Can I bypass circuit breaker with inline fuses for electric downrigger?

[rvpikupman]

I am installing two Big Jon Electric Down riggers on a pontoon boat. Can i bypass the circuit breaker and run straight from the battery with an in-line fuse? they are 12 v motors and rated at 10 amps.Thanks

 

[rwidman]

Re: Can I bypass circuit breaker with inline fuses for electric downrigger?

I am installing two Big Jon Electric Down riggers on a pontoon boat. Can i bypass the circuit breaker and run straight from the battery with an in-line fuse? they are 12 v motors and rated at 10 amps.Thanks

The circuit breaker is defective? You can replace a circuit breaker with a fuse of the same rating if you would rather.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Can I bypass circuit breaker with inline fuses for electric downrigger?

Welcome to iboats!

Do you mean you want to bypass the boat's main breaker because the additional load of the downriggers will overload it? The "proper" way to go would be to upgrade the wiring and breaker to handle the load, but your plan will work also. You should also run the negative for the downriggers to the battery so as not to overload the original wire. But you would be starting down the road to a rat's nest at the battery. Do you have a place to install positive and negative busses near the battery? That would keep things more orderly than attaching directly to the battery and reduce the risk of loose connections at the battery..