Electrical - Components & Operation

The 38 Surf electrical system uses both direct (DC) and alternating (AC) current. A battery bank in the engine compartment provides power to DC components. AC components are powered by onboard or onshore sources. All electrical components are protected by digital or physical breakers. Physical breakers
default to the ‘off’ position and must be switched ‘on’ before the corresponding equipment can be used.

1 - Batteries (in engine compartment) 2 - Battery Management Board (in engine comp.) 3 - DC Breaker Panel (in engine comp.) 4 - Generator/Power Bank (in engine comp.) 5 - ELCI (under seat) 6 - EZ Charge (under seat) 7 - 12 Volt Helm Panel (under helm controls) 8 - AC Main Distribution Panel (in cabin) 9 - GFCI (in head)

Components

Batteries

There are five 12 volt direct current, group 31 batteries on your vessel. They are all located in the engine compartment on the port side, next to the battery management board, and are accessed via the engine hatch.

DC Battery Bank

Two batteries are dedicated engine starter batteries. When you start your engines, the starter batteries begin the combustion cycle.

The remaining three batteries power all the DC equipment on the boat. The house electronics battery powers the digital switching modules, the helm breaker panel, and the surf nodes. The other two house batteries power everything from lights and actuators to bilge and raw water pumps.

Typical DC Battery

Fuses

There are three types of DC fuses on your boat: Cube, Midi, and ATC. It is important to understand the types of fuses so you can replace them if necessary.

Midi fuses are used to protect high amperage equipment like the head and the stereo speakers. Midi fuses are small rectangular fuses with teeth protruding from each end and circles punched into the teeth for connections. The amperage rating is displayed on the center body of each fuse.

Typical MIDI Fuse

ATC fuses are blade type fuses. Both connector teeth protrude from the fuse body on the same side. ATC
fuses are designed for lower draw electrical components. Both ATC and Midi fuses have clear bodies that make it easy to identify a blown fuse.

When a fuse blows, the wiring in the center of the fuse that connects the teeth is broken.

Typical ATC Fuse

Cube fuses are boxes with a metal circle indented into the fuse body. These fuses’ unusual shape make them ideal for installing in tight places where other fuses don’t fit

Typical Cube Fuse

Refer to the technical diagrams in the back of this manual for fuse locations.

Breakers

Most electrical equipment is controlled from the digital switching system and most breakers are digital (see “Digital Switching System” pg. 42), however, there are some physical breakers that regulate power for equipment that is not breakered via the digital switching system. You can access these breakers from the “12 Volt Helm Panel,” the “DC Breaker Panel,” and the “AC Main Distribution Panel.”

12 Volt Helm Panel

Your “12 Volt Helm Panel” contains the breakers for all electrical components controlled by the helm that are not breakered via the digital switching system including your plotters, VHF
radio, helm seat adjustments, and trim tabs.

The panel is located on the starboard side of the helm underneath the steering wheel. When a breaker trips, a button on the panel will pop out. To reset the breaker, push the button
back in until it clicks.

DC Breaker Panel

The “DC Breaker Panel” regulates the power of all DC components not protected by digital breakers and is part of the battery management board. Access the panel via the engine hatch.

Battery Management Bard

   Note: Layouts may vary.

When a breaker on the DC panel Note: Layouts may vary. trips, a yellow switch on the panel will flip to the ‘off’ position. To reset a breaker, flip the switch back to the ‘on’ position.

AC Main Distribution Panel

The “AC Main Distribution Panel” or MDP, regulates all high voltage AC components on your vessel. The MDP controls the power flow from shore power or your generator/Live Power system and regulates the air conditioning, water heater, cooking and entertainment appliances. It contains all physical AC breakers and is accessed from the cabinet in the main cabin just port of the stairs. Unlike your home, boat breakers default to the off position and must be turned on whenever using an appliance.

1 - Shore 1

2 - Shore 2

3 - Breaker Lock

4 - Parallel Breaker

5 - Breaker On

6 - Breaker Off

Each side of the board is a ‘leg’ labeled “Shore 1” and “Shore 2.” Each leg regulates power from one of your two shore power inlets. Flip the metal switch at the top of the MDP toward either leg to monitor that leg’s line voltage. The “Parallel” breaker allows you to switch from running each leg independently to running them in parallel.

