72 Thunderbird Formula w/twin 165hp Mercs

[alldodge]

That'll work

 

[ahmincha]

Mark do you have a rotary or rack steering

 

[Mark72233]

Rotary I think is what it's called. Teleflex Saf-T cable. It plugs into one side and the cable goes in and loops back out. I think I maybe able to use the cable for now. I just left it laying on the deck and didn't try to hide it under the gunnel or route it anywhere and I think it may just be long enough I will check it maybe tomorrow.

 

[Mark72233]

Well I installed the transducer on the transom for my Humminbird Helix 5 Side imaging bottom machine.


Only problem is the cable that comes with it is too short.


And so far I haven't been able to find a cheap extension. They have 10' versions but looks like it's going to cost me $40-$50.

 

[Mark72233]

I also trimmed out the teak cabin door frame and made a teak threshold out of a teak piece of wood I got on evilbay. And hung the door back on the frame.



I still need to sand, fix, prime and paint the folding hatch lid.

 

[Mark72233]

I also ran all the battery wires from the battery box back to the engines. I routed everything below decks by cutting a 1 1/2" hole through bulk heads and stringers. I then ran 1 1/2" PVC pipes through the holes and sealed them on both sides with 5200. I also ran an 8gauge positive and negative from the battery box up to the helm which will be hooked up to the fuse box.

 

[Mark72233]

I spent some time wiring up all the switches as much as I could prior to putting the helm back in the boat. The black wires are the grounds for everything and the blue wires are the positive side on all the lights for the 12 gauges. I decided since I have extra switches with nothing assigned to them that one switch will be to turn on the gauge lights when I am running at night. I hooked it all up and put power to it and flipped the switch and wow it turned on and no smoke or blown fuses and the lights all worked which was pretty cool because most of the gauges are gauges my dad bought in 1993.



Still a little messy and I need to figure out what size fuses to install for each item. For now I just threw in some fuses I had so I could check circuits. Once the helm is in the boat then the fun will start which is wiring all the engine wires into this mess. I also hooked up the fuel tank fill ground and installed the throttle and shift cables which seem to be working ok they are the ones I took out of the boat 21 months ago.

 

[Frey0357]

Hello Mark. Nice work on the wiring! I like the time you took to shrink wrap each wire and connector the help keep the moisture at bay! While it looks like a lot of wire going in each direction it looks good! neatly organized and not pulled too tight! I like it! Just my $.02

Frey

 

[archbuilder]

Mark, the wiring is looking good for someone who isn't good at it, lol! Looks organized and you will be happy that you color coded later.....ask me how I know! Saved me a lot of time running down a bad connection in Miss Morgan.

 

[Mark72233]

Frey and Arch thanks, that was a few hours of work and a few blown fuses until I figured out which one to connect the right wires to on the toggle switches. Now I just need to find a guide showing what amp fuse for things like blower, lights and such. I am thinking on the low side for most everything like 5amp or 3amp. The two bilge pumps have their own switches with built in fuses.

 

[archbuilder]

Mark, I usually look up the parts to see if they give you an amp draw. Some give you watts, like lights. You can convert watts to amps by dividing the watts by the voltage. Amps= Watts / 12 volts. I totaled everything up and rounded up at least 20%. Seems to have worked fine. I'm sure there is a generic chart out there somewhere also.

 

[alldodge]

The standard 12 awg wire will have a 20 amp fuse, 14 awg would be 15 amp. If something like the bilge pump is the only thing on the wire then just use what it specifies. If a 15 amp fuse feeds a bilge pump which has a 5 amp fuse feeding it, then no worries

 

[Mark72233]

Yes I have looked but haven't found a chart. Some of the items listed what amp fuse to use like the 4" inline blower recommended a 5amp.

 

[Mark72233]

I have been looking for a diagram on how to hook up the batteries, battery switch, fuse box and such. I found this which I think is exactly how I was thinking of doing it.


They are recommending a breaker close to the battery for the positive wire that is heading to the helm fuse box. Are they meaning something like this.



Also it is showing a wire connecting the two batteries on the negative side. Also on the battery cut off switch it has 3 posts. Post 1, post 2 and common. I understand post one and two are for the positive wires from battery one and two I am guessing the common post is always hot wether the switch is in the one, two or both positions.

 

[Mark72233]

This is the brand and model of switch I have.

 

[ahmincha]

Darn it I have a rack style.

 

[archbuilder]

Looks like the common should go to your fuse panel mark. The circuit breaker should protect from shorts if the wire is ground out somewhere between the fuse block and the circuit breaker.

 

[Mark72233]

Yeah that's what I was thinking is the one in the picture the type and size I should buy.

 

[archbuilder]

What is your fuse panel rated for? Or do you have more than one?

 

[Mark72233]

AllDodge we talked some about wire colors and either running the ignition wire to the hour meter or the purple wire. I ran a wire from the ignition switch. Now onto the other wires and gauges. I have a purple wire and an orange wire both come off the what I am assuming is the oil pressure sender. See below pictures.

And I have three 10 gauge wires also, black, red and red with a white stripe. Red with white stripe is coming from alternator. Where do these wires go. I love electrical.