Carver Owners Forum

So is this:

Nice job...Something I have found for the many stranded wire , a wire ferrule....when you pinch the ferrule with those connectors it acts like a crimp and keeps all the strands intact.They can be removed from the connectors with no wire damage near as I can tell.

Getting extra into those cabinets is interesting, I am still bleeding from the other day.

The ferrules look like they would have helped - do you use them without crimping them?

I think this project can be considered done with the exception of the punch list .

Lessons Learned:

1. Tough project. I can't imagine being an Installer for a living. Not only was lots of tight space "yacht yoga" involved but the learning curve and tying everything together was a lot more difficult than it seems on the surface. Let's just say my mettle was tested.
2. If you have the option between "saving money" by using dual 1/0 versus 4/0 - save yourself the trouble and go 4/0. Having to offset the lugs on the 1/0 caused me no end of headache.
3. The battery monitor is an awesome and necessary device even if you don't install all this other crap™
4. Having the right tools and lugs makes all the difference. Making the battery cables was a breeze because I had the hydraulic to borrow - if I had to have these made elsewhere it would have slowed my tortoise like progress even further.
5. Along the same lines as point 4 - Marine cable is tinned and finely stranded and as such is considered Flex cable so don't go to your local electrical wholesaler and expect number 6 AWG butt splices to fit very well even if they say they are meant for stranded cable. Same for ring terminals. Let's just say I figured this out the hard way.
6. Hole saws are measured OD (outer diameter) and electrical fittings are sized ID (inner diameter) thus an electrical fitting of 1-1/2" will not fit in a 1-3/4" hole.
7. Just because it looks like a cable raceway goes in one direction doesnt mean it actually does. Carver sure made some head scratching design choices much to my amusement and irritation.

Thanks all for your comments throughout the process. I think writing this kinda kept me on track.

vineyardgray wrote:Source of the post The ferrules look like they would have helped - do you use them without crimping them?

I had a few around from the olden days... .....what seems to work is to fit them to the wire size ,slip it on then heat shrink it in place....slip into the connector and tighten the screw...the act of the screw tightening down will pinch/crimp the ferrule for a perm attach which holds the wire in place nice.

Gotta get some more, amazon seems like the only place...there are no suppliers around me here that carry these things.You could fab em if really pressed but I will just order some.....

Oh...
8. Have a look at where all the heavy stuff is already installed on your boat (fridge, stove, icemaker) and install your new 400lb battery bank and 60lb inverter/charger on the *opposite* side (unless you _want_ your boat to list like a bastard

Unless they've done it themselves, most people are out of touch with how time consuming and costly all the additional hardware can be in a whole system install to the panel. Heck I've spent 6 hours at times just assessing and laying out an install with no guaranty I'll be compensated for that time, however proper planning is key to saving time and ending up with a safe system. If they were familiar with everything involved, the deer-in-the-headlights look wouldn't be so common when one gets an estimate for installing everything. I keep saying that this is a "system" and the cost of the inverter is usually the cheapest part of it.

Thanks for sharing with everyone along the way and I'm glad you can finally kick back and ponder your next project

Viper wrote:Source of the post proper planning is key to saving time and ending up with a safe system

Amen to that - I started planning this stuff last year! Bought a charger only then a charger/inverter came up so switched gears... Reading all the blogs and manuals and like you say - the system integration was quite complex.

Viper wrote:Source of the post I'm glad you can finally kick back and ponder your next project

Ha - I already have a number planned

Hey man you did a great job, not only did you finish it and it works, but you documented it and left it out there for scrutiny with pics.......hats off to you.....

Incredible job! Looks great and thank you for the play by play of your project. Does the Victron monitor keep tabs on both your house and starter banks? I am looking for a monitor I can use for both? Let me know!

Cheers