Distant Shores TVvideo

48 Volt Deep Dive: Electrical Management on Aluminum Sailboat | EP 243

December 23, 2023 · 10 min · 27K views

What this video covers

The custom aluminum Orion 49, *Distant Shores 4*, utilizes a dual-voltage electrical architecture to manage high-load and low-load systems.0:38 A 48-volt primary bus powers high-draw equipment, including a 6-kilowatt Lewmar bow thruster, anchor windlass, winches, hydraulic keel pump, and the hybrid electric drive motor.4:20 By operating at 48 volts rather than 12 volts, the system reduces amperage requirements, allowing for significantly thinner, lighter cabling that saves over 50 kilograms in total weight.2:50 A secondary 24-volt system powers lighting, bilge pumps, and autopilot drives, as these components lack 48-volt equivalents.5:22 The installation relies on a comprehensive wiring diagram where every cable is numbered and routed through dedicated conduits to a central distribution center.6:16 This labeling system facilitates future troubleshooting and maintenance by allowing individual circuits to be traced from the device back to the bus bar.7:36 The setup also incorporates spare wiring and centralized switching to simplify potential modifications.6:43

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