3.0 Electrical Installation

3.1 Electrical Introduction

This section for electrical installation explains how to mount the electrical equipment and how to connect the electrical cables. Additional references are provided in associated sections.

Reference Documents and Drawings

• 90667 – Seakeeper 18 Hardware Scope of Supply
• 90679 – Seakeeper 18 Cable Block Diagram
• 90558 – ConnectBox Helm Mounting Kit
• TB-90896 – ConnectBox Installation Guide
• MFD Compatibility Bulletins
  
  • TB-90478 – Garmin and Seakeeper Compatibility
  • TB-90479 – Raymarine and Seakeeper Compatibility
  • TB-90480 – NAVICO and Seakeeper Compatibility
  • TB-90598 – Furuno and Seakeeper Compatibility
• Optional 5″ Touch Display References
  
  • 90467 – Seakeeper 5″ Display Kit
  • 90438 – 5″ Operator Display Envelope and Mounting Details

Figure 27 – Electrical equipment for Seakeeper 18

3.2 Electrical Equipment Power Connections

230 VAC Power Source Requirements

1. 230 VAC (nominal), 1 Phase, 50/60 Hz, 30 A
2. For installations of more than one Seakeeper, a separate circuit breaker must be used for each Seakeeper Motor Drive Box.

Drive Box AC Power Input Connection Instructions

1. AC Power Input Cable: 3 x 10 AWG (3 x 6 mm² CSA), 10 ft9 (3 m) length, Seakeeper supplied pre-installed.
   
   1. Locate AC power input cable on the Drive Box at the outboard cable gland.

2. Connect 230 VAC wires in AC Power Input Cable to a 30 A, double-pole Circuit Breaker at an AC
power distribution panel according to Figure 29 above.

24 VDC Power Source Requirements

1. One 24 VDC, 10 A (Customer supplied) for Seakeeper Control Power, AND
2. One 24 VDC, 10 A (20 A max)(Customer supplied) for DC Seawater Pump.
3. A separate breaker should be used for each Seakeeper.

DC Power Connection Instructions

Reversing polarity on the DC power input to the Seakeeper can result in damaging the electronics in the control system.

1. 24 VDC, 10 A, 2 x 12 AWG (3 x 4.0 mm² CSA) customer supplied.
   
   1. Install Seakeeper provided DC Power Input Cable, P/N 20248 (as shown in Drawing No. 90679).
      
      1. Route 24 VDC Power Cable to DC Power Distribution Panel.
      2. Terminate positive (B+, Red ) conductor to +24 VDC.
      3. Terminate negative (B-, Black) conductor directly to battery negative terminal.
   2. Before connecting cable to Seakeeper, check for proper voltage and polarity with a DC multimeter using Figure 30 below.
   3. Connect 24 VDC Input Cable to 24 VDC input receptacle on Seakeeper.

DC Seawater Pump 24 VDC Power Input Connection Instructions

Connecting the DC Seawater pump in any other manner than recommended by Seakeeper may cause internal failure.

1. Install Seawater Pump Input Cable (P/N 20454) to Seakeeper 18 “SW Pump DC In” (as shown in Drawing No. 90679) with overcurrent protection corresponding to seawater pump selected.
2. Connect the 14 AWG positive conductor (Red) through dedicated overcurrent protection device (customer supplied), maximum of 20 A, to dedicated battery isolation switch.
3. Connect the 14 AWG negative conductor (Black) directly to battery negative terminal or DC main negative bus bar.
4. Before connecting Seawater Pump Input Cable to Seakeeper, check for proper voltage and polarity with a DC multimeter using Figure 31 below.

5. Connect Seawater Pump Input Cable to Seawater Pump 24 VDC In connector on the Seakeeper, DEUTSCH DT04-2P connector.

DC Seawater Pump 24 VDC Power Output Connection Instructions

1. Connect Seawater Pump Output Cable (P/N 20455) to the Seakeeper 18 wire harness connector labelled Seawater Pump Out.
   
   1. Seawater Pump Output Cable is a 2 x 14 AWG cable, 16 ft (5 m) length with a female Deutsch plug.
   2. Install Y-Branch SW Pump Output & Valve cable (P/N 20658) to end of “SW Pump 24VDC Out” cable as shown in top image of Figure 3324.
2. Pumps rated at 24 VDC, 10 A maximum, customer-supplied, must be configured with a Deutsch DT series, 2-pin receptacle to mate with the connector shown in Figure 32.

3. The Seawater Pump Output Cable must be routed and installed in the vessel to the Y-Branch SW Pump Output & Valve Cable (P/N 20658) (socket end).
4. Connect Y-branch cable plug end (socket end) to the customer-supplied receptacle end of the DC seawater pump cable. The recommended wiring is shown in Figure 33.
5. Attach DTM-2S (socket end) into the male Deutsch DTM-2P connector of the 1 A inline fuse cable (P/N 20794). Connect the female connector of the inline fuse cable into the connector of the electric ball valve.
6. Contact Seakeeper if desired to install customer-supplied relay on Seawater Pump Output Cable to power seawater pump and valve.

