Running the Power to the Electric Head

[ProfDruhot]

I know that a number of you have installed an electric head. I was just wondering is someone could explain to me how or where they ran the 12V wire to the main board.

[Gunkholer 1889]

I installed elec head a couple of years ago. Getting "juice" was big probelm for me as my electical skills are pretty skimpy. I could not find a good way back across to the panel without really long runs etc. My "solution" was to install a battery under the setee next to the mast (I have dinette layout). My original plan was to put small charger to run juice from the 110 v on the port side. I haven't done this as the head uses very little elec. I think some one with better skills could tie the elec into either the macerator or windlass-maybe?

Chris Hansen
Gunkholer 1889
Kalamazoo, MI

[pierview]

I ran it aft past the holding tank, across the sette forward of the galley, under the cabin sole between the locker aft of the galley and between nav table, and up behind the nav table desk into the circuit panel. Had to drill a new hole to handle it behind the circuit panel.

Not much of a problem other than the length of the run. The cable cost almost as much as the head itself, and I got it at a discount. By the way, the instructions call for 8 guage but 10 gauge works.... your not drawing current for a long period of time.... and its a good bit cheaper.

[ProfDruhot]

Thanks Chris and Chuck for you input. Actually, now I am thinking of tying into some other source rather than a separate switch on the panel hmmmmm.

[deising]

One thing to consider: Our windlass is only powered after energizing a big contact switch on the fwd stbd seat accompanied by two bright red lights glowing (one on the swithc and one at the nav station panel). Just for that reason alone, I would not want to leave my windlass circuit energized 24/7 in order to have an electric head available.

Now the macerator might be a good choice as long as the current draw is acceptable for the wire run you will wind up with.

[Pat T]

Ah yes, I remember that &$$%#job well. Surely one of the toughest upgrades but one of the best, just ask the Admiral.
Was more than two years ago. This is what I remember.
I used separate wire & circuit breaker. From the electric panel I went down under the sole across to under the main cabin seat (the one forward the galley sink). From there you are in the open, so to speak, and I brought the wire all the way across to the port side and up a bit. Along the port side of the boat you will find some built-in conduit. There were other wires running through it. I was able to push the thick wires for my head through this conduit also. The exit point forward is in the head behind the pull out (tilt) drawer. In that space is where I installed a bus bar where I was able to connect my smaller wires for the head motor and water valve. Good luck.

[ProfDruhot]

Thanks Guys! Duane, that idea of utilizing the macerator power is something that I hadn't thought of before. And really, if you think about it, how often do we use the macerator? I am not on the boat right now, I can't recall, there is a separate circuit breaker for the macerator isn't there? Where is the switch for that? I have not used it yet.

[deising]

The macerator switch on our 1999 model is on the nav station electrical panel. I have seen as high as 20A when there was must have been some nasty stuff to macerate. I do not know the wire gauge supplying the macerator, however.

It is very true that you only use the macerator briefly and sporadicaly, so sharing the wiring for a head should not be an issue, as long as the current draw on the head is acceptable for the wiring.

BTW, Chris Hansen first suggested the macerator.

[LCBrandt]

You would need to confirm that the gauge of the macerator wiring was sufficient for the head. And then, if you picked up the power from the macerator wiring, you would want to separately fuse both the head and the macerator. Otherwise, a fault causing simultaneous loads could overheat the wiring.

[ProfDruhot]

Good point Larry. I was planning on wiring an inline separate fuse for each. You know..... what I could do is use the additional battery that I installed for exclusive use on the backup bilge that is powered by the solar panel.