I've started rewiring to add a separate starter battery, replace the old panels & battery switch, also to cleanup clutter & mess caused by inexperienced repairs/additions to the electrical system in the past, such as this mess:
http://slokat.com/Wind%20Tamer/pics/wiring312.JPG
The starter battery is going to end up on the starboard side of the engine compartment:
http://slokat.com/Wind%20Tamer/pics/starterbatt.JPG
So far have replaced the AC panel, moved the battery switch (from above the galley sink) over to the electrical panels area. The new switch turns on both battery banks at the same time, but isolated. They can also be combined if needed. It is on the new main panel that has also added 24hr breakers that are wired for two bilge pumps & the radio/electronics memory circuit.
http://slokat.com/Wind%20Tamer/pics/panel312.JPG
Got all the cables, main battery breaker & an ACR to finish wiring the new starter battery. When that is done will replace the DC panel & finish up the task of tracing down/cleaning up random wiring.
Your wiring mess looks very familiar to what I found on POG. As I am an electric idiot the clean up was handed over to my good friend and crew Chris. I was left with a whole box-full of torn out wiring that was either superfluous, leading nowhere or leading there in the longest possible way.
As for increased battery capacity I removed the water heater, which I won't need in warmer climes, and built a long box holding two large 6V batteries in series where it had resided on the forward starboard side in the cockpit locker. If you are just going to have one battery I think you found a neat place for it. I use the little locker to starboard of the stairs for oil, filter, grease etc storage and have a toolbox on top of it.
Best of luck.
And how about a picture or two of your oil pump-out arrangement?
Carl
Just be carefull what battery you put in that locker,it needs to be a non venting type or a battery with a vent tube to vent outside,
The things I learn on this forum! I didn't realize that the top comes off of the compartment slokat is using for the battery. I opened mine up and found the tank for the alcohol stove that is no longer installed. I searched high and low for the tank when I bought the boat and even asked the previous owner where it was. He didn't seem to know.
Oh well - the stove is gone. The tanks and enclosure as well as all the plumbing and wiring are all in place for a new propane stove. I can always use more storage space!
I'm not done with the rewiring but now have all new panels, and most of the battery rewiring done.
Here's a pic of the panels.
http://slokat.com/Wind%20Tamer/pics/panels1.jpg
Very nice!
Nice job on the wiring!