Electrical Questions

joe7670 · #1 10-26-2009, 10:27 AM

Rewiring the boat and well.... it's taking much longer than I expected!

Running a 12 guage to the helm at which point i'm using terminal blocks for Positive and Negative to distribute further.

Should the 12 guage have some type of fuse at the stern just after the battery?

Also, using a dual battery switch with 1,2,All,Off options. Should the 12 guage(accessories) be plugged into the switch so that the switch decides everything or should the accessories be going into a battery directly?

Pictures will follow as soon as I finish with motor and electrical. Hoping this week will be ready for the PDI.

THEFERMANATOR · #2 10-26-2009, 10:54 AM

I always wire everything straight to the switch so that the batteries can be completely shut off. I believe the coast guard says your supposed to wire this way as well in case there is a fire or potential fire danger. I use a ressetting circuit breaker for my main feed wire for accessories right at the switch. For a 12 guage wire I wouldn't go more than 25-30 amps slow trip breaker as it's only good for about 22-24 amps continuous if your run is more than about 5-6 feet.

Skools Out · #3 10-26-2009, 11:12 AM

the ground no fuse

the hot / pos. use a fuse block at Helm with a seperate fuse to each accessory you wire up.

for a main feed #12 is a little lite. I always use a min #8 wire for main feed then use #12 and #14 for the accessory's.

best to solder and water proof heat shrink any joints.

an easy way to wire a boat if on a budget is to buy a couple 14/2 w ground or 14/3 depends on the brand of the 100 ft drop cords, cut the ends off and run a piece of drop cord to every accessory, then you have a spare wire at each location for future extra's or later repairs. plus the 3 wires to the bilge pump allows you to wire it both auto and manual pump.

joe7670 · #4 10-26-2009, 11:29 AM

Actually, I got this crazy idea to use the prior OMC harness as my accessory wiring and it's working out quite well! This way I know they are the marine grade wires with tinning.

So consider upping the main +pos feed to #8.

Wolf · #5 10-26-2009, 01:30 PM

Hey Joe7670
What is your email address I will send you a spread sheet that will allow you to figure out just what you need based on the current draw and the length of run..

joe7670 · #6 10-26-2009, 02:58 PM

PM Sent.

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS · #7 10-26-2009, 11:38 PM

This is what i'm doing now. I removed the old harness the boat came with, run a set of 8 gauge marine wire with a resetable blue sea breaker to a 12 fuse holder by blue sea, from there 14/2 for up to 5-6 feet away from the panel and 12/2 and 12/3 for the bilge pumps and the washdown pumps. I know is alittle overkill, but i like it that way.