suzukidave
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2000
- Messages
- 387
Hi, I am wondering if I need to take any precautions about moving the battery location in my boat.<br /><br />I run a 16' with a 55hp manual start motor. I use a full size marine battery which basically powers the fish finder, bilge pump and nav lights. The motor has a rectifier but no regulator and puts out about 14 volts when underway (don't know ampage). I currently run about 4 feet of 10 gauge wire from the motor to the battery and this seems to be enough to carry the charging current. There is never much of a draw on the battery.<br /><br />I am thinking of moving the battery from under the splashwell to the box under the sleeper seats because the battery currently limits the number of fuel tanks I can slide under the splashwell. This will result in maybe 10 feet of charging cable. Can I stick with 10 gauge wire? If I put it under the seat how much ventilation does it need?