Basic electricity concepts of interest to a sailor

Introduction

The electrical system is arguably one of the most complex systems on a sailboat, and a good sailor should have a thorough understanding of it in order to be as self-sufficient as possible at sea, where we can’t call an electrician to come and fix a problem on board if we’re sailing far from shore.

It is very important that a sailboat’s electrical system be well designed, and that we use high-quality materials and equipment suitable for the marine environment. However, even with a good electrical system, there is a high probability of encountering frequent, minor or major, electrical problems while sailing.

To understand our electrical system properly and operate it safely, there are some basic concepts that are useful to know. These are fundamental concepts that we have all studied at some point, but it is a good idea to review them from time to time.

In this chapter, we will cover the following basic electrical concepts and examples of their application on a sailboat:

– Current (Intensity).

– Voltage.

– Resistance.

– Power.

– Relationships between current, voltage, resistance, and power.