| |
| |
| Acknowledgments | |
| |
| |
| Introduction to the Second Edition | |
| |
| |
| |
| Introduction to the First Edition | |
| |
| |
| |
| Basic Theory of Electricity A Primer | |
| |
| |
| A Few Words of Caution | |
| |
| |
| The Atom and Its Electrons | |
| |
| |
| The Atom | |
| |
| |
| Electrons | |
| |
| |
| Molecules and Bonding | |
| |
| |
| Ions and Electrons | |
| |
| |
| Terms Defined | |
| |
| |
| Coulomb's Law | |
| |
| |
| Charge | |
| |
| |
| Current | |
| |
| |
| Voltage, Potential Difference, and EMF | |
| |
| |
| Energy | |
| |
| |
| Power | |
| |
| |
| Amp-Hours | |
| |
| |
| Resistance | |
| |
| |
| Electricity Is Not Water, But ... | |
| |
| |
| Ohm's Law | |
| |
| |
| IR Drops and I[superscript 2]R Heat | |
| |
| |
| |
| Electric Circuits Parts of the System | |
| |
| |
| Circuit Components | |
| |
| |
| Series Circuits | |
| |
| |
| Parallel Circuits | |
| |
| |
| |
| The Battery Heart of the System | |
| |
| |
| Primary and Secondary Cells | |
| |
| |
| Purpose and Function of the Storage Battery | |
| |
| |
| What Happens When Discharging | |
| |
| |
| What Happens When Charging | |
| |
| |
| Electrolyte and Hydrometers | |
| |
| |
| Preventing Freezing | |
| |
| |
| Using a Hydrometer | |
| |
| |
| Determining Specific Gravity on Sealed Batteries | |
| |
| |
| Load Testing Batteries | |
| |
| |
| Storage Battery Construction | |
| |
| |
| Differentiating among Batteries | |
| |
| |
| Anatomy of a Battery | |
| |
| |
| Six-Volt Batteries | |
| |
| |
| Newer Battery Types | |
| |
| |
| Battery Banks | |
| |
| |
| Selecting a Battery | |
| |
| |
| Battery Maintenance and Tools | |
| |
| |
| |
| The Wiring Electrical Veins and Arteries | |
| |
| |
| Proper Size | |
| |
| |
| Resistivity | |
| |
| |
| Wire Length | |
| |
| |
| Thickness | |
| |
| |
| Insulation | |
| |
| |
| Identification Codes | |
| |
| |
| Terminals | |
| |
| |
| Installation | |
| |
| |
| A Lesson in Soldering | |
| |
| |
| |
| The Controls Brains of the System | |
| |
| |
| The Control Panel | |
| |
| |
| Where to Put It? | |
| |
| |
| Replacement Alternatives | |
| |
| |
| Switches | |
| |
| |
| Master Switch | |
| |
| |
| Fuses | |
| |
| |
| Circuit Breakers | |
| |
| |
| Relays | |
| |
| |
| Panel Meters | |
| |
| |
| |
| Transducers Things That Do the Work | |
| |
| |
| What Do You Need? | |
| |
| |
| Lights | |
| |
| |
| Navigation Lights | |
| |
| |
| Interior Lights | |
| |
| |
| Exterior Lights | |
| |
| |
| Motors | |
| |
| |
| Motor Maintenance | |
| |
| |
| Starter Motors | |
| |
| |
| Refrigerator Motors | |
| |
| |
| Bilge Pumps | |
| |
| |
| Electronics | |
| |
| |
| Installation | |
| |
| |
| Power Consumption | |
| |
| |
| Interference | |
| |
| |
| |
| Recharging the Battery | |
| |
| |
| Multiple Battery Isolators | |
| |
| |
| Alternators and Generators | |
| |
| |
| The Regulator | |
| |
| |
| Making Adjustments | |
| |
| |
| Checking Charging Voltage | |
| |
| |
| Regulator Settings | |
| |
| |
| Recharge Rates | |
| |
| |
| AC Shore Power and Solid-State Chargers | |
| |
| |
| Proper AC Converter/Chargers | |
| |
| |
| Danger: Shock and Galvanic Corrosion | |
| |
| |
| Maintaining Proper Polarity | |
| |
| |
| Solar Cells | |
| |
| |
| Wind Chargers | |
| |
| |
| Water Chargers | |
| |
| |
| DC-to-AC Inverters | |
| |
| |
| |
| Troubleshooting the System | |
| |
| |
| Troubleshooting Principles | |
| |
| |
| Troubleshooting Instrument: The Multifunction Meter | |
| |
| |
| Reading Ohms | |
| |
| |
| Reading DC Volts | |
| |
| |
| Reading AC Volts | |
| |
| |
| Reading DC Amps | |
| |
| |
| Troubleshooting Instrument: Test Lights | |
| |
| |
| A Continuity Tester | |
| |
| |
| Make Your Own | |
| |
| |
| Buying or Making Test Lights | |
| |
| |
| Locating Faults | |
| |
| |
| Light Won't Work | |
| |
| |
| Moisture-Related Problems | |
| |
| |
| Engine Won't Start | |
| |
| |
| Bilge Pump Problem | |
| |
| |
| Blinking Masthead Light | |
| |
| |
| Noodling Out a Solution | |
| |
| |
| Make a Picture | |
| |
| |
| Follow a System | |
| |
| |
| Tickling the Field | |
| |
| |
| Simple Problems with Varying Degrees of Complexity | |
| |
| |
| Leaks and Their Detection | |
| |
| |
| Parting Word: Some Thoughts on Maintenance | |
| |
| |
| Your Boat's Electrical Toolbox | |
| |
| |
| Spare Parts and Junk | |
| |
| |
| Resources | |
| |
| |
| Contact Information | |
| |
| |
| Installation Records | |
| |
| |
| Index | |