When the legs are running independently, electricity flowing from each inlet powers each leg separately. If power is not running through one of the inlets, that leg will not receive power and the electrical components that leg regulates will not turn on. When running the legs in parallel, both legs will receive power from the same inlet. Be aware that when running the legs in parallel, each leg will receive half the amount of power it would if it were running independently.

ELCI

The “Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter” or “ELCI” is a breaker that cuts power from the AC shore system if it detects a ground leak in the wiring for the system. A ground leak occurs when power leaks out of the system and spreads through other conductible material. Ground leaks can be lethal.

The ELCI breaker is located under the port side, rear cockpit flip up seat. The ELCI breaker trips when it detects a ground leak. LED lights on the breaker panel flash in different combinations to indicate the reason the ELCI tripped.

1. Green LED on, Red LED off - Line voltage is present, the breaker is closed, and the device is protecting the circuits.

2. Green LED off, Red LED on - The device has detected a ground leak and opened the circuit breaker.

3. Green LED flashing, Red LED Off - The circuit breaker is open due to over current or has been manually turned to the “off” position.

4. Both LEDs off - Line voltage is not present. Make sure the marina breaker is on and check the power cord connections.

GFCI

The “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter" of “GFCI” operates like the ELCI and is used to protect your boat from deadly ground leaks. While the ELCI governs AC power flowing through the whole system, the GFCI governs all the AC outlets on the boat. If the GFCI detects a ground leak from any outlet on the boat, it will trip and cut power flowing to all the outlets.

Reset the GFCI from the outlet in the head. When tripped, the top button on the outlet will pop out. Press it in until it clicks to reset the breaker.

If either the GFCI or ELCI trips repeatedly, have your boat serviced by your Regal dealer immediately and do not use the vessel until the leak is fixed.

Operation

Shore Power

While docked at a marina, an onshore power source can power AC components. There are two shore power inlets located in the bow, port side gunwale behind the vented panel. The top inlet powers the “Shore 1” leg of the MDP and the lower inlet powers the “Shore 2” leg (see above). Use a 30 amp, shore power cable to connect the power inlet plug(s) to the onshore source. The female end of the cable will connect to the boat's inlet(s) and the male end will connect to the power source.

Shore Power Inlet Compartment

Shore Power Inlet Hatch

There is a “Shore Power” breaker switch and a “Generator” breaker switch on the upper left side of the MDP. A sliding lock on the panel blocks one switch while the other is active. You can only use one at a time, either shore power or generator power. Slide the lock down to the generator breaker switch to unlock shore power and flip the shore power breaker on to activate.

Generator

Your boat may come equipped with an optional gas or diesel generator to power AC appliances and systems when your vessel is not connected to shore power.

Your boat may come equipped with an optional gas or diesel generator to power AC appliances and systems when your vessel is not connected to shore power.

Generators are located in the engine compartment. Diesel generators come equipped with sound insulation capsules to control noise. Gas generators are quiet enough to run without them. Refer to your general manual’s “Exhaust and Carbon Monoxide” section for safety guidelines relating to your generator before operating.

Generators run either on gasoline or diesel. Gas generators are connected to your engine’s fuel system and pull gas from the same tank as the engines.

Diesel generators pull diesel from a separate 26 gallon diesel tank. A full diesel tank can provide about three days of power before being refilled. Your diesel system includes two fuel filters that keep debris out of the generator. The first is an in-line filter located close to the generator. The second is a cartridge style filter on the generator itself.

Refer to your generator owner’s manual for specifics on replacing fuel filters and periodic upkeep and
maintenance.

Your generator uses raw water pumped from the seacock for cooling. Seacocks are located in the engine hatch just forward of the engines. There is a strainer located along the raw water line that catches debris and keeps your generator clean. Periodically check the strainer basket for debris.

To check the strainer basket, first make sure your seacocks are in the closed position. Next clear the strainer by turning the strainer top clockwise, removing the strainer basket, and dumping out any debris caught in the basket. Replace the basket by pushing it down evenly into place and tightening the strainer top. Reset the seacock to the open position.

Your generator also uses chemical coolant. Consistently check coolant levels in the coolant reservoir on the generator to avoid overheating. The coolant reservoir is marked to indicate the optimal fill level.

Starting Your Generator

Always perform a sniff test before starting your generator. If you smell vapors, do not start your generator. Deactivate all sources of power and have your boat serviced at your Regal dealer immediately.

If there are no vapors, begin the start up process by running your bilge blowers for a few minutes. Use the blower button found on the generator activation panel (see below) or tap the bilge blower icon on the digital switching system to turn on the blowers.