3.3 Electrical Equipment Ground Connections

1. Connect the Seakeeper foundation ground (Fig.34) to the vessel ground.
   
   1. Install Ground Cable (10 AWG or 6.0 mm², (Customer supplied) from the M6 brass ground stud on the Seakeeper rear brace to a suitable vessel ground. Note: ONLY USE THIS LOCATION FOR GROUNDING THE SEAKEEPER TO THE VESSEL GROUND.
   2. Install Ground Cable (10 AWG or 6.0 mm², (Customer supplied) from the M6 brass ground stud on the Seakeeper rear brace to a suitable vessel ground.
      
      • EN/IEC 60204-1:2016 Clauses 6.3.3 and 8.2.3
      • ABYC E-11 July 2021 Clauses 11.5.2 and 11.17
   3. Ground connection should be made with vessel bonding system, if available. However, the ground is not referring specifically to a bonding system but for outboard boats generally refers to the outboard engine negative terminal. Per ABYC E-11 (2021), Clause 11.5.2.7.4: If the negative side of the DC system is to be connected to the ground, the connection shall be made only from the engine negative terminal, or its bus, to the DC grounding bus. This connection shall be used only as a means of maintaining the negative side of the circuit at ground potential and is not to carry current under normal operating conditions.
   4. A proper ground connection is critically important for corrosion protection and helps to ensure the ignition protection of the unit by ensuring it does not carry any stray current.

NOTE: USE ONLY THE GROUND LUG SHOWN FOR GROUNDING THE SEAKEEPER TO THE VESSEL GROUND. NO OTHER GROUNDS SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THIS LUG.

3.4 ConnectBox Connections

Seakeeper 18 Display Options

A display is required with the installation of a Seakeeper 18 to support the full functionality of the unit through the Seakeeper App in addition to the ConnectBox. The Seakeeper App provides an interface for controlling the Seakeeper or viewing the Settings, Service, Info, and Alarm pages. The Seakeeper ConnectBox can be helm-mounted to provide an additional interface for the control of the Seakeeper but does not replace the need for a Seakeeper compatible display.

The Seakeeper 18 has several options for establishing a Seakeeper display interface to support the Seakeeper App:

1. Preferably, connect the Seakeeper to a compatible Multifunction Display (MFD).
2. Install an optional Seakeeper 5″ Touch Display (P/N 90467).
3. A combination of a compatible MFD and an optional 5″ Touch Display is also available.

Figure 35 provides a schematic of the preferred display option. The subsequent sections outline the instructions and references for connecting the Seakeeper 18 in each of these display options.

Connecting to a Compatible MFD

1. The Seakeeper 18 can be connected to a variety of available MFD systems. Refer to the Technical Bulletins Section of the Seakeeper Technical Library for manufacturer specific MFD compatibility technical bulletins.
   
   • MFD specific Technical Bulletins will be updated regularly as new MFD systems become compatible. Currently GARMIN, RAYMARINE, NAVICO (Simrad, Lowrance, B&G), and FURUNO offer compatible MFD models.
   • Once a compatible MFD has been selected, refer to the appropriate manufacturer specific compatibility Technical Bulletin listed above for integration instructions.
2. Connect Seakeeper-supplied M12 D-Code, 82 ft (25 m), cable (P/N 30355) to MFD manufacturer-specific Ethernet adapter cable. Custom Ethernet cables for specific MFD manufacturers are available through Seakeeper and must be purchased with the Seakeeper 18 when connecting to an MFD.

NMEA 2000 Network Connection

The Seakeeper 18 requires a connection to the vessel’s NMEA 2000 network backbone via a drop cable for access to the GPS signal. The Seakeeper 18 will monitor information on the NMEA network to support and optimize the performance of the Seakeeper 18. If no GPS signal is detected, a warning will appear on the Seakeeper display. The Seakeeper will not spool-down, but the operation of the unit will be limited until the GPS signal returns. See TB-90896 – ConnectBox Installation Guide for further installation details.

1. Install customer-supplied NMEA 2000 Tee Adapter (space required: approximately 4 W X 3 H in. (102 X 76 mm).
2. Connect NMEA Backbone to Tee Adapter.
   NOTE: NMEA drop cable can be no longer than 19.6 ft (6 m) in length.
   
   • ConnectBox can be remote mounted at a location closer to the NMEA backbone when the 6 m drop cable length is insufficient. See ConnectBox Helm Mounting instructions below.
   • If the 6 m drop cable is insufficient in length, extend the NMEA 2000 backbone towards the ConnectBox.
3. Connect Seakeeper-supplied NMEA cable (P/N: 30332) to the customer-supplied NMEA 2000 Tee Adapter on vessel’s NMEA 2000 backbone.
   
   1. An active NMEA 2000 compatible GPS signal is required on the vessel’s NMEA 2000 backbone to operate the Seakeeper 18.
      
      • If no GPS signal is detected, a Speed Over Ground (SOG signal) warning will be present on the Seakeeper app. See TB-90640 for NMEA connectivity guidance.

ConnectBox Helm Mounting – Optional

1. Console space required: Approx. 3.41 L x 4.15 W in. (87 x 106 mm).
2. Mounting Instructions, Surface Mount: See Drawing No. 90558 – Seakeeper ConnectBox Helm Mounting Kit, for details. Seakeeper ConnectBox 3D Model available upon request.
3. Mount ConnectBox Replacement Blank insert into Seakeeper 18 top cover at the original location of the ConnectBox.