Help installing a bow mount fish finder

[bradicus412]

Just bought a new fish finder for the bow. I thought it was going to be as simple as running the leads to my cranking battery in the back compartment. Well I found out there seems to be more to it than that. The lead is pretty much the positive and negative with an inch of wire coming out. Can I just buy some longer leads, splice into them and then connect to the cranking battery? That seems to be the easiest thing I just don't want to mess up the electrical on my boat.
Thanks

 

[NYBo]

Re: Help installing a bow mount fish finder

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

Extending the leads is almost all there is to it. If you have a console with a fuse block, you should run it to there instead of all the way back to the battery. The positive lead to the fuse panel should be fuse-protected near the battery. If you do go all the way to the battery, use 16 gauge wire to provide physical strength and to reduce voltage loss, and use an inline fuse within a foot of the battery. The fuse should be of the rating recommended by the fish finder manufacturer.

 

[bradicus412]

Re: Help installing a bow mount fish finder

Thanks bob, should I run to cranking/starting battery or my deep cycle. I read some things that say running to the same battery as the trolling motor can cause interference.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Help installing a bow mount fish finder

Deep cycle--that's what that battery is for:

Constant draining. And make sure you read about on properly using and charging a deep cycle, or you not getting the benefit of having one in the first place.