battery

[Colina]

Hi,
im new to the boating/ fishing scene and had recently purchased a 2015 Lund impact sport. After having some technical difficulties getting it to start the past few times on the water, I realized that I should know a bit more about boat wiring (I also want to add more graphs and electronics as well) so the knowledge should come in handy. Im curious as to what the connections are for coming off of my battery. I have what looks like an 8 gauge positive and negative wire, and 2 more smaller ones, with one of the wires looking like its tied into one terminal with a fuse attached to it. When I get home later today I'll add a few pictures and a better description. Figured I would ask around before I ask the boat dealership when I get it wrapped for winter in a week

 

[alldodge]

The easiest way for most folks to add something new to a boat is attach more wires to the battery. While this appears to be the easiest, its not the best nor the easy way in the long run.

If the boat has a trolling motor, then the 8 gauge most likely goes to it. The other wores may go to a battery charger of other. In any case need to find out where they go. Once we know, then a plan can be devised

 

[Colina]

Thats what the plan is once im able to follow the wires back to where they belong. Im hoping to add a terminal extender and a bus bar to clean it up, and make it more convenient to add electronics

 

[KJM]

I have a wire with inline fuse going to a bilge pump with float switch so that it is always able to turn on, key or not. Thats another possibility.

 

[alldodge]

I have a wire with inline fuse going to a bilge pump with float switch so that it is always able to turn on, key or not. Thats another possibility.

Agree

 

[Colina]

so ive followed the wires from the battery. The 8 huge wires appear to go lead up the starboard side of the boat and connect to the starter, while the one with the fuse I believe runs up and connects to the main fuse box under the console. There appears to be an extra ground running back to the battery, and not sure what its used for. As for the alternator, im not sure which wires would run back to the battery to charge it. Would it be the bigger 8 gauge wires that are used for starting it?

 

[Colina]

 

[roscoe]

 

[alldodge]

The 8 huge wires appear to go lead up the starboard side of the boat and connect to the starter,

There is 8 wires that go to the starter?
There should be 1 pos and 1 neg going from the battery to the motor. The pos connects to the starter and the neg connects to the block. If there is several going to the starter post then it could be several wires where used where only one of the correct size should be.

What size motor is on the boat?

The ALT will have one larger wire which goes from it to the starter post where the pos is

 

[Colina]

sorry, I meant the 8 gauge wire, not multiple. its hard to differentiate where the wires run as Im not able to see in the rear bilge to follow them. The only thing I can think of is that the 2 bigger terminals supple the fuse panel in the front, and the extra ground is from the aft bus bar

 

[alldodge]

If the 8 gauge is the battery cable then ok, and assume its a small motor