and another for a strip of LED lights to go under the Bimini. I understand a cockpit power supply was an optional extra on new boats but is there a suitable existing supply I can safely tap into? I'm not very experienced when it comes to modern yacht electrics so explanations need not to be too technical! |
Replies:
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 30 September 2014 at 23:28
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Bonjour CB, you should have one wire connections from the main panel into the cockpit hiden somewhere. If they haven't changed the cable designations recently ( switching to Würth Panels ) it should be labeled XS 9.3.18
------------- Frank |
Posted By: silversailor
Date Posted: 01 October 2014 at 01:04
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My 2006 370e had power to the pedestal. There's a light for the compass. We used that power source to connect a 12V recepticle. ------------- Silversailor South Haven, MI USA S/V Legacy 2010 Andrews 28 |
Posted By: charentebob
Date Posted: 01 October 2014 at 07:29
I'll check out the cable to make sure it is suitable for taking a greater load. I'd not considered the compass light as a potential source of power, thanks for the suggestion. 
|
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 01 October 2014 at 08:15
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Compass light has a 1A fuse only,hardly enough to charge your iphone. ------------- Frank |
Posted By: charentebob
Date Posted: 01 October 2014 at 08:43
| Any idea where the fuse will be located? I'm going to be on the boat this week so can go hunting. Do you think the cable specification you mentioned in your first post would be suitable providing I can get the fusing correct to supply each socket? |
Posted By: Pride of Waterford
Date Posted: 01 October 2014 at 09:54
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I Don't suggest you use the compass light power cable as you will need nav lights on to get power, the compass lights also are incandescent bulbs and have a limited life. (JUst changed mine after 6 years of light use. You will have a power to your plotter, this will certainly be more than enough to power your charger, it would be best to get yourself a cheap £10 multimeter just to check the voltage at the cable ends. Then join in the 12volt to the cable for the GPS, don't forget to put a suitable fuse in-line here to protect this part of the circuit. a 5amp in-line would be very suitable. You can connect the leds to this circuit too. Hope this is clear --good luck. ------------- Brod Port Lairge |
Posted By: piquet
Date Posted: 13 October 2014 at 01:05
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I have added a 12V socket to the coaming near the port side binnacle. I have a flexible solar panel installed on the roof of my bimini. The solar panel cabling runs inside the bimini cover and along the stainless poles to the power point. But we moused the wiring from this point through the underside of the port side cabin to the solar panel regulator. In addition I have 4 small down lights fitted about 400mm from the cockpit floor which I use to illuminate the cockpit floor when dark at anchor - it throws off enough light without drawing in the midges and mosquitos in great hoards. My take on adding electrical to the cockpit is it is more advisable to channel new cable as this allows for fusing correctly for just the powered item rather than potentially overloading it. Equally, by keeping the wiring independent you can control that powered item alone! Mousing cabling in the nooks and holes in the yacht can be a royal pain but it is worth it in the end. ------------- piquet Brisbane, Australia |
Posted By: High Time
Date Posted: 13 October 2014 at 17:55
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On the 415 there was a pair (red and black) of substantial cables (with 15A fuse, I think) pre-installed during manufacture for the cockpit table fridge. Since we didn't purchase this option we found these cables, unused, in the bundle of cables threaded through the aft mounting tube for the cockpit table. It was then simple to use these to supply a 12V socket I fitted in the end of the table. It would be worth checking in and around the table/chart plotter to see if there are any pre-installed but unused cables. Otherwise you will have to run in a new pair of suitably sized cables. There are lots of spare fused terminations on the distribution panel behind the navigator's seat (on the newer boats). I certainly wouldn't consider using the compass light cables and would not recommend using the chart plotter feed either. ------------- Roger High Time (415 #038) |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 13 October 2014 at 18:49
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Correct, also on a 345 / model year 2013 there is a unused cable in the plotter box, which I used for the go free wireless router, which requires an Ethernet Connection to the plotter. ------------- Frank |
Posted By: gertha
Date Posted: 13 October 2014 at 20:48
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On the 2006 , 370 there a pair of cables to power the radar in the binnacle. These are live when you turn on the appropriate breaker, and can power over 20 amps. Obviously no use if you have radar ! I pulled a pair of cables from the main switch board , then put in a five way fused switch, we now have a 12 volt socket, horn, cockpit light , deck light and light on boom , all switched in cockpit with a main isolator down below. If I am in a area that is not safe , i turn off downstairs and on in cockpit, then if we have unwelcome guests can turn on downstairs, this activates horn and lots of lights. One day this may be wired through a movement sensor . The whole system works well ; but never tried in anger. Bigest problem is activating system late in evening when rum is at worst; apologies to odd anchorages that have had a quick blast of the horn when have confused myself. ------------- Swanned off |