1000 Footer Cook N

Updated 11/02/04

Hell Weeks

The Ballast System wiring wasn't all that complicated, but it still took 2 days to complete. I was going to have separate channels for the forward and aft ballast systems, but after talking with Scott Tomlinson we decided to keep things a bit simpler. The idea now was to have one channel for both systems, with an external power source option. The external power source plugs in a jack, this will allow us to operate the system without draining the main internal battery, also when the main batteries are remove.

This is the batteries as the would set in the hull. The far one to the right is for the aft ballast system 12v. The next two are for the main drives port and starboard. The closest one is the stern thruster.

Here are the batteries in the hull. Plenty of room to spare.

The wiring tool awhile to figure out. I will draw a diagram latter explaining it in detail. The white block has for micro switches: Aft in pump - Aft out pump - Bow in pump - Bow out pump. Directly below that is two 3 way switches, these are for the external power source. With these I can operate each of the 4 pumps separately, giving my full control if needed. The challenge was to make the external and internal wiring work together yet keeping the systems separate.

Now I have the panel all wired in to the ballast system. Two 12v power sources (Bow and Stern), and four power leads for the pumps.

The panel in place. You wouldn't think all that wire was behind that panel. Note the two jacks for the external power next to the two switches. Below that are the six power lead screws. Below that is the remote switches operated my a single servo. Also note the fuse panel to the right, four 10 amp fuses. One for each drive motor, one for the stern thruster and one for the aft ballast system. Another fuse is in the bow for the bow ballast system.

Launch date on November 10,2000

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