Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual

Niger Calder is the author of Marine Diesel Engines (1987, 1991) and Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual (1989, 1995), the success of which has made him the most sought-after marine how-to writer in the U.S. and U.K. He has published more than 800 magazine articles in SAIL, Cruising World, Ocean Navigator, Yachting World, etc., and lectures on cruising to sell-out crowds. He is also the author of The Cruising Guide to The Northwest Caribbean (IM, 1991) and Cuba: A Cruising Guide (Imray, 1996). He will be testing his newest ideas with his family during a six-month cruise to the Caribbean and South America this winter.

List of Troubleshooting Charts
List of Tables
Acknowledgments/Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
Chapter 1. Establishing a Balanced Battery-Powered Electrical System
Introduction
The Peculiarities of Boats
Batteries
How They Work; Electrolyte Variations; Modes of Failure; Automotive (Cranking) Versus Deep-Cycle Batteries; Wet-Cells Versus Gel-Cells; Nicads--The Ultimate Battery
Getting Down to Specifics
Determining Power Requirements; Providing the Necessary Capacity; Providing Adequate Charging Capabilities; Establishing Correct Voltage Regulation
Putting the Pieces Together
Is It Better to Have One or Two Battery Banks for House Use?; Charging More Than One Battery Bank from a Common Alternator; Monitoring and Control
Summary: A Balanced System
Postscript
Chapter 2. Maintaining and Troubleshooting a Battery-Powered Electrical System
Batteries
Safety; Routine Maintenance; Testing a Battery; Problem Batteries
Alternators
How They Work; Installation and Maintenance; Charging Problems; Repairing Alternators
Voltage Regulators
How They Work; Different Regulators: Internal, External, P and N; Voltage Regulator Bypass Devices; Troubleshooting Voltage Regulators; Emergency Voltage Regulation
Diodes
Identification and Rating; Heat Sinks; Testing Battery Isolation Diodes
Chapter 3. Understanding and Troubleshooting Electrical Circuits; Proper Installation Practices
Basic Concepts and Measurements
The Water Analogy; Making Measurements; The Multimeter: An Essential Tool
DC Circuits
Ground Versus Insulated Return; Troubleshooting with a Voltmeter; Troubleshooting with an Ohmmeter; Ground Faults ("Earth" Leaks); Don't Leave Port Without a Multimeter
AC Circuits
The Importance of Grounding; Safety Versus Corrosion; Typical AC Circuits Afloat; Testing AC Circuits
Proper Electrical Installation
Cables; Connections and Terminals; Installing Cables; Distribution Panels
Chapter 4. Corrosion, Bonding, Lightning Protection, and Grounding
Corrosion
Galvanic Corrosion; Stray-Current Corrosion
Bonding and Cathodic Protection
Cathodic Protection; Unbond and Isolate
Lightning Protection
The Importance of Grounding; The Path to Ground; Protecting Electrical Circuits and Electronics; Lightning Protection
The Common Ground Point
Chapter 5. Battery Chargers, Inverters, Wind and Water Generators, and Solar Panels
Battery Chargers
How They Work; Ferro-Resonant as a Yardstick; Performance Implies Regulation; Troubleshooting
Inverters
How They Work; Batteries: The Limiting Factor; Matching the Demand to the System; Inverter Installation; Troubleshooting
Wind and Water Generators
How They Work; Pros and Cons; Installation and Maintenance; Troubleshooting and Repair
Solar Panels
Basic Terminology; Key Factors in System Design; Installation; Troubleshooting
Chapter 6. AC Generators and Electric Motors (DC and AC)
AC Generators
Generators: How They Work; General Maintenance; Troubleshooting Operating Problems; No Output: Armature Type; No Output: Alternator Type with Brushes; No Output: Brushless Alternator Type; Disassembly and Bearing Replacement; Variable-Speed Technology (VST)
