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The electrical system on L'Escapade was recommended by two marine electronics firms based on our planned use of the boat.  In the year or more we have been living on board we have not been disappointed by their choice of equipment.  We set about the configuration process by outlining how we thought we would use the system: We wanted to run an electric oven from the generator, but we wanted to be able to heat a burner or two using only the invertor or shore power.  We planned on having an air conditioning unit of about 5,000 BTUs which might start from the inverter or shore power but we didn't mind turning on the generator for the occasion. We planned on having a dish washer, washing machine, clothes dryer, TV, vacuum cleaner, water pumps and microwave connected to 230 volt, but did not plan to use more than four units at one time.  This is fairly minimal use of appliances since equipment like the hot water heater and water pumps can start at random causing a fairly heavy load. We needed 12 volt power for some instruments, 24 volt for most of the lighting, and 230 volt for appliances and some lighting.  We wanted an isolation transformer to make sure there was no power ground that could set up erosion of the hull. The specified configuration serves us well.  In hindsight we probably would use more 230 volt lighting and less 24 volt.  The latter lights tend to be halogen which run very hot and in fact pose some fire hazard when not ideally ventilated, and because they are "yachty bits of equipment" they cost about three times the 230 volt equivalent.  In summer, because it gets dark very late in the day, lights are not used to any great extent and can easily run off the inverter.  In winter we are plugged in to shore power so can easily run the lights in addition to appliances. Our electrical system is comprised of the following equipment:               - 11 Kw.Onan Generator with control panel, sound box, and muffler               -  2,000 watt Victron Inverter with remote control               -  6 - 230 Amp 12 volt batteries               -  12 volt generator starting battery               -  Victron Battery Charger 24/75 TG and control panel               -  Victron Mains Manager and control panel               -  DC/DC Convertor 24/12 volt               -  Victron Isolation Transformer               -  Leece Neville Dynamo 140 heavy duty alternator We pulled all of the cabling ourselves and connected the 230 volt circuit breakers.  We left the more complex 24 volt system to the electrician.  Our control panels were simple circuit breakers for the most part, with only the operations switches lit, such as running lights, and hydraulics controls.  The electrician hooked up the various bits of Victron equipment and made sure the 24 volt system was charging across all batteries.  In total the electrical system cost 42,000 Euros excluding appliances.  The major hardware cost 30,000 with a further 3,500 for the electrician.  The remainder covers wiring, lights, motors, pumps, circuit breakers, junction boxes, wire conduits, fasteners and the like.   In all there are some 50 separate circuits linked in one way or another to battery power, inverter, shore power or generator.

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The 24 volt circuit box is more complicated than the 230, so we had the electrician do the work.

All the wires were identified by circuit and current, placed in plastic conduit, and protected by wooden rails.

An 11 Kw Onan was installed as our generator.  There is a comparable Mastervolt unit that would do just as well but we were more familiar with the Onan name

How Much Power Do You Need?                                                               Watts Air Conditioner                                 1400 - 2000 Battery Charger                                  Up to 3000 DC Convertor                                      300 -  7 00 Refrigerator                                         600 - 1000 Microwave Oven                                 1000 - 1500 Electric Frying Pan or Wok                1000 - 1500 Electric Stove Element                         350 - 1000 Electric Water Heater                        1000 - 1500 Electric  Iron                                       500 - 1200 Electric Hair Dryer                              800 - 1500 Coffee Perculator                                550 -   750 Television                                            200 -   600 Radio                                                    50 -   200 Electric Drill                                        250 -   750 Electric Broom                                     200 -   500 Electric Blanket                                    50 -   200 Reproduced from the Onan Operators Manual. Normal load must accommodate battery charging, so the required output is in the 7000 to 12000 watt range, depending on electric use and configuration.

The ship operations panel in the wheelhouse shows the engine performance, indicates the hydraulic motor status, and shows which light systems are on.  The joystick to the right controls the bow thruster.