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12V or 24V? 🤔 System VOLTAGES on BOATS | Ask The Expert with NIGEL CALDER

March 22, 2025 · 3 min · 7K views

What this video covers

Jan Attenstedt and Nigel Calder identify 13 meters, or 40 feet, as the practical threshold for transitioning from 12-volt to 24-volt electrical systems on sailboats.2:01 Higher voltages allow for smaller conductor sizes, significantly reducing the amount of copper wiring required for long runs on larger vessels.0:04 While European builders have adopted 24-volt systems for boats over 40 feet for decades, US manufacturers have historically lagged in this transition.0:54 Modern high-efficiency DC-to-DC converters, battery-to-battery chargers, and bi-directional converters now simplify the management of mixed-voltage systems.1:42 Furthermore, the emergence of 48-volt systems enables the operation of heavy loads like bow thrusters, windlasses, winches, and watermakers at higher efficiency.2:14 A complete system rewire provides the most logical opportunity to upgrade to a higher voltage standard.2:39

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