SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART GUIDE TO THE LATEST, MOST ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES

"Ed Sherman is one of America's great teachers and communicators of marine technology."--Tim Murphy, Executive Editor, Cruising World

Whether you are a marine electronics professional or a boatowner, Advanced Marine Electrics and Electronics Troubleshooting helps you understand the new, more powerful methods of troubleshooting marine electrical and electronic systems. A modern boat's sophisticated installations and networked electronics can stretch the traditional diagnostic methods based on trouble lights and multimeters past their useful limits. This book will show you how to:

• Use microprocessor-based diagnostic tools and techniques from the automotive and communications sectors, adapted for boats for the first time
• Diagnose the most difficult AC and DC problems
• Protect communications and navigation electronics from interference and lightning
• Seek out and eliminate stray-current sources and galvanic corrosion

Foreword by Tim Murphy, Executive Editor, Cruising World

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Marine Troubleshooting the Modern Way

Finding Your Way

Electrics versus Electronics

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Part 1: Electrical Systems Troubleshooting

2. Testing Batteries, Charging Systems, and Starter Circuits, and Measuring Voltage Drop

Catalysts for Change

Conductance Battery Tester

Diagnostic Meter

Value and Utility

3. Testing Continuity and Tracing Circuits

Tone-Generating Circuit Tracer

Alphanumeric Time Domain Reflectometer

Value and Utility

4. Testing AC and Grounding Systems for Polarity, Voltage Drop, Impedance, and Frequency

The SureTest Circuit Analyzer

Value and Utility

5. Temperature Monitoring as a Diagnostic Aid

Infrared Heat-Sensing Gun

Other Uses for Temperature Monitoring

Value and Utility

6. Using Power Factor to Determine Energy Efficiency

Understanding Power Factor

Improving Your Power Factor

Determining Power Consumption

Using a Power Analyzer

Value and Utility

7. Analyzing Harmonic Distortion

Do You Need a Scope?

AC Loads

Harmonic Distortion

Value and Utility

8. Using a Laptop for Intermittent Problems

Laptop Link-Ups

Real-World Examples

9. Testing for Electromagnetic and Radio Frequency Interference

Understanding Electromagnetic Interference

Standards and Regulations

Common Sources and Victims of Interference

Tools of the Trade

10. Testing for Residual Current and Isolating Its Sources

AC Leakage from Appliances

Using a Clamp-On AC Leak Tester

AC Leakage from Degraded Insulation

Using a Megohmmeter

Value and Utility

11. A Basic Corrosion Survey

Tools of the Trade

Underwater Metal Corrosion and Protection Basics

Conducting a Corrosion Survey

12. Grounding Systems

Lightning Protection

Grounding to Minimize RFI Effects

Comparing ABYC and NMEA Grounding Standards

Troubleshooting Redux

Part 2: Marine Electronics Installation and Troubleshooting

13. Electronic Equipment Installation Guidelines

Ergonomics

Watertight Integrity

Thermal Limits

Power Supply

Guidelines Summary

14. Installing Communications and Position-Finding Systems and Radar

Communications Systems

Position-Finding Systems

Radar

15. Installing Depth Sounders, Weather Systems, and Autopilots

Depth Sounders

Wind- and Weather-Monitoring Instruments

Autopilots

16. Coaxial Cable and Antennas

Coaxial Cable Basics

Choosing Coax for Marine Applications

Installing Coaxial Cable

VHF Antennas

SSB Antennas

Satellite Television and Radio Antennas

Cell Phone Antennas

Radar Antennas

17. Onboard Networks

Network Types

NMEA 2000

Troubleshooting

The Future of Onboard Power Distribution

Closing Thoughts

Appendix A: Metric Equivalents

Appendix B: Resources

Appendix C: ABYC Standards of Interest to Marine Electricians and Boatowners

Glossary

List of Acronyms

Index

Ed Sherman is a regular contributor to Professional Boatbuilder and Cruising World and a senior staff writer for the American Boat & Yacht Council.