After running your blowers, access the MDP. Slide the generator lock upward to the shore power breaker if it is not already there. After unlocking the breaker, flip the switch or the generator on.

Press the “RUN” button to turn the generator on. Let the generator run for a few minutes before turning on equipment. To turn off the generator, press the “STOP” button on the generator activation panel.

Live Power

The optional Live Power system replaces a generator and uses an inverter to take in direct current from a lithium ion battery bank and output alternating current to power all AC devices on the vessel.

Charging
The battery bank must be charged before it can be used to convert electricity. First, connect your vessel to onshore power. Next, turn the “Power Bank” breaker switch, located directly under the MDP in the cabin, on.

When the power bank is on and shore power is connected, the inverter system is charging.

Power Bank 

(starboard engine compartment)

If you are running any 120 volt AC appliances, the system will send power from the onshore source to the appliance first and there may not be enough power left to charge your batteries. If your appliances are drawing more power than the onshore source can provide, the system will use energy stored in the Power Bank to run the appliances instead of charging the batteries. It is most efficient to turn off all 120 volt AC powered appliances while charging the Power Bank.

A charge mate in the system can also redirect energy from the alternator to your Power Bank, but the alternator always prioritizes the engine and house batteries, so do not depend on the engine to recharge your Power Bank.

Inverting

When the vessel is not connected to shore power and the Power Bank is on, the system is “inverting.” When inverting, all AC appliances run on power provided by the Power Bank. As appliances run, energy in the Power Bank depletes.

Power Bank levels are displayed on the helm plotter home screen and in its own dedicated page.

Access the page icon from either the home screen or the “Layout” scroll (see “Garmin Displays” pg. 39). Keep an eye on the power levels and reconnect to shore power when running low. Turn the Power Bank switch off whenever AC appliances are not in use.

Power Bank Page

Power Bank Inverting

Note: Layouts may vary.

DC Charging

The engine and house batteries are typically charged by the alternator. The alternator pulls power from the engines, converts it to electricity, and redirects it to charge the batteries.

In situations where you do not want to start the engines, you can charge the engine and house batteries using the generator/Live Power battery bank and the Mastervolt ChargeMaster battery charger. The charger converts alternating current into direct current to charge your engine and house batteries.

To activate your battery charger, turn the charger breaker on the MDP on. Once the charger is active, turn on your generator/Live Power. The charger will automatically siphon power and use it to charge the batteries.

EGIS

The EGIS battery management system uses automatic charging relays–“ACR”–to connect the batteries in parallel whenever there is a charge source present. By connecting the batteries, the system can charge multiple batteries at the same time.

Automatic Charging Relays

It will also disconnect the batteries as the voltage level drops to ensure that you are not left stranded on the water.

In the unlikely event you need to manually set the batteries to parallel, you can do so directly from the ACRs on the battery management board.

When your boat leaves the Regal factory, the ACR switches are set to “Auto.” Regal insists on leaving the switches on auto to avoid running out of battery power and being unable to start the engines. However, in an emergency it may be necessary to manually connect or disconnect the batteries.

To connect or disconnect the batteries from the EGIS, turn the ACR switches on the unit to either “OFF” or “ON.” Off will turn the batteries off completely. On will connect the batteries. Do not forget to disconnect the batteries or you will run out of power and be left stranded.

The battery activation panel also has a “Parallel” button that connects the batteries in parallel instead of series. However, Regal insists on relying on the EGIS system, except in rare emergency situations, to avoid running out of power.

Only manually connect batteries in emergency situations.

EZ Charge Port

With the EGIS system set to auto, it is virtually impossible for the DC battery bank to die completely. However, when storing the boat, the batteries may die over time. If the batteries do die, the engine will not crank and the EGIS will not be able to charge the bank. In this unlikely scenario, the engine hatch will be inoperable.

To access the engine, you will need an extra 12 volt battery and a pair of jumper cables.

Flip up the port side, rear cockpit seat to access the EZ Charge Port. Use the cables to attach the positive battery terminal to the red terminal on the EZ Charge Port. Attach the negative battery terminal to the black EZ Charge terminal. The EZ Charge will siphon energy from the battery to power the engine hatch.

Use the manual engine hatch switch next to the EZ Charge Port to raise the engine hatch. Once the engine hatch is raised, jump or replace the batteries as necessary or service the vessel with your Regal dealer.