4788 Wire runs from Engine room to Breaker panel in Pilothouse-gctid376362

[Alan_Teed]

I am the new owner of a 1994 4788. On my immediately list to install is a high water bilge alarm, and I would appreciate help from those who have been there, done that.

I am assuming that the engine room bilge is the best location for the high water alarm, but interested if anyone has a contrary opinion. My question is how do I route the wires from the engine room to the pilothouse (starboard side breaker panel).

I have poked around some but do not see any obvious conduits heading in that direction.

Other jobs on my list (replace all speakers and original stereo; recover the 'wings' that hide the speakers in salon and pilothouse. Install Xantrex battery monitor (which will use the same routing for cables as the bilge alarm).

Thanks in advance

Alan

DJ's Delight to be renamed MOONDANCE

1994 Bayliner 4788

[mmichellich]

Alan Teed wrote:
I am the new owner of a 1994 4788. On my immediately list to install is a high water bilge alarm, and I would appreciate help from those who have been there, done that.

I am assuming that the engine room bilge is the best location for the high water alarm, but interested if anyone has a contrary opinion. My question is how do I route the wires from the engine room to the pilothouse (starboard side breaker panel).

I have poked around some but do not see any obvious conduits heading in that direction.

Other jobs on my list (replace all speakers and original stereo; recover the 'wings' that hide the speakers in salon and pilothouse. Install Xantrex battery monitor (which will use the same routing for cables as the bilge alarm).

Thanks in advance

Alan

DJ's Delight to be renamed MOONDANCE

1994 Bayliner 4788

On our 96, there are a ton of wires running from rear bottom of back of breaker panel. There is a floor at the bottom of this area. You might find it easier access to this area by removing back panel from cabinet under the breaker glass doors. Some of these wires run into the bilge, others run behind the entertainment center to the ice maker, outlets, etc. You will need a fish wire to bilge.

You can do it all without wires to bilge using existing wiring. On the stbd dash panels you will find bilge pump switches. Attach one wire to normally off side of a pump switch. Another wire to a ground. Attach these to very small amp draw buzzer. Use an existing pump switch for this with an existing float switch. When the float is raised or if the manual switch is turned on the buzzer will sound. You can even hook up two buzzers to different floats. The rear and mid pump should have float switches. Hope this helps.

[ksanders]

From the engine room you can go to the starboard of the stairs, this takes you to behind the panel near the foward head pump. From there up to the panel.

Or behind the water heater, under the mid berth closet, across the bilge to the foward head pump then up.

[completelymobile]

mmichellich wrote:


You can do it all without wires to bilge using existing wiring. On the stbd dash panels you will find bilge pump switches. Attach one wire to normally off side of a pump switch. Another wire to a ground. Attach these to very small amp draw buzzer. Use an existing pump switch for this with an existing float switch. When the float is raised or if the manual switch is turned on the buzzer will sound. You can even hook up two buzzers to different floats. The rear and mid pump should have float switches. Hope this helps.

This is what I did to our 1994 4788 and it works like a charm. Just added buzzers to the bilge pump lights ... the lights already alert you but the buzzers are a nice addition.

Hope that helps!

[Alan_Teed]

Thanks Kevin, that's great input it looks as though I have a couple of possible routings. I am heading down to the boat now and will see what wonders behold me below the breaker panel.

The use of the existing float switches is also a good idea, I had that on my secondary bilge pump on my last boat (a Hylas 49') and when relying on it and sailing in rough sloppy weather at night the frequent short alarms from the buzzer were an irritant. What I want is something to alert me when the pump fails or is overwhelmed and not otherwise. So I have a separate float switch that I plan to mount a couple of inches above the existing one in the engine room. This wont help let me know if the pumps are cycling but I hope to spot that from the warning lights in the pilothouse ( not sure if they are bright enough to attract attention in daylight - I suspect not).

Thanks again for the input.

Alan Teed

Gig Harbor, WA