Electric Motors
How They Work; Speed Regulation; Troubleshooting; Starter Motors
Chapter 7. Marine Electronics
Troubleshooting Electronic Equipment
Preliminary Troubleshooting
Antennas and Grounds
Siting an Antenna; Antenna Installation; Grounds
Radio Interference
Sources of Interference; Tracking Down Interference; Preventing (Suppressing) Interference
Saving Soaked Equipment
Chapter 8. Diesel Engines
Operation and Maintenance
How They Work; Preventive Maintenance
Troubleshooting Part 1: Failure to Start
Failure to Crank; Engine Cranks But Won't Fire
Troubleshooting Part 2: Operating Problems
Overheating; Smoke; Loss of Performance; Water in the Crankcase; Low Oil Pressure; Inadequate Turbocharger Performance; Problems with Engine Instrumentation
Winter Layup
Recommissioning
Chapter 9. From Transmission to Propeller
Transmissions and Shaft Brakes
Transmissions: How They Work; Maintenance; Troubleshooting; Shaft Brakes
Connecting a Transmission to a Propeller Shaft
Couplings; Engine Alignment; Constant-Velocity Joints
Shaft Seals
Stuffing Boxes (Packing Glands); Mechanical Seals; Lip-Type Seals; A Dripless Future?
Bearings and Propellers
Cutless Bearings and Struts; Propellers
Chapter 10. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
CFCs and the Ozone Hole
Marine Refrigeration
Balancing Refrigeration Needs with Boat Use
Iceboxes: The Key to Sizing; Refrigeration Choices
Operation, Troubleshooting, and Repair
How Refrigeration Works; Routine Maintenance
Charging and Topping-Up Procedures
Handling Refrigerant; Gauge Sets
Chapter 11. Plumbing, Toilets, Through-Hull Fittings
Plumbing
Copper Pipe or Tubing; Metal Pipe; Plastic Pipe; Hoses
Marine Toilets (Heads)
Discharge Regulations; Heading Off Toilet Problems; Troubleshooting and Repair
Through-Hulls and Seacocks
Types of Seacock; Installation
Chapter 12. Pumps and Pump Switches
Pumps
How They Work; Pros and Cons; Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
Pump Switches
Pressure Switches; Level Switches
Chapter 13. Steering Systems, Autopilots, and Wind Vanes
Steering Systems
Types of Steering; Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Autopilots
How They Work; Problems with Autopilots
Wind Vane Self-Steering
How It Works; Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Chapter 14. Stoves, Cabin Heaters, Water Heaters, and Lanterns
Basic Safety
Gas
Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas; Installation; Troubleshooting Gas Appliances
Alcohol, Kerosene, and Diesel Appliances
Fuel Quality; Troubleshooting; Overhaul; Diesel Drip-Pot Stoves
Electric Water Heaters and Stoves
Water Heater Problems
Chapter 15. Spars and Standing Rigging
Spars
Wooden Spars and Spreaders; Aluminum Spars and Spreaders; Downwind, Whisker, and Spinnaker Poles
Standing Rigging
Wire Rope; Fitting End Connections (Terminals) to Wire Rope; Rod Rigging; Fitting Rigging to a Boat; Inspection and Maintenance; Tuning a Rig
Chapter 16. Running Rigging, Deck Hardware, and Roller Reefing
Blocks
Terminology and Loading Factors; Maintenance
Winches
How They Work; Servicing and Overhaul; Powered Winches
Anchor Windlasses
General Maintenance; Problems Common to All Windlasses; Horizontal Manual Windlasses; Vertical Manual Windlasses; Electric Windlasses; Hydraulic Windlasses
Roller Reefing and Furling
How It Works; Problems and Answers; Summary: Do's and Don'ts; Maintenance; In-Mast and Behind-the-Mast Reefing

Glossary
Appendix A: Checklist of Winterizing Procedures
Appendix B: Freeing Frozen Parts and Fasteners
Appendix C: Tools and Spare Parts
Appendix D: Useful Tables
Index