We Almost Cooked Our Electrical System… So We Fixed It (MJ Sailing - Episode 375)

Save $30 on your Airlock purchase of $199 or more by using code MJSAILING or our link below. If you’ve ever dealt with that musty “boat smell,” this is one of the easiest ways to keep your air fresh and clean on board. https://www.airlockusa.com/?sca_ref=11115718.vGu5Y94mh5w&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliatelink&utm_campaign=prom This week we’re diving deeper into the electrical system on our catamaran build—and realizing just how much heat these components can generate if we’re not careful. As we start laying out the electrical cabinet, Matt walks through the placement of our DC-to-DC converters, solar controllers, and Victron components, all while trying to manage airflow, spacing, and long-term serviceability. With multiple high-load systems running in a confined space, keeping everything cool becomes just as important as getting it wired correctly. We’re also making progress on the hybrid system, mapping out cooling lines, mounting components, and figuring out the best placement for heavier items like the isolation transformer to help keep the boat properly balanced. Of course, it wouldn’t be a build episode without a few setbacks. A missed paint step means pulling everything back out, and some of our original layout plans had to change once we saw how everything actually fit in place. It’s all part of the process—but step by step, the systems that will power this boat are starting to come together. We hope you enjoy!! Much love, Jessica & Matt Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: / mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls... Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt. 00:00 Intro & 5-Year Build Reality Check 00:22 Electrical Cabinet Planning Begins 01:10 DC-to-DC Controllers & Heat Concerns 02:05 Spacing, Airflow & Mounting Strategy 03:15 Prioritizing High-Load Components 04:25 Solar Controllers & System Layout 05:27 What Causes “Boat Smell”? (Airlock Integration) 06:15 How Airlock Ionization Works 07:10 Simple Install Inside AC System 08:06 Electrical Cabinet Layout Continued 08:45 Cerbo GX & Communication Wiring 09:30 Designing for Serviceability & Access 10:20 Rethinking Airflow (No Door Design) 11:50 Ventilation Strategy & Heat Extraction 12:40 Hybrid Motor Controller Placement Problem 13:30 Access vs Space Tradeoffs 14:20 Wiring Runs & Temporary Mounting Plan 15:38 Hybrid System Plumbing Explained 16:20 Seawater Cooling Loop Walkthrough 17:15 Coolant Loop & System Flow 18:10 Engine Bay Layout Progress 19:00 Weight Distribution & System Placement 20:00 Isolation Transformer Relocation 21:00 ABYC Standards & Shore Power Setup 22:10 Mounting with Adhesive Studs 23:52 Wrapping Up & Next Steps Music: A Travelers' Gloom - Dew of Light Gemini - Nevin Sunset Road - Marc Torch Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: Google Pixel 9 DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring