Ask Steve

Text and photos © 2019 Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Field-Made Bus Bars Bus bars (it’s not spelled ‘buss’, the likely confusion arises from...

Photo Essay: Generator AC Wiring Of all the defects I encounter on generator installations, poor wire routing and support are among the most common.  Generators...

Please note, our first two questions are in regard to a previous Photo Essay. Steve, I agree with your advice for grounding electronic equipment, but no...

From the Masthead Let me begin by apologizing to Marine Systems Excellence readers for our hiatus.  As most boat owners, and virtually anyone who is...

Text and photos © 2019 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Hydraulic Steering Relief Valve Hydraulic steering systems are ubiquitous, they are found on everything...

Text and photos copyright © SDMC, Inc. 2016 Ask Steve: June 2016 Steve, Thanks for the fire extinguisher comments.  Safety is a passion of mine and 18 months...

Photo Essay: Shore Power Over-Current Protection Over-current protection, or OCP, a subject I write about all too often (most recently here), only because it is...

Text and photos © 2022 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Cord-Grips Electrical issues represent by far the most common problem faced by vessel operators. ...

Photo Essay: The Perils of an Unvented Loop Vented loops, also known as anti-siphon valves or siphon-breaks, have served mariners for many years.  Their mission...

Photo Essay: Wiring Lithium-Ion Battery Systems Fires aboard vessels equipped with lithium-ion batteries quickly capture the attention of the boat building and cruising communities, and...